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