Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Sookti – April 13, 2020 – Mysore
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
Durbalasya balaṃ rājā, bālānām rodanaṃ balaṃ
Balaṃ moorkhasya mounitvaṃ, cōrāṇāṃ anŗtaṃ balaṃ ǁ
A weak man’s strength lies in the king who rules the country. In crying, lies the strength of the infant. A foolish man’s strength lies in his silence. A dacoit’s strength lies in telling lies.
Balati prāniti svapakṣam anēna iti balam- this is how grammar defines balam (strength). It means, that which protects and sustains our body and life-force is strength. Durbala means the person who lacks strength.
Mrdu sarvatra bādhyate- said our elders. The entire world looks down upon one who is meek. Even children ridicule the person who is meek or who lacks bodily strength. Often we see that the wicked and powerful usurp the wealth and lands belonging to the meek/ weak people. Even the village heads fail to deliver justice to such meek/ weak people. Who can offer protection to such a weak man? Only the king! All the citizens are equal in the eyes of a king. He does not differentiate between the strong and the weak. After all, it is the duty of the king to deliver justice in situations where injustice prevails. Rāja means king. In addition to this, the word ‘rāja’ also means ‘Indra’ (the Lord of heaven) and ‘Chandra’ (Moon-god). Based on these meanings, it can be said that to the weak, only the Lord is the protector.
Infants wail a lot. But, do we know why they wail? Only a few of us can decipher this. Until the time of birth, memories of past birth remain clearly in its mind. The difficulties and sorrows of the past instantly come to memory. To add to it the thought that it will once again get entangled in attachments, bondages and will further get sunk into the wheel of repeated rebirths haunts the new born. Also there is a thought that the Lord did not listen to its prayer and save it from rebirth. Overcome with all these thoughts the baby begins to wail soon upon birth.
To an infant, its strength lies in wailing. If a new-born does not weep, the nurses pinch it and make it cry. In infants, muscles and bones are not fully developed. When they wail, their muscles and bones develop the required strength. Even medically it is said that crying is good for an infant. It makes them healthy.
To remain silent is an art. Fools generally have a loose tongue, due to which they frequently land in troubles. Silence is the sole remedy for such people. However, as we all know, mouna requires intense practice. Only practice will lead to perfection. Perfection in mouna has immense benefits. As such, for fools, their strength lies in maintaining silence.
Now, for burglars, their strength lies in tellies lies. Satya means truthfulness. There are two terms- satya and ṛta. Although they externally appear synonymous there is a slight difference as per Shastras. Burglary is a sin. One who commits this sin necessarily has to undergo punishment. But the burglar is going to get into trouble from all sides if he reveals the truth. For this reason, thieves prefer to resort to lying under all situations. You can torture them, but still they will tell lies. It saves them from punishment. This sookti therefore says that for thieves, their strength lies in telling lies.