Adversity

vighnākulatve’pi mano-rati-paratā

vighnākulatve’pi mano-rati-paratā | …
yasya kṛcchra-gatasyāpi keśave ramate manaḥ |
na vicyutā ca bhaktir vai sa vai bhāgavato naraḥ ||
āpad-gatasya yasyeha bhakir avyabhicāriṇī |
nānyatra ramate cittaṁ sa vai bhāgavato naraḥ ||
(Skanda Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.67–68)

“[A third degree of one-pointedness (ekāntitā) upon Śrī Bhagavān is described:] Being devoted with rati in the mind even while being disturbed by obstructions [is described in Skanda Purāṇa]: ‘A person whose mind rejoices in Keśava and whose bhakti does not digress even when one is beset with hardship is verily a Bhāgavata. A person beset with adversity here [in this world] whose bhakti is unwavering and whose mind does not rejoice elsewhere [i.e., apart from in Śrī Bhagavān] is verily a Bhāgavata.”

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ghṛṣṭaṁ ghṛṣṭaṁ punar api punaś candanaṁ cāru-gandhaṁ

ghṛṣṭaṁ ghṛṣṭaṁ punar api punaś candanaṁ cāru-gandhaṁ
chinnaṁ chinnaṁ punar api punaḥ svādu caivekṣu-khaṇḍam |
dagdhaṁ dagdhaṁ punar api punaḥ kāścanaṁ kānta-varṇaṁ
prāṇānte’pi prakṛti-vikṛtir jāyate nottamānām ||
(Unknown source)

“Even when ground and ground,
Again and again,
Sandalwood has a beautiful fragrance.
Even when pressed and pressed,
Again and again,
Sugarcane has a sweet taste.
Even when smelted and smelted,
Again and again,
Gold has a beautiful color.
[Similarly,] Even at death
[alt., Even in the face of death],
No aberration in nature
Of the exalted arises.”

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udaye savitā rakto raktaś cāstamaye tathā

udaye savitā rakto raktaś cāstamaye tathā |
sampattau ca vipattau ca mahatām eka-rūpatā ||
(Mahābhārata)

“The sun is red while rising, and red while setting as well. In both good fortune and misfortune [alt., prosperity or adversity], the great are uniform [i.e., consistent, unwavering, and steadfast].”

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mitraṁ prīti-rasāyanaṁ nayanayor ānandanaṁ cetasaḥ

mitraṁ prīti-rasāyanaṁ nayanayor ānandanaṁ cetasaḥ
pātraṁ yat sukha-duḥkhayoḥ saha bhaven mitreṇa tad durlabham |
ye cānye suhṛdaḥ samṛddhi-samaye dravyābhilāṣākulās
te sarvatra milanti tattva-nikaṣa-grāvā tu teṣāṁ vipat ||
(Hitopadeśa: 1.224)

“A friend is a pleasing elixir for the eyes and a joy to the heart. A friend who is a sharer with us in happiness and distress is rare to find. Others who are well-wishes in times of prosperity and full of desire for wealth can be found everywhere. Adversity is the touchstone test of their nature.”

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āpat-kāle tu samprāpte yan-mitraṁ mitram eva tat

āpat-kāle tu samprāpte yan-mitraṁ mitram eva tat |
vṛddhi-kāle tu samprāpte durjano’pi suhṛd bhavet ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)

“One who is a friend during times of adversity is a friend indeed. Even wicked people become friendly during times of prosperity.”

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mitraṁ prīti-rasāyanaṁ nayanayor ānandanaṁ cetasaḥ

mitraṁ prīti-rasāyanaṁ nayanayor ānandanaṁ cetasaḥ
pātraṁ yat sukha-duḥkhayoḥ saha bhaven mitreṇa tad durlabham |
ye cānye suhṛdaḥ samṛddhi-samaye dravyābhilāṣākulās
te sarvatra milanti tattva-nikaṣa-grāvā tu teṣāṁ vipat ||
(Hitopadeśa: 1.224)

“A friend is a pleasing elixir for the eyes and a joy to the heart. A friend who is a sharer with us in happiness and distress is rare to find. Others who are well-wishes in times of prosperity and full of desire for wealth can be found everywhere. Adversity is the touchstone test of their nature.”

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deśa-tyāgo mahān vyādhiḥ

deśa-tyāgo mahān vyādhiḥ virodho bandhubhiḥ saha |
dhana-hāni apamānaṁ ca mad-anugraha-lakṣaṇam ||
(Nārada Pañcarātra)

“Leaving one’s homeland, a severe disease, a dispute between friends, loss of wealth, and disrespect are signs of my grace.”

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he hema-kāra para-duḥkha-vicāra-mūḍha

he hema-kāra para-duḥkha-vicāra-mūḍha
kiṁ māṁ muhuḥ kṣipasi vāra-śatāni vahnau |
sandīpyate mayi suvarṇa-guṇātireko
lābhaḥ paraṁ tava mukhe khalu bhasma-pātaḥ ||
(Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāra, Suvarṇa-kāraḥ, 23)

[A golden ornament says to a goldsmith:] “O goldsmith incapable of understanding others’ suffering! Why do you repeatedly cast me into the fire hundreds of times? An abundance of golden hue is shining brightly in me, while you have attained the opposite: soot has fallen all over your face.”

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vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat

vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat tatra tatra jagad-guro |
bhavato darśanaṁ yat syād apunar bhava-darśanam ||
janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhir edhamāna-madaḥ pumān |
naivārhaty abhidhātuṁ vai tvām akiñcana-gocaram ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.8.25–26)

“[Kuntī Devī to Śrī Kṛṣṇa:] O Guru of the universe, let those dangers occur constantly everywhere in the midst of which shall occur the sight of you, by virtue of which the sight of material existence again does not! A person swelling with conceit as a result of birth, capability, learning, or beauty is never fit to speak of you, who are attainable [only] by the disinterested [i.e., those who foster no attachment to anything of the world].”

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tat te’nukampāṁ susamīkṣamāṇo

tat te’nukampāṁ susamīkṣamāṇo
bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam |
hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.14.8)

“One who can perceive your grace fully and properly, endure the reactions to one’s own past actions, and live on offering obeisance unto you with mind, body, and words is an heir to the plane of mukti [i.e., freedom from ignorance and engagement in your eternal service].”

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