Exercise 41
A) Translate the two proverbs at the beginning of the lesson:
१. पुस्तकस्था च या विद्या परहस्ते च यद्धनम् ।
कार्यकाले समुत्पन्ने न सा विद्या न तद्धनम् ॥ १ ॥
Knowledge that exists (only) in books, and money that is in foreign hands: When the moment of need arrives, this knowledge is no knowledge and this money is no money.
२. उपदेशो हि मूर्खाणां प्रकोपाय न शान्तये ।
पयःपानं भुजङ्गानां केवलं विषवर्धनम् ॥ २ ॥
Instruction for fools leads to bitterness, not to peace. Drinking milk by snakes is merely an increase of poison.
Exercise Texts
B) Translate:
१. बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि धर्मं शरणं गच्छामि सङ्घं शरणं गच्छामीति बुद्धगतैर्वक्तव्यम् ॥ १ ॥
"I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the Dharma, I take refuge in the Sangha" — this is to be said by those who have gone to the Buddha.
Excursus: The Three Refuges
This triple refuge is crucial for possessing the necessary motivation and endurance on the path to liberation. Since there are countless teachers of wisdom, it is impossible to follow all of them individually. One must make a selection. The personality of a teacher must appear trustworthy (Refuge in the Buddha).
The essence, however, is not the savior personality, but the doctrine of liberation, which enables the individual to walk the path themselves. One must be so convinced by the teaching that one summons the energy to test it for its truth value (Refuge in the Dharma).
Furthermore, one must be convinced that others have successfully walked this path. This is the Refuge in the Sangha, the community of those who have reached liberation on the Buddha's path.
२. काशीं पत्स्ये गङ्गां द्रक्ष्यामि तत्र च मरिष्यामीति मन्यमानो मान्यो वृद्धनरः पुत्रांश्च पुत्रपुत्रांश्च धनं च तत्याज काशीं च प्राव्रजत् । एवं च रोध्यं दुःखं तरिष्यतीति मन्ये ॥ २ ॥
"I will go to Benares (Kāśī), see the Ganges, and die there" — with this thought, the venerable old man left sons, grandsons, and property and moved to Benares. I think that he will overcome the suffering to be ended in this way.
३. कन्यां व्युवह तस्यां च पुत्रमजनयं महाधनं च लेभ एवं सुखमापेत्यतीते मुमोह । ततः प्रजज्ञौ सुखाद्दुःखं जायते तस्माल्लोकसुखमपि त्यजनीयं न च किंचिदिन्द्रियैः स्प्रष्टव्यमिति ॥ ३ ॥
"I married a girl, begot a son with her, and acquired great wealth; thus I have attained happiness" — in this way I deceived myself in the past. Then I realized: From happiness arises suffering; therefore, worldly happiness must also be abandoned, and nothing should be touched by the senses.
४. विक्रेयाणि विक्रीयापुत्रवैश्यो भिक्षुभ्यो विक्रयफलमददाद्दानपुण्यं चादत्त । एतत्कर्म स्तुत्यमिति भिक्षवः प्रोचुर्बुद्धिमन्तस्तु विकल्पयन्ति किमेवं कुर्वाणो वैश्यः पुण्यं चकारेति ॥ ४ ॥
After having sold the goods to be sold, the childless Vaiśya gave the proceeds to the monks and received the merit of the gift. The monks proclaimed: "This deed is praiseworthy." The insightful, however, doubt whether the Vaiśya acting in this manner has truly done something meritorious.
५. गुरुभिः शिष्याः शासितव्याः शिष्यैरध्ययनमध्येतव्यम् ॥ ५ ॥
Teachers are to instruct students; students are to study the curriculum.
Fig.: बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि
(Image source: Details)