Subhashitam - Slokam

 

 

Slokam

 

Saile saile na manikyam mouktikam na gaje gaje

Sadhvo nahi sarvatra candanam na vane vane

 

Translation

 

(Not all mountains have precious gems, not all elephants' head have pearls, not all forests have sandalwood trees, and similarly noble souls are not found everywhere)

 

Explanation

 

Anything that is good is rare. There are many mines and mountains but precious gems or gold are found only in a few and that too in miniscule quantities. There is a belief that the head of special elephants has pearls. There is a large extent of forest but we find valuable trees only in a few. Similarly we find noble souls only in a few places. It is true that we found more of them in krta yuga and their number diminished as the yugas passed. Krshna who preached Gita towards the end of dvapara yuga felt sad that an absolute devotee was hard to find.

This universe comprises of good and bad in many aspects. Elixir and poison, victory and defeat, pain and pleasure, friends and enemies are all found in this same world. Reaching further, every individual comprises of good and bad qualities, thoughts and habits. They are so closely wound that it is almost impossible to identify the bad and remove them without damaging the good. A startling fact is that the content of good is lower as compared to the bad. For instance, while the much needed satva guna is one portion, the 'to be avoided' rajas and tamas are twice of satva.

Do the above facts mean that the good would be washed off from this world? Are the good fighting a losing battle? Not at all. While we rightly recognized the predominant size and content of bad, we lost sight and concluded apparently that the good is rare and so weak. The good always has the support of Sriman Narayana, the mighty force. We must realise that He is in the side of the good and so the good would finally be victorious.

 

The Equation

 

Let us get the equation right : Satva < (rajas + tamas) but (Bhagavan + satva) >> (rajas + tamas).

The moral is - Good is rare but that triumphs.