Bhartrihari

Bhartrihari was a sanskrit poet of Ancient India.He wrote on all matters concerning the human life like friendship,education,ignorance,fate,morals,sex and renunciation.His ideas and suggestions are practical,
down to the earth and full of common sense which is notcommon.
The criteria he gives to select a friend are worth knowing by every person particularly by the young who stand at the threshold of entering an active and useful life.


In a verse on the qualities of a friend he says

Friend shines with these qualities
HE turns his friend away from the sin
Imbues his friend with matters of virtuous conduct
Hides the secrets of his friend
Nourishes his character
Does not desert in the hour of need and danger
Gives when his friend is in want
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In two interesting episodes Bhartrihari describes the power of God which people call Fate, on the lives of both human and non humanliving things.


A certain bald headded person walking in the hot Sun,having his head scorched by the hot sunrays ran quickly and stood in the shade of a palmyra tree.But alas! his head was broken with great sound by the speedy impact of its falling fruit!Dangers follow to the place where the person who is strongly smitten by God goes!
A snake charmer caught hold of a snake and put it in basket with lid on and some weight over it.The snake was frightened and lost all hopes of escape.Further it was tired too.The night set in.A rat made a hole to the basket and went in to the basket ,perhaps in search of food. The snake killed the rat ,swallowed it and made its escape to freedom through the same hole made by the rat.At any time,for harm or growth God alone is the cause!!