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SAYS CHANAKYA—1

Vishadapyamritam grahammedhyadapi kanchanam,

Nichadpayutama vidya striratnam dushkuladapi.

If there is nectar in poison, accept it. If there is precious metal or object in filth, retrieve it. If a low breed man has some good knowledge, wisdom, art or quality, imbibe it. If a woman born to a family of disrepute turns out to be a lady of high qualities, possess such a gem.

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Strinaam diguna aaharo budhisatasam chaturguna,

Sahasam shargunam chav kamoastgun uchayate.

Compared to males, the females, eat twice the amount of food, possess cleverness four times, display courage six times and have hunger for sex eight times.

*

Aanratam sahasam maya murkhtavmatilubadhata,

Ashochatavam nirdayatam strinam dosha: swabhavjhaha.

Speaking falsehood—starting a work without any due diligence or thought, daredevilry, deceitful behavior, foolish acts, greed, impurity and cruelty. These are things, basic to the nature of women.

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Bhojayam bhojanshaktitascha ratishaktivarragna,

Vibhavo danshaktishcha naslapasya tapas: phalam.

Only great penance can earn one: Rich food to eat and a good digestive power to dispose it—A beautiful woman, for a wife and the virility to ravish her—and riches with charitable disposition to use the money for good causes.

*

Yasya putro vashiibhooto bharya chandasnugaamini,

Vibhave yashcha santushtsatasya swarg eihev he.

This very earth is heaven for one whose son is obedient. The wife is faithful and whose own heart is content with whatever money he has.

*

Te putra yepiturbhakta sa pita yastu poshakah,

Tanmitram yasya vishwasahah: sa bharya yatra nirvrati.

True son is the one who is obedient to his father. A true father is the one who looks after his sons. Similarly, true friend is the one who is trustworthy and true wife is one who makes her husband happy.

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Translated by Kamlesh Tripathi

CHANAKYA NEETI

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SAYS CHANAKYA …

AAPADRTHE DHANAM RAKSHECHACHRIMATAN KUT AAPADAH,

KADACHICHCHALIKA LAXMI: SANCHITOPTI VINASHAYATI.

A man must protect his wealth tooth and nail. Because, it is only the one who has money. Can overcome hurdles easily. Money, if not protected slips away fast.

DHANIKAH SROTRIYO RAJA NADI VEDASTU PANCHAM,

PANCH YATRA NA VIDYANTE NA TATRA DIVASAM VASET.

A man should not make that a place his home. Where there are no prosperous people, no soldiers, scholarly Brahmins, a competent king, a river and physicians.

YASMAN DESHE SAMMANO NA VARTIRNA CHA BANDHAVA,

NA CHA VIDYASAGAMAH KASHICHAT TAM DESHAM PARIVARJAYATE.

Do not live in a country that does not allow you: self respect, honour, means of living, a family, kith and kin, friends, well wishers, ways of education and self-development. Quit such country. It is not fit for living.

LOKYATRA LAJJA DAKSHNYAM TYAGSHEELTA,

PANCH YATRA NA VIDAYANTE TATRA SANSSTHITITAM.

A place that does not offer means of living, fear of law, feeling of shame for shameless acts, clever people to inspire artful creations, and the spirit of charity is not fit for living.

JANIYAT PRESHNE BHRITYAN BANDHAVAN VYASNAJGAME,

MITRAM CHASPATIKALESHU BHARYA CHA VIBHAVAKSHAYA.

The testing times of the following are: Wife when the money is gone, a friend in the time of need, relatives in times of crisis and the servants when they are assigned a mission. In such times they show their true colours.

AATURE VYASNE PRAPTE DURBHIKSHE SHATRU SANKATE,

RAJDWARE SHAMSHANE CHA YASTISHATHATI SA BANDADHAVA.

A real brother is the one who stands by in the period of grave illness, in times of misfortune, during famines or invasions by enemy, in royal court and in death. He will stick through thick and thin.

YO DHRUVANI PARITAYAJAYA ADHRUVAM PARIHEVETE,

DHRUVANI TASYA NASHYANTI ADHRUVAM NASHTAMEV CHA.

The one who runs after an uncertain object leaving the certain one behind, does not get any. He loses both. It is Chanakya’s way of saying that a bird in hand is better than two in the bush.

VARYETA KULJAM PRAGYO VIROOPAMAPI KANYAKAM,

ROOPWARTI NA NICHASYA VIVAH: SADRISHYA KULE.

A wise man must marry a girl of high breed even if she is ugly to look at. He should not fall for a girl of low upbringing however beauteous she may be. The best course is to marry in the family of equal status.

NAKHINAM CHA NADINAM CHA SRINGADIRAM SHASTRAPANINAAM,

VISHVASO NEV KARTAVYA: STRISHU RAJKULESHU CHA.

Don’t ever trust: the beasts with claws or sharp horns, rivers, armed persons, women who are famous for their fickle mind and the members of the royal families.

*****

 Translated by Kamlesh Tripathi

FINANCIAL PLANNING—THE MODERN DAY GOD

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

FINANCIAL PLANNING—THE MODERN DAY GOD

    We all have heard the famous phrase—Kan kan mein Bhagwan and jako rakhe saiyan maar sake na koi. In the same breath, we should also reflect on, what Lord Krishna had to say in the famous epic Mahabharat—‘I will not do your ‘karma’ for you. You’ll have to that yourself.’ So in essence, all this forms the core ethos and purpose of our lives. No matter what religion you follow and which strata of society you come from. For, the God’s may vary, but the mission of life shall always remain the same. And in all of this—God helps only those, who help themselves.

    In the ultimate analysis, we human beings can’t deny, the terse reality that we all are born to serve a holy cause. It manifests, while we serve our family and even our society. But in the process we don’t get younger. On the contrary, each day, we are only getting older. And, in the drift of life we often plan to give our children good education and values. To, make them skilled professionals. So, that, they can not only compete nationally but even globally. But that doesn’t come for free. Nor does it come with interspersed dimes here and there. Rather, it comes from some focused and astute FPI (Financial Planning & Insurance). Just, to cite and example, if we require a crore today, to make our child, a doctor. Twenty years hence, the coveted amount will be three crores. Together with inflation, logistics, competition and new technology costs. So, while we often meet, quite a few over ambitious parents boasting aimlessly about the promising career of their children. They hardly do any FPI for it. And, then they say, we love our children.

    In the same run up, most of us think we are immortal. That I will never die. So we don’t ever visualize a situation. Where, we’ll leave home one day, never to return. But in that case, who will run my establishment, feed my children and beyond that who will educate them. The litmus test would be. To ascertain, which relative of mine will pay for all this and for how long. And the buck doesn’t stop there. As the clock keeps ticking with each breath—remember we are only getting older. For as long as you can work. The moolah will pour in. But when you stop working, where will you nickel and dimes come from. So, what happens when you retire? These are some crude realities. That the pigeon in you. Keeps avoiding and condoning. While the cat of life keeps observing.

    I was recently at a training programme conducted by Maxlife Insurance. Where, I got many such vital answers to the complexities of life. Remember, the pain of effort is much better than the pain of regret. So, plan your life well. Attend such programmes. And don’t just snub any FPI professional, when they call you to plan your restless life. Take them as the arm of God.

*****

    

BEAUTIFUL QUOTES & LOVELY LINES

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The future is limitless—Peter Thiel

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A right cause never fails- M K Gandhi

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“Old soldiers never die, they simply fade away” is an old wartime ballad

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How can you remember someone you cannot forget—Badrinath Singh

*

‘To error is human; to forgive, divine’—Alexander Pope, English Poet

*

The soldier above all others prays for peace—Douglas Macarthur

*

Good words are worth much, and cost little—George Herbert

*

Desire is necessary to initiate action

*

Mahabharata unlike Ramayana is not about an ideal man. It focuses on ethical and moral conflicts-faced in the pursuit of dharma

*

What goes around really comes around

*

‘Now that we have made Italy let us make Italians’—Massimo d’Azeglio

*

The more people think only of themselves, the more exclusive they become, and less able they become to accept others

*

Not every flower in a plant becomes fruit

*

Fate’s ironic way of fighting the balance

*

                      Krishna is in all and we all are in Krishna                                  

One-in-all and all-in-one is Krishna

*

Prices are the only thing that defy the law of gravity

*

The promise given was a necessity of the past, the word broken is a necessity of the present—Machiavelli

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‘What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and value of nothing’—OSCAR WILDE

*****

The future is limitless—Peter Thiel

*

A right cause never fails- M K Gandhi

*

“Old soldiers never die, they simply fade away” is an old wartime ballad

*

How can you remember someone you cannot forget—Badrinath Singh

*

‘To error is human; to forgive, divine’—Alexander Pope, English Poet

*

The soldier above all others prays for peace—Douglas Macarthur

*

Good words are worth much, and cost little—George Herbert

*

Desire is necessary to initiate action

*

Mahabharata unlike Ramayana is not about an ideal man. It focuses on ethical and moral conflicts-faced in the pursuit of dharma

*

What goes around really comes around

*

‘Now that we have made Italy let us make Italians’—Massimo d’Azeglio

*

The more people think only of themselves, the more exclusive they become, and less able they become to accept others

*

Not every flower in a plant becomes fruit

*

Fate’s ironic way of fighting the balance

*

                      Krishna is in all and we all are in  Krishna                                             

One-in-all and all-in-one is Krishna

*

Prices are the only thing that defy the law of gravity

*

The promise given was a necessity of the past, the word broken is a necessity of the present—Machiavelli

*

‘What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and value of nothing’—OSCAR WILDE

*****

CAUSERIE--AERIAL SIGNALS

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CAUSERIE—AERIAL SIGNALS

    I was young then. My uncle used to stay in Niralanagar, a posh colony of Lucknow. That was not very far from my home. He had an adjacent neighbour. Who, happened to be a Flight Lieutenant with the Indian Air Force. His name was Palta. Attached to the transport squadron and posted in Bakshi-ka-talab, the defence airport, of Lucknow. His chic and suave wife was Rita. Good looking. And, quite in line, with the upbeat image of the armed forces wives.

    He often used to pilot the morning flight at 7 a.m. to Guwahati. It used to take him about five to six hours. Because, enroute, he used to off-load cargo at Bagdogra airport in West Bengal. Next day he used to return in the same manner from his sojourn. Where, he normally used to take-off from Guwahati at seven. And, after touching Bagdogra again, he used to reach Lucknow by around 1 P.M.

    I often used to go to my uncle’s house those days, to meet my cousins. He had a huge terrace in his house. Where, we used to go and play. And, whilst, on the terrace, I often used to notice Rita aunty, sitting in one corner of the terrace alone with her umbrella open under the hot sun. I used to wonder why. But I never bothered to ask.

    One day, when the suspense became unbearable. I decided to break it. So I asked, ‘Aunty, why do you come and sit under the hot sun?’ she smiled at me and asked.

    ‘Who are you?’

    ‘Well, I am Bina’s cousin. I often come here, to spend time with her. But each time I came here. I saw you sitting in that corner with your umbrella, under the hot sun. So, I thought of asking you.’ She looked at me and smiled and then said.

    ‘I must say you are very observant beta. I’m waiting for your uncle. He should be coming any moment now.’ And with that she grinned again. I didn’t quite understand what she meant. I began to mull, ‘waiting for uncle and that too in the terrace in the peak of summers.’ It really wasn’t making any sense.

    ‘But is he going to fall from the sky that you’re waiting here aunty?’ I asked a bit loudly. She laughed in amusement.

    ‘You want to see him coming?’

    ‘Yes aunty.’

    ‘Then just wait here.’

    The suspense was beginning to get more interesting. So I decided to wait. Even when it was lunch time and I was hungry. After about ten minutes. I could hear the faint sound of an approaching aircraft. Soon, it grew louder. Is when, aunty stood up and closed her umbrella, and started waving it, at the aircraft. That was now descending on the nearby airport and wasn’t very high. Is when, I saw. The pilot had dipped the left wings of the aircraft. And after a little while it vanished behind the tall trees. Skyscrapers had not come up by then. After the sound of the aircraft subsided, she looked at me and said. ‘That was uncle.’ I asked.

    ‘How do you know Aunty?’

    ‘Didn’t you see? He dipped the wings of the aircraft. Until, it went behind the trees. That signal was for me.

    ‘Aunty, but why did he do that?’

    She smiled again and said, ‘Beta to announce his arrival. Now I need to go and cook for him.’

    ‘And what will you cook?

    ‘That’s a good question. If he dips the left wings, it would mean non-veg. Right would mean veg. And, if he doesn’t dip, either, that would mean no lunch. So bye! For now as I need to go and cook.’ And with that she went away.

    I was dazed for a moment. I too went down for lunch. And after about forty five minutes. I could hear the sound of Mr Palta’s bike.

    Many years have passed since then. I don’t even know where Mrs Palta is. But, I could never forget this small and sweet incident that reflects so much about her love and concern for her husband. And, last but not the least. How they learnt to communicate from the sky, with each other—like in semaphores. When, mobile phones were not even invented. 

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