धृष्टं धृष्टं पुनरपि पुनश्चन्दनं चारुगन्धं
छिन्नं छिन्नं पुररुपि पुनः स्वादु चैवेक्षुकाण्डम् ।
दग्धं दग्धं पुनरपि पुनः काञ्चनं वान्तवर्णं
प्राणान्तेऽपि प्रकृतिविकृतिर्जायते नोत्तमानाम्
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.”
Commentary
In addition to the virtue described in the verse of sandalwood, sugarcane, and gold retaining their admirable characteristics when subjected to harsh treatment, it may be added that that their respective admirable characteristics of fragrance, taste, and color become all the more vividly expressed under harsh conditions described in the verse of grinding, pressing, and smelting. Similarly, the admirable characteristics of an exalted person are most vividly expressed under trying circumstances and it trying circumstances themselves that enable these characteristics to become more vividly expressed.