अयुक्तचारं दुर्दर्शमस्वाधीनं नराधिपम्।
वर्जयन्ति नरा दूरान्नदीपङ्कमिव द्विपाः॥
ayukta-cāraṁ durdarśam asvādhīnaṁ narādhipam
varjayanti narā dūrān nadī-paṅkam iva dvipāḥ
ayukta-cāram = who has not engaged spies; durdarśam = is inaccessible; asva-adhīnam = and not self-controlled; nara-adhipam = from a king; varjayanti = keep themselves; narāḥ = men; dūrāt = far away; nadī-paṅkam = [avoid] the mud in a river; iva = just as; dvipāḥ = elephants.
Men keep themselves far away from a king who has not engaged spies, is inaccessible and not self-controlled, just as elephants [avoid] the mud in a river.1
1 Dhārmika monarchy has nothing to do with neglectful, self-obsessed, bureaucratic and sensual rulership. No wonder such idiots in the name of kings have been overthrown in history. But, alas, in the name of democracy, now there are many such irresponsible heads amidst a few moral leaders struggling to deal with collectively schizophrenic governments. It turns out that throwing the baby out with the bath water hasn’t actually helped societies progress in moral values such as truthfulness, cleanliness in body and mind, self-discipline and compassion. And what is the use of “great advancement” in providing sophisticated technological facilities to people if they are neither selfless nor enlightened about their purpose in the world? Open-minded readers courageous enough to question the very premise that we as a civilization have advanced over the centuries in terms of life experience are advised to peruse Searching for Vedic India by His Holiness Devamrita Swami which persuasively provides evidence for the reality of a materially and spiritually more advanced civilization in the past, headquarted in India, that has actually regressed to the mess of today’s world.
“Inaccessible” indicates that [the king who has been referred to here] does not grant his citizens audience in an assembly at an appropriate time [to effectively address their grievances]. “Not self-controlled” indicates that he is dependent on his wives and so on. It also indicates that his intelligence can be carried away by [mere] assurances.1
Ayukta-cāram and asvādhīnam can also be considered adjectives of nadī-paṅkam [in which case it is indicated that] it is not easy to walk through [the mud referred to here].2
1 Rāmāyaṇa-bhūṣaṇa: asvādhīnaṁ patny-ādi-paratantraṁ para-pratyaya-neya-buddhiṁ vā.
2 In other words, the mud that is spoken of here is slippery mud. Rāmāyaṇa-bhūṣaṇa: paṅke ’pi viśeṣaṇa-dvayaṁ yojyam. ayuktaś cāro yasmin svasya sañcāra-kartur adhīno na bhavatīty arthaḥ.
“Inaccessible” indicates that [the king who has been referred to here] does not grant his citizens audience in an assembly at an appropriate time [to effectively address their grievances]. “Not self-controlled” indicates that he is dependent on his wives and so on. It also indicates that his intelligence can be carried away by [mere] assurances.1
Ayukta-cāram and asvādhīnam can also be considered adjectives of nadī-paṅkam [in which case it is indicated that] it is not easy to walk through [the mud referred to here].2
1. Rāmāyaṇa-bhūṣaṇa: asvādhīnaṁ patny-ādi-paratantraṁ para-pratyaya-neya-buddhiṁ vā.
2. In other words, the mud that is spoken of here is slippery mud. Rāmāyaṇa-bhūṣaṇa: paṅke ’pi viśeṣaṇa-dvayaṁ yojyam. ayuktaś cāro yasmin svasya sañcāra-kartur adhīno na bhavatīty arthaḥ.