Crane among swans
Recently I completed Sanskrit (Kovida )Examination and continuing
learning sanskrit verses sukthi, prahelika Subhashitam, shloka are quiet interesting .In
subhasitam.Here few Sanskrit verses about हंसः Swan the swan as the main theme and compiled here.
A Swan is white, A crane is white, What is the difference between a Swan & Crane?
The swan and the crane appear
alike while feeding in the same lake but while the crane looks for fish and dirt.
Cranes are described as “opportunistic feeders” – they will not change their behaviour.
Swans– the ones who know to separate the good from the wasteful, to find the
pearls among the pebbles. The crane is content with living in this world, but
he is only focused on only what he wants now. Appearances are no indication of
one’s nature. Moreover, swan symbolises discrimination of right and wrong. Most
of us oscillate between being a swan and a crane. It is easy to go back to
being a crane when living in a swamp that is this old-world swarming with
cranes. But it is no one else but my duty to protect myself. Therefore, one should have his own
discrimination
Here few Sanskrit verses about Swan and Crane—
हंसः श्वेतः
बकः
श्वेतः को
भेदो
बकहंसयोः
।
नीर-क्षीर-विवेके
तु हंसो
हंसः
बको
बकः
।।
Hamsah shvetah bakah shvetah Ko bedo baka hamsayoh I
Neera-ksheera-viveketu hamso hamsah bako bakah II
A swan is white, a crane is white. What (then) is
the difference between a swan and a crane? In distinguishing between water and
milk a swan is a swan, a crane is a crane.
Hansa shweta baka shweta" is a Sanskrit verse
meaning "The swan is white, the heron is white; what is the difference
between the crane and the swan? But when it comes to distinguishing water from
milk, the swan is the swan and the crane is the crane". It is a proverb
that highlights that while two things may appear similar on the surface (like a
swan and a crane), their true nature and abilities are revealed in specific
situations or challenges. In this case, the swan has the ability to separate
milk from water, a skill the heron lacks, demonstrating the distinction in
their character.
Literal Meaning
Hansa: (हंस):
Swan
Shweta: (श्वेतः):
White.
Baka: (बकः):
Heron or crane.
Ko bhedo baka-hansayoh? (को
भेदो
बक-हंसयोः):
What is the difference between the heron and the swan?
Neer-kshir viveke tu: (नीर-क्षीर
विवेके
तु):
But when it comes to distinguishing water and milk.
Hanso hansah bako baka: (हंसो
हंसः
बको
बकः):
The swan is the swan, and the heron is the heron.
Both the
swan and the Crane are white, representing people who may seem similar or
present a unified appearance.
The true difference between them is their capability
to perform a specific task – separating milk from water. This signifies that
true qualities and skills, not superficial appearances, define someone's true
nature.
कस्त्वं लोहितलोचनास्यचरणः हंसः कुतो मानसात् ।
किं तत्रास्ति सुवर्णपङ्कजवनान्यंभः सुधासन्निभम् ।
निचयाः प्रवालमणयो वैदूर्यरोहाः क्वचित् ।
शम्बूका अपिसन्तिनेतिचबकैराकर्ण्यहीहीकृतम्।।
The cranes, usually more in number than swans, were
bent upon making fun of the swan, out of their jealousy about the grace of a
swan. So, they went on asking questions, until they got “No” as the answer.
Having got such answer, they chided at the swan.
1. लोहितलोचन,
अचरणः
त्वं
कः
असि
? (अहं)
हंसः
(अस्मि)
।- Eh, you red-eyed one,
who are you that has no legs ? I am a swan.
2. कुतः (आगतः
असि)
? मानसात्
(आगतः
अस्मि)
।
Where from you have come ? - From the Manasa
3. किं तत्र
अस्ति
?-What is there ? -There is water,which is pure and like nectar.
4.सुवर्णपङ्कजवनानि
(सन्ति)
= There are hordes of golden lotuses.
5. रत्नानां
निचयाः
प्रवालमणयः
क्वचित्
वैदूर्यरोहाः
(सन्ति)
There are treasurers of jewels, coral beads,as also trees that grow in Vidura
mountains.
6. किं तत्र)
शम्बूकाः
अपि
च
सन्ति
?Are there also conch-shells and snails ? - No
7. न इति
आकर्ण्य
getting' no' as answer cranes chided at the swan ,hey,hey,hey.
The
cranes, usually more in number than swans, were bent upon making fun of the
swan, out of their jealousy about the grace of a swan. So, they went on asking
questions, until they got “No” as the answer. Having got such answer, they
chided at the swan.
This subhashita highlights the general human
tendency of trying to bring down other
people's accomplishments by ridiculing them with some absurd and cheap remark
or action; this tendency usually sprouts out of insecurity, incompetence,
inferiority complex and envy.
"एकेन
राजहंसेन
या
शोभा
सरसो
भवेत्
।
न
सा
बकसहस्त्रेण
परितस्तीरवासिना
॥"
Ekena rajahamsena yaa shobhaa saraso bhavet I Na saa
baka sahasrena paritasteera vaasinaa II
Meaning of the Shloka
एकेन
राजहंसेन
(ekenā rājahansena): With one royal swan.
या
शोभा
सरसः
भवेत्
(yā śobhā sarasaḥ
bhavet): That beauty (or glory) a lake gets.
न
सा
बकसहस्त्रेण
(na sā bakasahasreṇa):
Not that, by a thousand storks.
परितः
तीरवासिना
(paritaḥ tīravāsinā): Living on the
surrounding banks.
In essence, the proverb teaches that: Quality over
quantity:
means that the beauty or glory a lake attains with
one royal swan is not achieved by thousands of storks living along its banks.
This proverb emphasizes the value of a single, superior being over a multitude
of inferior ones, suggesting that true splendor comes from quality, not just
quantity.
A single,
exceptional individual can bring far more distinction and beauty than many
ordinary individuals.
Ekena = Just
by one. Raajahamsena = king
swan's Yaa = causes. Shobhaa =
graced, beautified.
Sarasobhavat
= Sarash + abhavat, Saraso = a lake. Abhavathavet = happens. Na = not .
Saa = that.
Bakah = crane, stork
(birds). Sahasrena = by one
thousand. Paritah = all around Teera = banks of a lake. Vaasinah = residents.
अपसरणमेव शरणं
मौनं
वा
तत्र
राजहंसस्य
।
कटु
रटति
निकटवर्ती
वाचाटष्टिट्टिभो
यत्र
।।३।।
Apasaranameva sharanam maunam vaa tatra rajahamsasya
I
Katu ratati nikatavartee vaachaatashtittibho yatra
II
Where a prattling
Tittibha (टिट्टिभ – A kind of bird ) is
making bad noise at close quarters, a swan should either draw away from such
place or should keep quiet
The Sanskrit phrase "Apasaranameva sharanam
maunam vaa tatra rajahamsasya" means:
The only recourse for the king swan there is either
withdrawal or silence.
This Original
Sanskrit verse:
Katu
ratati nikatavartee vaachaatashtittibho yatra
Apasaranameva sharanam maunam vaa tatra rajahamsasya
Translation:
Where
a chattering tittibha (lapwing bird) is making a harsh, close-by noise, the
only .
Moral – One should always keep a discretion about
the audience whether to speak or not to speak and also keep a discretion
whether the environment is congenial to linger or not.
Above verses says The implied moral that every
creature is endowed with some special characteristics,So we Stay classy, stay
swan-like!
Image credit-( Google Image)
