SriRamaJayam
07. Friendship - Be like evening shadow!!
आरंभ-गुर्वी क्षयिणी क्रमेण
लघ्वी पुरा दीर्घमुपैति
पश्चात् ।
दिनस्य पूर्वार्ध परार्ध भिन्ना
छायेवे मौत्री
खलसज्जनानाम् ॥ भर्तृहरि (नीति शतक )
This verse uses a metaphor to describe the nature of friendship with wicked people and noble people by comparing it to the movement of shadows during the day.
Meaning: The friendship with wicked people is intense at the beginning but fades over time, like the shadow in the forenoon. In contrast, friendship with noble people may start small but grows strong over time, like the lengthening shadow in the afternoon.
Here's a line-by-line explanation:
आरंभ-गुर्वी क्षयिणी क्रमेण - Arambha gurvee kshayanee kramena - In the beginning, it is large (like a long shadow), but gradually diminishes.
लघ्वी पुरा दीर्घमुपैति पश्चात् - Laghvee puraa deerghamupaiti pashchaat - It starts short but later becomes long (referring to how the shadow lengthens in the afternoon).
दिनस्य पूर्वार्ध परार्ध भिन्ना - Dinasya poorvaardha-paraardha bhinna - The shadow in the first half of the day (forenoon) is different from the second half (afternoon).
छायेवे मौत्री खलसज्जनानाम्- Chaayeva maitree khala-sajjanaanaam - Just like the shadow, the friendship with a wicked person and a noble person behaves differently.
Keynote : One more interesting thing to derive from "Be like the evening shadow" is that we should approach our work slowly and steadily. There’s no point in starting an activity with high enthusiasm only to gradually lose interest. Instead, we need to begin at a steady pace—whether we’re learning a new skill or taking on new challenges. Like the evening shadow, we should start slow and steady, allowing our progress to gradually become more visible and significant.
SarvamSriKrishnarpanam
