Better Suffering Than the Company of the Wicked – Shlok 37

पद्मनन्दि पंचविंशतिका धर्मोपदेशामृत श्लोक 37

Padmanandi Panchvinshatika Dharmopadeshamrit

३७) इह वरमनुभूतं भूरि दारिद्र्यदुःखं वरमतिविकराले कालवक्त्रे प्रवेशः । भवतु वरमितोऽपि क्लेशजालं विशालं न च खलजनयोगाञ्जीवितं वा धनं वा ।। ३७ ।।

टीका-इह संसारे। भूरि दारिद्र्यदुःखं अनुभूतम्। वरं श्रेष्ठम्। अतिविकराले अतिरुद्रे। कालवक्त्रे कालमुखे। प्रवेशः वरं शुभम् । इतः संसारात्। विशालं क्लेशजालमपि भवतु वरम्। च पुनः। खलजनयोगात् दुष्टजनसंयोगात्। जीवितं वा धनं वा न वरं न श्रेष्ठम् ॥ ३७॥

इति गृहिधर्मप्रकरणं समाप्तम् ।

अर्थ- संसारमें निर्धनताके भी दुखका अनुभव करना कहीं अच्छा है, इसी प्रकार अत्यन्त भयानक मृत्युके मुखमें प्रवेश करना भी कहीं अच्छा है, इसके अतिरिक्त यदि यहाँ और भी अतिशय कष्ट प्राप्त होता है तो वह भी हो; परन्तु दुष्ट जनोंके सम्बन्धसे जीवित अथवा धनका चाहना श्रेष्ठ नहीं है ।। ३७ ।।

37)

iha varam anubhūtaṁ bhūri dāridrya-duḥkhaṁ
varam ativikarāle kāla-vaktre praveśaḥ |
bhavatu varam ito’pi kleśajālaṁ viśālaṁ
na ca khalajana-yogāj jīvitaṁ vā dhanaṁ vā || 37 ||

Verse (Translation):
In this world, it is far better to endure extreme poverty and its suffering.
It is even better to enter the terrifying mouth of death itself.
Let there be even a vast net of hardships and afflictions—so be it.
But life or wealth gained through association with wicked people
is never desirable.

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Explanation (Meaning):

In this worldly existence, even the pain of severe poverty is preferable.
Even entering the dreadful jaws of death is better.
Even if immense suffering and hardship must be endured, it is still acceptable.

However, maintaining life or gaining wealth through association with cruel, deceitful, or immoral people is never commendable. Such associations corrupt the soul and destroy spiritual well-being. Therefore, one should never desire life or wealth that comes through the company of the wicked.

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Moral / Essence:

Suffering faced with integrity is nobler than comfort gained through corruption.
Association with the wicked destroys inner purity and must be avoided at all costs.

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Closing Note:

With this verse, the chapter on Gṛhastha Dharma (Householder’s Conduct) comes to a close.

द्वादश वर्षीय स्वाध्याय पाठ्यक्रम पद्मनन्दि पंचविंशतिका सारांश

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