न च विद्यासमो बन्धुर्न च व्याधिसमो रिपुः ।
न चापत्यसमः स्नेही न च धर्मो दयापरः ॥
अन्वयः – विद्यासमः न बन्धुः (च) व्याधिसमः रिपुः न ।
अपत्यसमः स्नेही न (च) दया अपरः (दयया विना ) न धर्मः॥
“There is no better relative like education, no enemy like a disease, no better friend like an offspring, no other virtue other than mercy!”
A relative’s true worth often reveals itself in their ability to be there for us, offering support through both the highs and lows of life. It’s disheartening, though, when we find that many relatives may not stand by us during our struggles. It can be particularly painful to feel that some might even harbour jealousy during our moments of success. It’s important to remember that we are not alone in experiencing these feelings, and it’s okay to seek out those who truly uplift us.
Who else but education stands by us at all times? In both joy and sorrow, it confidently guides us through every situation. Without a doubt, it is the greatest companion we could ever have!
When caught early and addressed, a disease can be viewed as a friend reaching out to help us understand the challenges our body is facing. However, if we overlook it, that same disease can become an adversary, complicating our lives and impacting our health in ways we never anticipated. It’s crucial to listen to our bodies and seek help early on because we deserve to feel our best and live fully.
A child is our best friend. They are with us from birth, perceiving the subtle changes in our faces and hearts. They understand what brings us joy or sorrow, becoming deeply attuned to our needs and feelings.
This reflects the kind of bonding that ideally exists between a child and a parent. However, it’s worth considering how this dynamic has changed in our modern world. Many parents, influenced by the pursuit of so-called independence common in Western culture—which is increasingly adopted by Indian families—encourage their children to think and act separately from a young age, but within the boundaries defined by parent’s limited intelligence. This is the hypocrisy of modern parenting. While promoting independence is important, it’s crucial for parents to also nurture a strong emotional bond with their children. Striking a balance between fostering autonomy and maintaining close connections can lead to healthier development and a more fulfilling parent-child relationship. Building this connection can greatly enhance a child’s sense of security and well-being.
The kids, from a very young age, miss the secure hug of their parents most of the time. They have no time to spend with their kids. Today’s biggest problem is the greed of parents to earn only lakhs of rupees, which they consider would bring happiness and comfort to their kids! (What other than a hug of love would bring more happiness or comfort to our offspring?) While different sets of parents are interested in building their careers! With this in mind, they just forget their responsibility towards their children. I would like to question such parents when they are just career-oriented or just wish to earn lots of money, why do they need children??
There is always a trade-off: when you decide to have children, you often have to sacrifice some of your personal interests. However, in many cases, it is the children who end up making sacrifices instead. As a result, once they grow up, they often prioritize their careers over their parents, leaving them behind to pursue their own happiness. This cycle continues through generations.
Isn’t it the ultimate form of selfishness?? Isn’t this nature in both men and women creating a gap between them? And one more evil that is spoiling society today is the present education system! The education business has grown to a level where parents take But still, if people stop running behind convents for education, which they consider the best sources of education, most of the problems will be solved! It’s better if we at least now understand that today’s schools and colleges are just business centers and not at all sources of education!
Also, they just create money-making machines and are not good human beings!! If this is the case, how does the bondage develop between the parents and the kids? How can they expect their offspring to understand them when they fail to understand their children? (The caretakers and maids understand better than the parents today!) Then how can an offspring be the best friend of their parents today? And there is no better virtue, no better religion other than mercy! A dharma should accept, teach, and preach mercy! If there is any such dharma without mercy, it’s not dharma! Mercy is the best religion, indeed!