मणिः शाणोल्लीढः समर-विजयी हेति-दलितो । मद-क्षीणो नागः शरदि सरितः श्यान-पुलिनाः । कला-शेषश्चन्द्रः सुरत-मृदिता बाल-वनिता । तनिम्ना शोभन्ते गलित-विभवाश्चार्थिषु नराः ॥
maṇiḥ śāṇollīḍhaḥ samara-vijayī heti-dalito | mada-kṣīṇo nāgaḥ śaradi saritaḥ śyāna-pulināḥ | kalā-śeṣaścandraḥ surata-mṛditā bāla-vanitā | tanimnā śobhante galita-vibhavāścārthiṣu narāḥ ||
A gem ground on the whetstone, a victor in battle scarred by weapons, an elephant lean after its rut, autumn rivers with their sandbanks drying, the moon with only a sliver left, a young bride tired after love, and men whose wealth has gone in giving to those who asked: all these shine by their very thinness.
सान पर घिसा हुआ रत्न, हथियारों से घायल युद्ध-विजेता, मद उतरने से दुबला हाथी, शरद ऋतु की सूखते तटों वाली नदियाँ, केवल एक कला शेष चंद्रमा, प्रेम-क्रीड़ा से थकी नवयुवती, और याचकों को देकर धन खो चुके लोग: ये सब अपनी क्षीणता से ही शोभा पाते हैं।
Meaning today and contextआज के लिए अर्थ और संदर्भ
Being worn down by doing something worthwhile, like giving, struggling, or loving, is not a loss of dignity. A person who has less because they gave generously carries a quiet beauty.
किसी अच्छे काम में, जैसे देने, संघर्ष करने या प्रेम करने में, घिस जाना अपमान नहीं है। जिसके पास इसलिए कम है कि उसने खुले हाथ से दिया, उसकी अपनी एक शांत शोभा होती है।
Bhartrihari gives a string of images of things that grow more beautiful by being worn thin, ending with people who have given their wealth away to those in need.