7. Deso
A Country
(7 Verses)
81 [adm.]
Dhanavā sottiyo rājā nadī vejjo tathā—ime
pañca yattha na vijjanti, na tattha divasaṁ vase.
A wealthy person, a scholar, a king, a river and likewise a physician—where these five are not found, there one should not dwell even for a day.
A wealthy person represents access to capital, trade and economic activity. A scholar provides access to education, wisdom and spiritual guidance. A king represents the rule of law, security and social order. A river ensures a vital water supply for drinking, agriculture and cleanliness. A physician provides healthcare and the means to treat illness. The absence of any one of these creates a significant deficiency, but the absence of all five renders a place unfit for civilised life.
82 [adm.]
Yattha dese na sammāno, na pīti na ca bandhavo,
na ca vijjāgamo koci, na tattha divasaṁ vase.
Wherever in a country there is no respect, no joy, and no relative, and no coming by knowledge, there one should not dwell even for a day.
One should not live where there is no respect for individuals, as this leads to conflict and indignity. The absence of communal happiness indicates a dreary, oppressive atmosphere. Having no relatives or friends means a lack of social support and belonging. Most crucially, a place where one cannot acquire knowledge, whether practical, worldly or spiritual, stunts growth and purpose. A land devoid of these four qualities is a cultural and spiritual desert, offering no nourishment for the heart or mind, making it unworthy even of a short stay.
83 [adm.]
Amānanā yattha siyā, santānaṁ avamānanā,
hīnasamānanā vāpi, na tattha divasaṁ vase.
Wherever there would be dishonouring, disrespecting of good people, or honouring of the inferior, there one should not dwell even for a day.
One should not live where there is widespread disrespect, as this corrodes social harmony. More specifically, it condemns an environment where good, virtuous people are disparaged or held in low esteem. This indicates a society that rejects ethical values. Conversely, it also warns against a place where inferior, foolish or unprincipled people are honoured and respected. This represents a society with inverted values, where vice is rewarded over virtue. Such a place is not for anyone seeking to live a righteous life.
84 [ana., stm.]
Desam-osajja gacchanti sīhā sappurisā gajā,
tattheva nidhanaṁ yanti kākā kāpurisā migā.
Lions, good people, elephants, having left their country, go forth; crows, bad people and animals pass to destruction right there.
Lions, good people and elephants, all symbols of strength, dignity and intelligence, move to a country with purpose and independence; they go to it freely and shape their place within it. In contrast, crows, bad people and animals passively die or are trapped by their environment; they merely end up there and are confined by it, living without agency. A superior person actively chooses and influences their surroundings, while an inferior person is defined and limited by theirs.
85 [stm.]
Yatthālaso ca dakkho ca, sūro bhīru ca pūjiyā,
na santo tattha vasanti, avisesakare nare.
Wherever both the lazy and the skilfull, the heroic and the cowardly are worshipped, there the good do not dwell, as no distinction is made between people.
A place that bestows equal honour upon the lazy and the skillful, the heroic and the cowardly, demonstrates a failure to distinguish between valuable and worthless qualities. When effort is not rewarded nor vice censured, it creates a perverse incentive system that discourages excellence and integrity. Good people seek a community where merit is acknowledged and moral distinctions are clear, as these conditions are essential for growth and a just society.
86 [adm.]
Calaty-ekena pādena tiṭṭhaty-ekena paṇḍito:
nāsamikkhya paraṁ ṭhānaṁ, pubbam-āyatanaṁ caje.
The wise one moves one foot while keeping one foot firm: without taking note of the next place, he should not abandon the old ground.
The image of standing firmly on one foot while keeping one foot firm symbolises a person who is established, resolute and not easily unsettled. The wise person does not abandon their current position: whether a physical home, a job, or a stage in life merely on the speculation of something better. This is a principle of prudent management, warning against the restlessness that trades certain footing for uncertain prospects.
87= Mhn 78; [stm.]
Ṭhānabhaṭṭhā na sobhante, dantā kesā nakhā narā;
iti viññāya matimā saṭhānaṁ na lahuṁ caje.
The teeth, hair and nails of people, when fallen from their position, do not look beautiful; knowing this, the thoughtful one does not lightly abandon his own place.
Teeth, hair and nails are only useful and look beautiful when they are in their proper, natural place on the body. Once detached, they become worthless and unsightly. Similarly, a person’s own position, their rightful place, vocation, or role where their skills and virtues are effective, is where they find purpose and distinction. A thoughtful person understands this and does not lightly abandon their station, knowing that uprooting themselves without cause is like hair which loses its beauty and usefulness when cut off.