Sloka 52
Sloka 52
Original Text:
मस्तकन्यस्तभारादेर्दुःखमन्यैर्निवार्यते । क्षुधादिकृतदुःखं तु विना स्वेन न केनचित् ॥ ५२ ॥
Certainly! Here is the detailed breakdown of the provided sloka:
- **Transliteration:**
Mastakanyastabhārāderduhkhamanyairnivāryate। Kṣudhādikṛtaduḥkhaṁ tu vinā svena na kenacit॥ 52॥
- **Translation:**
"The burden placed on the head or similar types of suffering can be alleviated by others, but the suffering caused by hunger, etc., can be relieved by none other than oneself."
- **Word Meanings:**
* मस्तक (mastaka) - head * न्यस्त (nyasta) - placed * भार (bhāra) - burden * आदेः (ādeḥ) - etc., or and so on * दुःखम् (duḥkham) - suffering * अन्यैः (anyaiḥ) - by others * निवार्यते (nivāryate) - is removed, alleviated * क्षुधा (kṣudhā) - hunger * आदि (ādi) - and the like, etc. * कृत (kṛta) - caused by * तु (tu) - but * विना (vinā) - without * स्वेन (svena) - by oneself * न (na) - not * केनचित् (kenacit) - by anyone
- **Commentary:**
This sloka highlights a fundamental human experience concerning the nature of suffering and its alleviation. The first line suggests that physical burdens, such as a load carried on the head, symbolize external problems that can often be remedied with assistance from others. This metaphor emphasizes that certain difficulties can be shared or delegated, reducing their impact on an individual.
In contrast, the second line addresses more intrinsic forms of suffering, particularly those born from hunger and basic needs, which are deeply personal and can only be resolved through one's own efforts. This individual-centric suffering emphasizes self-reliance and the idea that internal or personal challenges often require introspection and personal initiative for resolution.
The sloka cleverly juxtaposes these two types of suffering to convey a broader philosophical message: while community and support networks are valuable, there are aspects of life—rooted deep within our personal experience and responsibilities—that necessitate self-effort and cannot be outsourced to others. In Vedantic philosophy, this notion aligns with the concept of personal spiritual responsibility and the importance of self-awareness and self-reliance in one's journey toward liberation.
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