DAY 276
Even Animals Understand Spoken Words; the Wise Understand the Unspoken
기원후 3~5세기경 편찬
ORIGINAL
उदीरितोऽर्थः पशुनापि गृह्यते हयाश्च नागाश्च वहन्ति चोदिताः । अनुक्तमप्यूहति पण्डितो जनः परेङ्गितज्ञानफलाहि बुद्धयः ॥ (udīrito'rthaḥ paśunāpi gṛhyate hayāśca nāgāśca vahanti coditāḥ, anuktam apy ūhati paṇḍito janaḥ pareṅgitajñānaphalā hi buddhayaḥ)
📜 THE VERSE
A clearly spoken instruction even an animal can follow; horses and elephants obey when driven. But the wise infer even what is left unsaid — the true fruit of intelligence is reading another's unspoken signals.
❓ TODAY'S QUESTION
Do I listen only to what is clearly said, or do I also sense what lies unspoken behind it?
📝Reflection
Following a clear command is something even a trained animal can do. But reading the meaning hidden in an expression, a silence, a hesitation — only a person, and among persons only a wise one, can do that. This verse shows the gap in listening ability — hearing beyond the words is a higher wisdom than speaking well.
— ONGO · Curator
🌱Apply It Today
In one conversation today, try to sense something the other person left unsaid, through their expression or silence.
📖 Source:
Panchatantra, Book 3.
Sanskrit original with public-domain translations consulted; rendered independently by ONGO.
This verse is read as universal humanistic wisdom, not religion — no faith is promoted, and the reflection is 100% original ONGO content.
This verse is read as universal humanistic wisdom, not religion — no faith is promoted, and the reflection is 100% original ONGO content.
