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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
154
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
"Kindness or benevolence is the basis of dharma or righteousness. Pride is the cause of sin." If there is pride in our benevolence, it brings an evil result; not merit. The people who are not benevolent but who are proud and arrogant are really pitiable. A poet using a Chataka bird as a symbol teaches a truth to those who seek help from misers.
Once, a Chataka bird felt very thirsty. Hoping to get water, it repeatedly looked towards the clouds, it begged the clouds for water. It made entreaties to the clouds for water; it narrated its anguish and it cringed for help. But the clouds thundering without raining were floating away. At that time a poet addressing the Chataka bird said this
रे रे चातक ! सावधानमनसा मित्र ! क्षणं श्रूयताम् । अम्भोदा बहवो वसन्ति गगने
सर्वेऽपि न तादृशाः ॥ केचिद् वृष्टिभिरार्द्रयन्ति धरणीम् गर्जन्ति केचिद् वृथा ।
यं यं पश्यसि तस्य तस्य पुरतो
मा ब्रूहि दीनं वचः !!
Re Re Chatak! Savadhanamanasā Mitra! Kshanam Shruyatām Ambhodha Bahavo Vasanti gagane Sarvepi na tadrushah Kechid Vrushitibhirardrayanti Dharanim Crjanti Kechid Vritha
Yam Yam Pashyasi tasya tasya purato Ma bruhi dinam Vachaḥ.
"Oh friend Chataka! Listen to me attentively for a moment. There are countless clouds in the sky but all are not thus. (All are not givers of rain.) Some cause rain to fall and make the earth wet and happy but the others merely thunder and pass. Therefore do not entreat every cloud to help you."
The inner meaning is that misers do not give any charity and that only those who are by nature benevolent give help to others.
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