प्रणाम!
In the intricate tapestry of linguistic expressions, present series strives to amalgamate diverse vācoyukti-s (expressions) and utterances that share a common essence across various languages and literary contexts. The aim is to encapsulate the profound wisdom and idioms embedded in these utterances for sadyaḥ paranivṛtti, instant and perfect happiness, as advocated by Mammaṭa, or the bliss of ānanda, as opined by Hemacandra.
A very famous allegory in Saṃskṛta literature provides essence same as popular saying “करकी नाडी कर ही जाने”.
The famous Saṃskṛta verse goes as follows:
विद्वानेव विजानाति विद्वज्जनपरिश्रमम्।
न हि वन्ध्या विजानाति गुर्वीप्रसववेदनाम्॥[1]
Only an intelligent person is well-aware of the hard-work undertook by other intellectuals. (Just as) A barren woman would never know the intense pain felt by pregnant women.
This verse is frequently quoted to illustrate the significance of the tireless efforts made by scholars and intelligent individuals, recognized only by their peers and not necessarily by the general populace.
The original source of this verse is challenging to be traced and the most prominent original source might include Kuvalayānanda by Appayar Dīkṣita[1]. It has also been attributed to Bhartṛhari[2], and compiled in texts like Nītiśāstra[3], Subhāśitaratnabhāṇḍāgāra, Narābharaṇa, Samayocitapadyamālikā and countless others compilations and commentorial texts.
A similar verse occurs in Jugāijiṇiṁdacariya by Vardhamānasūri, an early 12th century text dealing with exploits of the first Tīrthaṅkara - Ṛṣabhadeva. The work is authored in Prākṛta, but also at occasionally contains Apabhraṃśa portions which enrich the reader's experience.[4]
Introductory verses of the work contains the following verse:
दुक्खं कीरइ कव्वं दूसइ तं दुज्जणो सुहेणेव।
अहव न जाणइ वंझा वियणा पसवणे होइ॥
[दुःखं क्रियते काव्यं दूषयति तद् दुर्जनः सुखेनैव।
अथवा न जानाति वन्ध्या वेदना प्रसवे भवति॥]
A poem is crafted through difficulty. A wicked man maligns it easily. Or, it might be the case that a barren woman would never know the pain experienced during delivery.
Here, the original preceding statement is slightly distinct from the available Saṃskṛta versions, nevertheless, it has appropriately retained the allegory.
Another rendition of this verse in Gujarātī has be done by Upādhyāya Yaśovijaya in his Samudra-Vāhaṇa-Saṃvāda –
વાંઝિ ન જાણઇ રે વેદના જે હુઇ પ્રસવતા પુત્ર;
મૂઢ ન જાણઇ પરિશ્રમ જે હુઇ ભણતા સૂત્ર.
A barren woman would never know the pain experienced while giving birth to baby. A fool would not know the amount of efforts it takes to learn sūtra-s.
इत्यलं विस्तरेण।
[1]Kuvalayānanda by Appayya Dikshitar. Link: Here
[2]This is noted by D. D. Kosambi in his edition of Bhartṛhari's works Śatakatrayādi Saṅgraha] Link: Here
[3]This is noted in Subhāṣitaratnahāra published in Trivendrum Sanskrit Series - 141
[4]The text contains about eleven thousand verses. It has been published under No. 104 of L. D. Series