A teacher with half-baked knowledge was frequently seen beating children.
Someone asked him,
"Why are you hitting them like that?"
The teacher replied:
"Daṇḍaṁ daśaguṇaṁ bhavet" — Only by beating will they gain wisdom, right?
To correct this misunderstanding, the person recited the following Sanskrit verse along with its true meaning, which helped open the teacher's eyes.
Sanskrit Verse:
Viśvāna ahi paśuṣu
Kardam apsu ca nimnagāḥ!
Vārdhakye vipine vahnau
Daṇḍaṁ daśaguṇaṁ bhavet!!
Word Meanings:
Vi = Bird
Śvāna = Dog
Ahi = Snake
Paśu = Animal
Kardama = Mud
Apsu = In water
Nimnagāḥ = On uneven terrain
Vārdhakye = In old age
Vipine = In forest
Vahnau = In fire (to extinguish)
True Meaning of the Verse:
A staff or stick (daṇḍa) is useful to a person in ten different ways:
Protection from birds
Protection from dogs
Protection from snakes
Protection from wild animals
Support while walking in mud
Support in water
Help on uneven terrain
Aid in old age
Safety in forests
Help in managing or extinguishing fire
Moral of the Story:
The "daṇḍa" mentioned in the verse is not meant for punishment or beating, but rather as a supportive tool in various life situations.
The person used this verse to correct the teacher's misunderstanding, showing that wisdom comes from understanding, not violence
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