Bhartrihari on Knowledge

2022-02-06

A small post today.

यदा किंचिज्ज्ञोऽहं गज इव मदान्धः समभवं
yadā kiṃcijjño'haṃ gaja iva madāndhaḥ samabhavaṃ
When I knew just a little, I was like an elephant blinded in rut,

तदा सर्वज्ञोऽस्मीत्यभवदलिप्तं मम मनः ।
tadā sarvajño'smītyabhavadaliptaṃ mama manaḥ ।
and my mind in its arrogance thought it knew all.

यदा किंचित्किंचिद्बुधजनसकाशादधिगतं
yadā kiṃcitkiṃcidbudhajanasakāśādadhigataṃ
As I learned more and more from contact with the wise,

तदा मूर्खोऽस्मीति ज्वर इव मदो मे व्यपगतः ॥
tadā mūrkho'smīti jvara iva mado me vyapagataḥ ॥
I saw I was a fool, and my pride vanished like a fever.