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RANGASWAMY • August 2, 1997 


Dear Friends, 

I am now commencing the task of disseminating information from 
material that I brought along with me from India. I shall begin 
with the Subhashita Nivi of Swami Vedanta Desikan from Sri. M.K.
Srinivasan's translation of this wonderful work of our Paramacharyan. 

The term Desikan means "One who reveals the path". True to his name, 
Swami Desikan reveals the ways of the uninitiated, the the ways of the 
arrogant, the ways of the wicked, the ways of the ill-mannered, the ways 
of the unworthy, the path of the noble, the path of the equanimous, the 
path of the accessible, the path of the righteous, the path of the 
generous, the path of virtuous poets, and finally, the path of the 
arbiters in his treasure house of wise sayings. Swami Desikan conveys his 
message in chaste Sanskrit in twelve exquisitely compiled sections  
containing twelve gems each. Sri Uttamur Veeraraghavachariar Swamigal 
has expounded on the several-fold meanings of these verses and has brought
out the many nuances of these verses to consummate effect in his 
commentaries, which may be of interest to readers seeking an in depth 
analysis of our Paramacharyan's collosus. This work was published by 
Ubhaya Vedanta Grantha Mala Publishers in 1971 (India Printing Works, 
Mylapore, Madras 600004).

The work "Subhashita Nivi", translated to mean "Treasure of Good sayings" 
was composed by Swami Desikan at the request of King Mahendra Simha
Bhoopala, who sought a non-religious, non-philosophical treatise for 
general discussion when in the Sabha with his ministers and courtiers. 
Accordingly, Swami Desikan composed this work of 144 verses on ethics, 
morals and human beahvior, consisting of twelve sections of twelve verses 
each. The first five sections deal with the ways of the undesirable ones 
while the remaining seven are devoted to the ways of teh virtuous. 
Additionally, Swami Desikan also conveyed several interpretations of 
each verse to the king's poets before delivering the work to
the king. It is reported that the king, his courtiers, ministers and 
poets revelled in the varied meaning of the verses and greatly benefitted 
from them. 

These verses, containing pearls of wisdom from our Paramacharyan, are 
relevant even in today's modern world and should benefit many in their 
pursuits for personal elevation.

I shall present the translation from Sri. M.K. Srinivasan's 
book in this multi-part series. I request other members who may have the 
original text to post them at their convenience for the benefit of 
the group.  

Namo Narayana,

Muralidhar Rangaswamy