vāgbhūṣaṇaṁ bhūṣaṇam (वाग्भूषणं भूषणम्)

वाग्भूषणं भूषणम् [vāgbhūṣaṇaṁ bhūṣaṇam]

(A very popular SUBHASHITA from Neeti Satakam)

केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषं हारा न चन्द्रोज्ज्वलाः
न स्नानं न विलेपनं न कुसुमं नालङ्कृता मूर्धजाः ।
वाण्येका समलङ्करोति पुरुषं या संस्कृता धार्यते
क्षीयन्ते खलु भूषणानि सततं वाग्भूषणं भूषणम् ।।

(नीति शतकम्)

ಕೇಯೂರಾಣಿ ನ ಭೂಷಯನ್ತಿ ಪುರುಷಂ ಹಾರಾ ನ ಚನ್ದ್ರೋಜ್ಜ್ವಲಾಃ
ನ ಸ್ನಾನಂ ನ ವಿಲೇಪನಂ ನ ಕುಸುಮಂ ನಾಲಙ್ಕೃತಾ ಮೂರ್ಧಜಾಃ |
ವಾಣ್ಯೇಕಾ ಸಮಲಙ್ಕರೋತಿ ಪುರುಷಂ ಯಾ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಾ ಧಾರ್ಯತೇ
ಕ್ಷೀಯನ್ತೇ ಖಲು ಭೂಷಣಾನಿ ಸತತಂ ವಾಗ್ಭೂಷಣಂ ಭೂಷಣಮ್ ||

(ನೀತಿ ಶತಕಮ್)

keyūrāṇi na bhūṣayanti puruṣaṁ hārā na candrojjvalāḥ
na snānaṁ na vilepanaṁ na kusumaṁ nālaṅkṛtā mūrdhajāḥ |
vāṇyekā samalaṅkaroti puruṣaṁ yā saṁskṛtā dhāryate
kṣīyante khalu bhūṣaṇāni satataṁ vāgbhūṣaṇaṁ bhūṣaṇam ||

(Nīti Śatakam)

కేయూరాణి న భూషయన్తి పురుషం హారాః న చన్ద్రోజ్వళా
న స్నానం న విలేపనం న కుసుమం నాలఙ్కృతా మూర్ధజా।
వాణ్యేకా సమలఙ్కరోతి పురుషం యా సంస్కృతా ధార్యతే
క్షీయన్తేऽఖిల భూషణాని సతతం వాగ్భూషణం భూషణమ్॥

(భర్తృహరి సుభాషితము నీతి శతకము)

 Meaning...

It is not the bracelets (kEyUra) a person is adorn (bhushyanti) with, nor the necklaces (haaraa) as shiny (ujjwala) as the moon (chandra), nor a nice bath (snaanam), nor the fragrances from smearing or anointing (vilepanam) he receives, nor the flowers (kusumam), nor the decorated hair which are indeed destroyed over a period of time.

Only that speech embellishes a person, which has been upheld with cultural refinement. Indeed, all ornaments decay. Ornament of speech is always the real ornament.

What is the use of having ornaments and garlands in the body by which one feels that he is looking good?

If one’s speech is not consoling and soothing, but is hurting and agitating to others, what is the use of physical ornamental decoration?

Although decoration of the body means ornamenting it with costly jewels and garlands, that decoration is not the true decoration. Moreover such decorations are ever decaying and do not last to make the person beautiful.

What is true decoration then?

True decoration is in the mind which is imbued with good values and virtues. The expression of these virtues is speech which bestows peace and joy to the listeners. This is the true decoration anyone must aspire to have.

Chanting this shloka again and again one will get rid of the pride and possessiveness that one may have about one’s valuable ornaments, and the mind will dwell upon cultivating culturally refined speech.

Goddess Saraswathi is also referred to as VaakkDevi, the Goddess of Speech.

Vidya will excel, only when there is Vinaya/humility;

VIDYA will shine, only where there is Neeti Samskaara;

When there is no Vinaya; where there is no Neeti, Samskaara; such a person even though educated is a literately uneducated person;

In such places & with such persons, VidyaLakshmi will not reside;

For any student, poet, writer, analyst, journalist, astrologer, musician, singer, preacher, philosopher, etc. to become proficient and to excel in their field, Divine blessings and Grace of VaAkk Devi is very much essential.

Blessings and Grace of Goddess SaraswathiDevi the presiding deity of such #AksharaGnyaana is very much essential for anyone to acquire and excel in the filed of learning/education Vidya Buddhi #GnyaAna

Saraswathi worship is necessary for spiritual enlightenment.

सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि ।
विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥

ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ನಮಸ್ತುಭ್ಯಂ ವರದೇ ಕಾಮರೂಪಿಣಿ |
ವಿದ್ಯಾರಮ್ಭಂ ಕರಿಷ್ಯಾಮಿ ಸಿದ್ಧಿರ್ಭವತು ಮೇ ಸದಾ ||

సరస్వతి నమస్తుభ్యం వరదే కామరూపిణి |
విద్యారమ్భం కరిష్యామి సిద్ధిర్భవతు మే సదా ||