Utterances Beyond Languages - 1
Indian literary heritage has been blessed with teaching and preachings on almost every subject. There are works which have crossed the barriers of language for greater readability. For example, Hāla‘s Gāthāsaptaśatī, authored in Prākṛta inspired a Saṃskṛta work called Āryāsaptaśatī, authored by Govardhanācārya.
Here’s a verse:
शतेषु जायते शूरः सहस्रेषु च पण्डितः।
वक्ता दशसहस्रेषु दाता भवति वा न वा॥
One among the hundred tends to be valiant. One among a thousand tends to be learned man. One of ten thousand tends to be an orator. (But) A donor may be born, or not.
This very popular verse depicts the infrequent occurrence of philanthropist and is often referred for showcasing their high importance. By doing a quick search for finding its source, it turned out to be in Skandapurāṇam[1].
However, one such rendition is found in Prākṛta work called Vasudevahiṇḍī, authored by Saṅghadāsagaṇī. Authored in 5th century C. E., Vasudevahiṇḍī (Wanderings of Vasudeva) is work featuring several tales with several heros from several places and times. It is believed to be a Jaina rendition of long lost Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā.[2] The verse is as follows:
सतेसु जायते सूरो सहस्सेसु य पंडिओ।
वत्ता सयसहस्सेसु दाया जायति वा ण वा॥
इंदियाणं जए सूरो धम्मं चरति पंडिओ।
वत्ता सच्चवओ होइ दाया भूयहिए रओ॥[3]
[शतेषु जायते शूरः सहस्रेषु च पण्डितः। वक्ता शतसहस्रेषु दाता जायते वा न वा॥
इन्द्रियाणां जये शूरो धर्मं चरति पण्डितः। वक्ता सत्यव्रतो भवति दाता भूतहिते रतः॥]
One among a hundred tends to valiant. One among a thousand tends to be learned man. One among a hundred thousand (lakh) tends to become an orator. (But) A donor may be born, or not.
One is (regarded as) valiant when victorious over one’s own senses. One is (regarded as) learned when he practiced Dharma. One is (regarded as) orator when he observes (usage) of truth. One is (regarded as) philanthropist when he is engaged in welfare of beings.
This verse occurs in kathāmukha of Vasudevahiṇḍī. This verse, not only depicts the infrequent occurrence of such personalities, but also goes on to provide chief characteristic of each of them.
इत्यलं विस्तरेण।
[1] māheśvarakhaṇḍa, kaumārikakhaṇḍa, adhyāya – 2, verse 70.
A variation in reading of 4th pāda can be noted as दाता जायेत वा न वा॥ Link: Here
[2]Further Reading: Jain, J. C., and Kiel. “Is Vasudevahiṇḍi a Jaina version of the Bṛhatkathā?” Journal of the Oriental Institute, vol. 23, no. 1–2, Sept. 1973, pp. 59–63.
[3]Saṅghadāsagaṇī. Vasudevahiṇḍī. Edited by Caturavijaya and Puṇyavijaya, 1st ed., vol. 1 2, Jaina Ātmānanda Sabhā, 1930.