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Adoring the Noble Qualities

वाञ्छा सज्जनसङ्गमे परगुणे प्रीतिर्गुरौ नम्रता
विद्यायां व्यसनं स्वयोषिति रतिः लोकापवादाद्भयम् ।
भक्तिः शूलिनि शक्तिरात्मदमने संसर्गमुक्तिः खलेषु
एते येषु भवन्ति निर्मलगुणाः तेभ्यो नरेभ्यो नमः ।।
– नीति शतकम् ६२

vāñchā sajjana-saṅgamē para-guṇe prītir-gurau namratā
vidyāyāṃ vyasanaṃ svayoṣiti rati: lokāpavādād-bhayam |
bhakti: śūlini śaktir-ātma-damane saṃsarga-mukti: khaleṣu
ete yeṣu bhavanti nirmala-guṇā: tebhyo narebhyo nama: ||
– Nīti śatakam 62

Translation:

Salutations to them, in whom reside these immaculate qualities: Aspiration or longing to be in the company of the Wise, delight in finding merits and virtues in others, humility towards Teacher, assiduous diligence in pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, fidelity to one’s own wife, fear of reproach from the society (people), devotion to Lord Śiva, power of self-control, non-indulgence in the company of the wicked.

Points for Introspection:

All created beings have certain features in common. They eat, sleep, excrete, and procreate. Human beings alone have been gifted with the additional power to think, analyze and reform their own nature. Human mind and intelligence are to be used to discriminate between what is supremely good and what is not. Using these faculties, human beings have the capacity to introspect on the values and qualities, and lead a noble and fulfilling life.

Although people follow some eternal values like truth, love, sympathy, etc. in general, one becomes venerable when he personifies some qualities which everybody adores and appreciates. These qualities represent the strength of personality of such noble men.

In this śloka, the poet enlists a few virtues and offers his prostrations to such men endowed with these pure resplendent qualities.

The first of the listed noble virtues is an aspiration to be in the company of the Wise. In the company of a Wise, who is an embodiment of noble virtues, simply by watching his mind and behaviour in various situations one gets inspired to imbibe those excellent qualities. Even the yearning for virtues gets deepened and strengthened in the association of the Wise.

Generally, one is unable to delight whole-heartedly in the good qualities and excellences of others. Very often he feels jealous, competitive or depressed. So, to delight in and appreciate even a little good quality in others, is a noble feature. By that, the mind becomes expanded and imbibes the same virtue spontaneously.

Humility, especially towards the Teacher or spiritual Guru, is another noble virtue. Only when one is humble, he will be able to receive, learn, and assimilate the knowledge bestowed by the Teacher. Adorned with humility, one must seek the company of wise teachers and be enriched by the resplendent qualities they embody.

Fondness for knowledge, assiduous application in learning, is another great quality. Knowledge is the greatest treasure in human life. An ignorant man suffers a lot. Throughout life, one must be dedicated to acquiring knowledge. The very rare ones who have this trait are the noble souls whom all salute.

A great quality of a noble man is to be devoted to his own wife, and not to indulge in fond relationship with other women. He should be faithful and loyal to his wife. Greed and lack of contentment spoil all other good qualities of a man. Equally, one should always be careful about what others in the society think and speak about his behaviour. A noble man would never like to receive reproaches from the society. He honours the dictum of the society and adheres to the observances and disciplines put forward by the social structure.

One-pointed reliance and intense devotion to God, Lord Śiva is another venerable quality. True devotion is the sharpest weapon, and one can face any situation in life keeping this weapon as the unfailing power and support.

This one-pointed devotion also empowers him with great self-restraint. Because of love and devotion to the Supreme, one is able to sublimate all ignoble qualities. And, by dint of control over his own self, he is able to keep away from the association of evil-minded people. As he is ever-ready to be instructed by the noble Teachers, so he is ever cautious not to be influenced by wicked people.

These are the immaculate virtues of a noble man. He becomes different from others. And everybody salutes him in respect and adoration.

We should chant this śloka understanding the meaning and depth of each virtue. Repeated chanting generates great inspiration to acquire these qualities. As our mind gets filled with the noble qualities, ignoble qualities will get removed from our personality spontaneously, effortlessly.

Word Meaning:

वाञ्छा (vāñchā) = aspiration, longing or eagerness; सज्जनसङ्गमे (sajjana-saṅgmē) = in the association of the Wise; परगुणे (para-guṇe) = in the virtues of others; प्रीतिः (prīti:) = delight; गुरौ (gurau) = in one’s teacher; नम्रता (namratā) = humility; विद्यायां (vidyāyāṃ) = in pursuit of knowledge; व्यसनं (vyasanaṃ) = assiduous diligence; स्वयोषिति (svayoṣiti) = in one’s wife; रतिः (rati:) = fondness/delight; लोकापवादात् (lokāpavādāt) = of reproach from the society; भयम् (bhayam) = fear; भक्तिः (bhakti:) = devotion; शूलिनि (śūlini) = for Lord Śiva; शक्तिः (śakti:) = strength; आत्मदमने (ātma-damane) = in self control; संसर्गमुक्तिः (saṃsarga-mukti:) = free from the association; खलेषु (khaleṣu) = in wicked people; एते (ete) = these; येषु (yeṣu) = in whom; भवन्ति (bhavanti) = exist; निर्मलगुणाः (nirmala-guṇā:) = immaculate qualities; तेभ्यः (tebhya:); नरेभ्यः (narebhya:) = towards those men; नमः (nama:) = salutations.

अन्वयः

सज्जनसङ्गमे वाञ्छा, परगुणे प्रीतिः, गुरौ नम्रता, विद्यायां व्यसनं, स्वयोषिति रतिः, लोकापवादात् भयम्, शूलिनि भक्तिः, आत्मदमने शक्तिः, खलेषु संसर्गमुक्तिः – एते निर्मलगुणाः येषु भवन्ति, तेभ्यः नरेभ्यः नमः ।
sajjana-saṅgamē vāñchā, para-guṇe prīti:, gurau namratā, vidyāyāṃ vyasanaṃ, svayoṣiti rati:, lokāpavādāt bhayam, śūlini bhakti:, ātma-damane śakti:, khaleṣu saṃsarga-mukti: – ete nirmala-guṇā: yeṣu bhavanti, tebhya: narebhya: nama: .