Lessons Humans Can Learn from Animals
We think man is the best — most evolved, smartest. Man has all the qualities. May not be all that true, always.
सिंहदेकं बकादेकं शिक्षेच्चत्वारि कुक्कुटात्
वायसात्पञ्च शिक्षेच्च षट् शुनस्त्रीणि गर्दभात्
Chanakya was a sharp observer. He says — we can learn one quality from the lion, one from the crane, four from the cock, five from the crow, six from the dog, and three from the donkey. That’s quite a lot.
What can we learn from a lion?
प्रभूतं कार्यमल्पं वा यन्नरः कर्तुमिच्छति
सर्वारंभेण तत्कार्यं सिंहादेकं प्रचक्षते
A lion would not leave anything in between. If he starts chasing a prey, he will do it to the end. If the prey climbs up a tree, the lion will wait down till it comes down. He won’t move away.
This quality we should learn from the lion — do all your thinking before you start. Once you start, whether it is big or small, doesn’t matter — take it to the finish.
What can we learn from a crane?
इन्द्रियाणि च संयम्य बकवत् पण्डितो नरः
देशकालबलं ज्ञात्वा सर्वकार्याणि साधयेत्
The crane, the white bird with the long beak that catches fish sitting by the side of water bodies — you’ll think that it is meditating. It is in deep meditation, keeping its senses under control.
The move of this bird is calculated. It won’t make one false move. It won’t waste a move. It will wait till it sees a fish close to the surface, then go for it. Both place and time matter. It will sit in meditation only where it can find fish — and its timing is perfect. We should learn this quality from the crane.
What can we learn from the cock?
प्रत्युत्थानं च युद्धं च संविभागं च बन्धुषु
स्वयमाक्रम्य भोगं च शिक्षेच्चत्वारि कुक्कुटात्
A cock gets up early in the morning. It is always ready to fight for its rights. It is willing to share with others. The cock doesn’t have a problem when hens or chicks come and start picking on its food. But he will always earn by himself — he will not depend on others for his livelihood. These qualities we should learn from the cock.
What can we learn from the crow?
गूढं च मैथुनं धार्ष्ट्यं काले चालयसंग्रहम्
अप्रमादमविश्वासं पञ्च शिक्षेच्च वायसात्
The crow’s love ventures, its private life, is absolutely secret. You won’t see this in the crow’s WhatsApp status or DP. They are not like pigeons, who have the habit of displaying love in public. Crows are very private birds.
They are very courageous — will go and pick on an elephant or a lion. Very adventurous. They save for rainy days. They are always alert. They don’t trust anyone. You may feed a crow for as long as you want, throughout its life — still, if you go closer than required, it won’t trust you. It will fly away. These qualities we should learn from the crow.
What can we learn from the dog?
बह्वाशी स्वल्पसंतुष्टः सुनिद्रो लघुचेतनः
स्वामिभक्तश्च शूरश्च षडेते श्वानतो गुणाः
A dog can eat in big quantity when it is available, but it will also be happy and contented with whatever little it gets. A dog can enjoy deep peaceful sleep, but the slightest noise — it will wake. It won’t sleep like a dead log.
A dog is always loyal, and it is brave. These qualities we should learn from the dog.
What can we learn from the donkey?
सुश्रांतोऽपि वहेद्भारं शीतोष्णे न च पश्यति
संतुष्टश्चरते नित्यं त्रीणि शिक्षेच्च गर्धभात्
Even if it is tired, the donkey will still go on. Not bothered about comforts — whether it is hot or cold. It is always happy, moving about peacefully, contented. Have you seen a donkey which is otherwise?
These qualities we should learn from a donkey.
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