The Rarity of the Virtuous in a Cruel World – Shlok 36

पद्मनन्दि पंचविंशतिका धर्मोपदेशामृत श्लोक 36

Padmanandi Panchvinshatika Dharmopadeshamrit

३६) कलावेकः साधुर्भवति कथमप्यत्र भुवने स चाघातः क्षुद्रैः कथमकरुणैर्जीवति चिरम् । अतिग्रीष्मे शुष्यत्सरसि विचरच्चंचुचरतां बकोटानामग्रे तरलशफरी गच्छति कियत् ।। ३६ ।।

टीका-अत्र भुवने संसारे। कलौ पंचमकाले। कथमपि एकः साधुर्भवति। स च साधुः क्षुद्रैः आम्रातः पीडितः । चिरं चिरकालं कथं जीवति। किंलक्षणैः क्षुद्रैः। अकरुणैः दयारहितैः। अतिग्रीष्मे ज्येष्ठाषाढे (ज्येष्ठाषाढ्योः) शुष्यत्सरसि शुष्कसरोवरे। बकोटानां बकानां अग्रे। तरलशफरी चंचलमत्सिका। कियद् दूरे गच्छति। किंलक्षणानां बकानाम्। विचरच्चंचुचरताम् ।। ३६ ।।

अर्थ – इस लोकमें कलिकालके प्रभावसे बड़ी कठिनाईमें एक आध ही साधु होता है। वह भी जब निर्दय दुष्ट पुरुषोंके द्वारा सताया जाता है तब भला कैसे चिरकाल जीवित रह सकता है? अर्थात् नहीं रह सकता। ठीक ही है- जब तीक्ष्ण ग्रीष्मकालमें तालाबका पानी सूखने लगता है तब चोंचको हिलाकर चलनेवाले बगुलोंके आगे चंचल मछली कितनी देर तक चल सकती है? अर्थात् बहुत अधिक समय तक वह चल नहीं सकती, किन्तु उनके द्वारा मारकर खायी ही जाती है।। ३६ ।।

36) The Rarity of the Virtuous in a Cruel World

Verse (Translation):
In this world, especially in the age of Kali, a truly virtuous person is found only rarely.
And when such a noble soul is tormented by cruel and heartless people,
how can he survive for long?

Just as in the scorching heat of summer,
when a pond dries up,
how long can a restless little fish survive
before the long-beaked, moving herons?
Surely, not for long.

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Explanation (Meaning):

In this world, due to the influence of the Kali age, a truly virtuous person is extremely rare. Even when such a noble soul appears, he is often tormented by cruel, merciless people. Under such oppression, it becomes impossible for him to live long.

This is illustrated through a powerful metaphor:
When, in the intense summer heat, a pond begins to dry up, how long can a small, restless fish survive in front of stalking herons with sharp beaks? Inevitably, it is caught and destroyed.

Similarly, in a society dominated by cruelty and moral decay, gentle and virtuous souls struggle to survive and are often destroyed by the wicked.

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Moral / Essence:

In an age of moral decline, goodness becomes vulnerable. The cruel overpower the gentle, just as predators overtake helpless beings in a drying world.

श्लोक 37 – Better Suffering Than the Company of the Wicked

द्वादश वर्षीय स्वाध्याय पाठ्यक्रम पद्मनन्दि पंचविंशतिका सारांश

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