MONDAY MUSINGS SEASON 2 - Episode 285 - Eight qualities of an intellect

MONDAY MUSINGS SEASON 2 - EPISODE 285

Eight qualities of an intellect

28th October 2024

WISHING ALL THE READERS HAPPY DEEPAVALI, FESTIVAL OF JOY

Angad & Hanuman – Master of 8 intellect qualities

Hanuman convinced his team leader Angad that he possessed eight intelligences and four diplomacy tactics through the sloka

बुद्ध्या हि अष्ट अंगया युक्तम् चतुर् बल समन्वितम् | चतुर् दश गुणम् मेने हनुमान् वालिनः सुतम् || Valmiki Ramayan 4.54.2

In a latter reference in the same Valmiki Ramayan, Sita bestows similar recognition, this time for Hanuman, and that comes in Yudha Kand.

Lord Ram sends Hanuman to Sita to break the news of Ravana’s fall in the war in a tactful way. On hearing Hanuman’s words, Sita praises Hanuman’s intelligence in the same manner ie he is possessing eight qualities of intellect,

अतिलक्षणसंपन्नं माधुर्यगुणभुषितम् बुद्ध्या ह्यष्टाङ्गया युक्तं त्वमेवार्हसि भाषितुम् | (Valmiki Ramayan 6.113.26) atilakshaNasampannam mAdhuryabhUShitam buddhayA hyaShThAngayA yuktam tvam eva arhasi bhAShitum

You alone (त्वं एव) are capable (अर्हसि) of speaking such words (भाषितुम् ) that are filled (युक्तं) with eight qualities of intelligence (अष्टाङ्गया बुद्धया), endowed with all good qualities (अतिलक्षणसंपन्नं), and are embellished with pleasant qualities (माधुर्यगुणभुषितम्).

Pandavas are also intellects?

But what are these eight qualities of intelligence? Valmiki does not describe the list of eight intelligences in both the occasions– apparently because it was pretty well known at that time! Where can the list of ‘Eight qualities of intellect’ be seen?

We can notice another incidence in the second epic, Mahabharath, with reference to eight qualities of intellect.

The Pandavas have been asked to go in exile for 14 years. As they are about to enter the forest, a number of well-wishers, scholars, and priests prepare to accompany them. Seeing their love, Yudhistrar is overcome with grief. Seeing his grief, one of the sages – sunaka – consoles him and provides a summary of sAnkhya yOga,

अष्टाङ्गां बुद्धिमाहुर्यां सर्वाश्रेयोविघातिनीम् श्रुतिस्मृतिसमायुक्तां सा राजंस्तव्यवस्तिथा

ashThaangAm buddhim AhuryAm sarva ashreya vighAtinIm shruti-smruti-samAyuktAm sA rajams tavya avastithA

In you dwells the understanding that is decorated with eight qualities of intelligence  from the study of the vedAs is that are considered to protect one against all evils. Such people don’t get dejected by temporary changes in life and weather them without pain or sorrow.

The list of much touted eight qualities of intellect does not get listed even here. Where else do we get this list?

Kamandaka gives the answer

Future commentators quote this list from a later book called nItisAra kamandaka (the essence of law by kamandaka), written by kamandaka, a disciple of the famed Chanakya and the list goes like this:

शुश्रूषा श्रवणं चैव ग्रहणं धारणं तथा उहापोहोऽर्थविज्ञानं तत्त्वज्ञानं च धीगुणः (4.21)

Reordered as a sentence (known as anvaya in Sanskrit poetry), the verse becomes: धीनाः गुणाः शुश्रूषा श्रवणं ग्रहणं च धारणं (एव) तथा ऊह अपोह अर्थविज्ञानं च तत्त्वज्ञानं dhInAH guNAH shuShrUSHA ShravaNAm grahaNam ca dhAraNam eva tathA Uha apOha arthavijnAnam ca tattvajnAnam

Meaning and the list is:

धीनाः (dhINAH) – Intellectual people (plural form of a person having intellect)

गुणाः (guNAH) – qualities धीगुणः (dhIguNaH) – qualities (गुणाः) of people having intellect (धीनाः) शुश्रूषा (shuShrUSHA) – the desire to listen श्रवणं (ShravaNam) – listening ग्रहणं (grahaNam) – grasping or taking in what was heard (गृह् (gruh) – to grasp / accept / take in) च (ca) – and धारणं (dhAraNam) – absorbing / internalizing what was taken in (धा (dhA) – to bear / support / nourish / protect) (एव) (eva) – thus तथा (tathA)- also ऊह (Uha) – to reason by inference and make appropriate deductions (of what has been internalized) अपोह (अप + ऊह) (apOha – apa + Uha) – to reason against what has been internalized अर्थविज्ञानं (arthavijnAnam) –intent of the knowledge that has been inferred तत्त्वज्ञानं (tattvajnAnam) – the essence / philosophy / spirit of the knowledge that has been inferred.

In essence, the subhAShita gives a map of how one must take in knowledge and internalize it ie the formula for learning and internalizing the learning. This success formula requires all the eight qualities. The process of knowledge acquisition will not be successful even if one of the qualities is found to be missing,

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POSITIVE NEWS PAGE

This week’s positive news is about the great industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata.

Industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata passed away on October 9 at the age of 86, left a profound legacy not only in business but also with his humaneness. Ratan’s death is a big loss for the country and humanity. But the focus for this week’s POSITIVE NEWS is the information coming out about his humaneness.

Ratan has ensured “unlimited” care for his dog, Tito, in his will. Tito was adopted roughly six years ago after the death of his previous dog of the same name. He will be cared for by his long-time cook, Rajan Shaw. Setting aside wealth for pets is a common practice in the West, but it remains a rarity in India.

Mr.Tata was known for his love for dogs. On social media, Tata frequently advocated for the welfare of stray dogs and encouraged others to show compassion towards them. He even dedicated himself to finding homes for abandoned pets and worked to ensure their safety.

Ratan Tata, whose estate is estimated to exceed ₹ 10,000 crore, also designated assets to various beneficiaries, including his foundation, his long-time butler Subbiah and his executive assistant Shantanu Naidu. He has relinquished his stake in Mr Naidu's companionship venture, Goodfellows, while also covering his educational expenses abroad.

What a role model?

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