Page 24 - Bhakthinivedana 2012 July English Magazine.pmd

SUBHA:SHITHAM
OF CONTENTMENT
Translated into English by Ramakrishna Toopurani
In our age of hectic sched ules, fast foods and
changing technologies, we are at the verge of
losing the meaning of some wonderful words. One
such word is contentment. More often, than not,
contentment is understood as a state of mind where
an individual is not ready to put in extra efforts to
attain better results. This gives an impression that a
contented person does not strive for progress. Here
is a subha:shitha by Bhathruhari in which an ascetic
says to a king that contentment is a virtue and
desires are sign of poverty. Here it is!
vayamiha parithushta: valkalai sthvam dhuku:lai
ssama ihaparithosho: nirvise:sho: vise:shaha |
sa thu bhavathu: dharidhro: yasya thrushna:
visa:la: manasicha parithushte kaha: arthava:n
ko:daridraha? ||
We ascetics are happy in our
bark clothes even as you are
happy in your silken robes. There is no difference
in contentment we experience. He indeed is
24 Bhakthinivedana • July 2012
poor, whose desires are endless. When there is
contentment at heart - who is rich and who is poor?
The poet, while providing a contrast between
two life styles, declares that the experience of
contentment is same in either case. Further, those
who have endless desires are found to be restless,
therefore poor in joy. But without desire, how
can we strive for progress? Are contentment and
progress mutually exclusive?
The answer to the paradox lies in the verse itself.
The ascetic is contented with a bark of the tree
as his clothes. However, he is enterprising while
communicating his profound thoughts. When
it comes to our own enjoyment, regarding the
inputs we take from our society, we must have
contentment. When it is our turn to
contribute we must cross our earlier
threshold limits. Such is the way to
progress.
Progress is not how much we acquire
for self enjoyment. It consists of
our deeds which enhance our
personality, those which inspire
others to live a nobler life and
those which generate prosperity for
the enjoyment of many. Progress
is deepening our personality in conjunction with
growth of many.