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.
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 Shlokaएकेन 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)
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