Words Well Worth 36: These Seven Never Feel Satisfied

Brahmin and fire, death and king, Hungry maw, sea, and home dwelling: Though filled up time and again still, Filled up these seven never feel. ______________________________________________________ Transliteration of the subhāśhita along with the meanings of Sanskrit words seriatim is given as under: sapta etāni na pūryante pūryamāņāni anekashah | brāhmaņah agnih yamah rājāpayodhih udaram gŗham || sapta etāni: these seven na pūryante: are not filled up; feel not content pūryamāņāni: (even if)filled up anekashah: repeatedly; again and again; in many ways brāhmaņah: Brahmin1 agnih:fire yamah: Death; the god of death rājāh:king (if not a good king) payodhih: ocean; sea udaram: stomach; belly, maw gŗham: house (needs constantly arise for more) 1. Brahmin: In ancient India Brahmins were highly respected for their learning and noble demeanour. This verse must have been written after they lost their grace in selling their services.