Suvarna Raupya Manikya - Even the Wealthy Depend on Farmers
सुवर्ण-रौप्य-माणिक्य-वसनैरपि पूरिताः। तथापि प्रार्थयन्त्येव कृषकान् भक्ततृष्णया॥
suvarṇa-raupya-māṇikya-vasanair api pūritāḥ । tathāpi prārthayanti eva kṛṣakān bhaktatṛṣṇayā ॥
Meaning of Suvarṇa-Raupya-Māṇikya-Vasanair Api
Even when possessing gold, silver, rubies, and fine cloth, people still have to depend on farmers for food.
Word by word
- सुवर्णsuvarṇa
gold
सु + वर्ण
- रौप्यraupya
silver
रूप्य
- माणिक्यmāṇikya
rubies
माणिक्य
- वसनैःvasanaiḥ
and garments
√वस्
- अपि पूरिताःapi pūritāḥ
though filled
√पॄ
- तथा अपिtathāpi
even so
- प्रार्थयन्ति एवprārthayanti eva
they still entreat
प्र + √अर्थ्
- कृषकान्kṛṣakān
the farmers
√कृष्
- भक्ततृष्णयाbhaktatṛṣṇayā
out of craving for cooked food
भक्त + √तृष्
tṛṣṇā is the word for a craving wealth cannot settle.
Commentary
This subhashita serves as a powerful reminder of the fundamental importance of agriculture. It points out the irony that even those who possess immense wealth in the form of gold, silver, and precious gems are ultimately dependent on the humble farmer for their most basic need: food. It calls for a deep respect for the 'Krishaka' (farmer) and highlights that true prosperity is not just about accumulating riches, but about the sustainability of the resources that support life. The irony is carried by one word. Tṛṣṇā is the term usually reserved for a craving wealth cannot settle, and here it is attached to nothing more exalted than cooked food — bhakta-tṛṣṇayā. The rich are shown wanting in exactly the vocabulary used for insatiable desire, and what they want is the one thing gold cannot become. The claim also comes from inside agriculture's own literature rather than from a poet looking on.
Original Post
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Vatsaraja honours a king who comes with gifts, illustrating the brave person's regard for respectful homage.
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