Dear Alessandro,
If you're collecting proverbs that say "Even Brahma..." there's this, which sums up a
magnificent story of love, politics, and social and theological subversion:
suprayuktasya dambhasya brahmApy antaM na gacchati | kauliko vizNurUpeNa rAjakanyAM
nizevate ||
"Even Brahma does not get to the bottom of a well-conducted fraud: the weaver in the form
of Vishnu cohabited with the princess."
(Purnabhadra's version of the Pancatantra (J. Hertel,
The Panchatantra: A Collection of
Ancient Indian Tales in the Recension called Panchakhyanaka, Cambridge, MA (USA),
Harvard University Press, 1908, p.46)
Yours,
Dermot Killingley
On 2 Oct 2015 at 10:36, Alessandro Battistini wrote:
Dear Members of the list,
In Kayyaṭa's commentary to the
Devīśataka (v.1) I have come across the following
expression: krodhāvṛtāsau kṣamate na dhātuḥ ("the one who is overcome by rage doesn't
forgive even Brahmā", or something like that). This half-śloka is quoted to strengthen the
idea that Brahmā is the non plus ultra of something ("if even Brahmā doesn't know, who else
will?").
I assume this is the second part of some wise saying, or a reference to some
laukikanyāya:
is any of you able to trace the missing part/the source of this proverb, or point me to similar
sayings concerning Brahmā? Thank you!
Best,
Alessandro Battistini
PhD Candidate
Sapienza Università di Roma
--
Dermot Killingley
9, Rectory Drive,
Gosforth,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1XT
Phone (0191) 285 8053