Sumathi Sataka - Its relevance to modern living(6)



“Aakonna kuude amrutham
Taakoncheka nichhuvade daata dharitrin
sokorchuvade manujudu
tekuva kalavade vamsatilakudu mahilo Sumathi”


In English it is something like this

Whatever Food available to a very hungry person
One who does not stop at giving is the best philanthropist
One who comfort others without caring for his own is the best human being
One who has the efficiency / wherewithal to improve family name is the head of the family
in the world


The above are the best things to happen in the world. When one is hungry whatever food available tastes the best. The person in such a situation will not be considered about the origin, taste, colour etc. The person will consume the food and will find it the most tasty, desirable food at that time. He will even remember such moments and such food all through his life. In India and remembers the giver as a God, Amritha is considered the food of the Gods.
A person can be considered the best Philanthropist if he does not go back on his word or does not go back even in the face of a peril to self. There is a great story in Indian mythology about an emperor called Sibi. When there was a discussion between the Gods, his name came up as the top philanthropist of all the worlds. To check this, Indra, king of gods turns into an Eagle and chases another god who turns to a dove. When the dove approaches Sibi for protection, he grants the same immediately. Then the eagle confronts Sibi and tell him that it is following the rules of the nature by hunting other birds for its food and that Sibi has stopped it from earning its food in the natural way. The eagle then suggests to Sibi to provide flesh from his body equal to the weight of the dove in order not to deprive of its food. Sibi agrees for the same put the dove on one side of the weighing scales and start cutting his limbs one by one and putting them on the other side. However the dove turns out to be more heavier than those limbs. Ultimately Sibi himself sits on the other side of the scales. The moral of the story is that a person when decides to help should not hold back. This is because half-hearted help is no help at all.
The third line talks about a person who can be considered humane. When one is in troubles a person who provides comfort either by word or deed is considered humane and he fits the definition of a real human being.

Lastly a person cannot be considered as the head of the family just by birth. One may be the eldest by birth but if is not virtuous enough or efficient enough to hold up the family name or fortunes then he / she cannot be considered as head of the family. It should be the one who has the desirable qualities to hold up the family name to be considered as head of family.

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