WORDS HAVE A LIFE OF THEIR OWN
Everyone knows that words have the force to both repel and attract. Their power in our interdependent species is astounding in its capacity to affect relationships for ages. That must be why ancient Indians personified thought, intelligence, speech, creative expression and learning as Sarasvati, ‘the flowing’. To ‘worship’ Sarasvati is to acknowledge these important attributes of the human race. When we repeat Sage Agastya’s words about Sarasvati, “Ya kundendu tushara hara dhavala…” (Fair as the jasmine, the moon and a garland of dew…) we are not being idolatrous but poetic. Moving on, we might like to remember other poetic words from our heritage.
Kabir, the mystic saint-poet of
Varanasi (c 1440 - c 1518) says, “Madhur vachan hai aushadhi, kutil vachan hai teer/Sravan dwar hai sanchre, saale sakal sareer”, meaning “Sweet words are like healing herbs, harsh words like arrows that enter through the door of the ears and afflict the whole body.” In other words, even while stating the truth it works better when expressed politely, not roughly.
Therefore, “Meetha sabse boliye, sukh upje chahu aur/Vasikaran yeh mantra hai, tajiye vachan kathor”, meaning “Speak sweet, polite words, they gladden people like a charm and draw them to you; give up harsh words.”
But, adds Kabir, sweet words are not enough if behaviour is unsweet: “Kathni mithi khand si, karni vish ki loi/Kathni chhodi karni kare, vish ka amrit hoi,” meaning “Speech may be saccharine while deeds are venomous; but when sweet words are backed by good deeds, poison can be turned to nectar.”
Nevertheless, “Boli to anmol hai, jo koi jaane bol/Hridya taraju tol ke, tab mukh bahar khol,” meaning, “Words are invaluable if one knows how to say them; so weigh them first on the scales of the heart before opening your mouth.”
But to weigh words properly, we need to first assess our thoughts: “Keson kaha bigadia, je munde sau bar/Man ko kahe na mundiye, jaa mein vishe vikaar” meaning “What harm has our hair done that it’s shaved a hundred times? Why don’t we shave our minds instead where uncounted bad thoughts flourish?”
Accordingly Kabir takes a dim view of those who cannot bear to hear genuine criticism: “Nindak nihare rakhiye, aangan kuti chhawai/Bin pani bin sabun, nirmal kare subhav,” meaning, “Keep your critics close to you, right there in your inner courtyard, for without needing soap and water, they can help cleanse you of your errors.”
Knowing all this, gifted as we are with thought, intelligence and speech, we are expected to take responsibility for how we conduct ourselves: “Jab tu aaya jagat mein, log hanse tu roye/Aise karni na kari, paachhe hanse sab koi,” meaning, “When you came into this world, it laughed while you cried; don’t do things that will make it laugh at you when you’re gone.” Most importantly, says Kabir, why do we waste the time we have? “Aachhe din paachhe gaye, Hari se kiya na het/ Ab pachhtaye hot kya, chidiya chug gayi khet,” meaning, “O Soul, why bring yourself to regret that sparrows picked the field bare, is it not better to do God’s work (good work) while fortune favours you?”