May 27th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

Transliteration:
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu mātṛrūpeṇa saṃsthitā ।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:
To that Goddess who is residing in all beings in the form of the mother, I bow, salute, pray and prostrate to her!

Commentary:
Once a little girl was asked where her home was and she gave a matter-of-fact answer: 'where my mom is!'  What a simple yet profound answer!  'A home is where the heart is' and 'the heart is where the mother is', isn't it?!  'Mother' is the name of God in the hearts and lips of little children! It is said that since God Himself could not be present physically at all places, He created mothers!  It is the mother who not only gives birth to her offspring but nestles and nourishes when young, and then nurses and nurtures forever.  A newborn does not know the whims and fancies of the world.  It is the mother (or a motherly figure), who takes the child by the hand and accustoms it to its surroundings!  It is she who teaches the first words, inculcates values and teaches the child right from wrong.  A mother's heart is a beacon of love, not just for her own children, but for children in general.  This phenomenon of a mother is prevalent not just in human beings, but in all forms of beings in general!  Yes, even in those that lay eggs and leave and even in those that leave young cubs behind to fend for themselves!  How?  Well, even the mother of those species makes sure she lays her eggs in the safest place that she can find and leaves the cubs only when she has made sure she has taught them the tricks of the trade for survival!  Hence, that divine element of nurturing is prevalent in all mothers, by nature.  For that matter, whatever be the gender of the being giving that affection, it is always called 'motherly love'!  Doesn't that make her synonymous with nurturing?!!  The author of the verse is hence prostrating and saluting again and again to that divinity present in all mothers universally.

Reverence to thee, O mother!  Reverence to thee!

pada vigrahaH:
या देवी सर्व-भूतेषु मातृ-रूपेण संस्थिता ।
yā devī sarva-bhūteṣu mātṛ-rūpeṇa saṃsthitā ।

नमः तस्यै नमः तस्यै नमः तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
namaḥ tasyai namaḥ tasyai namaḥ tasyai namo namaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yaa devI sarvabhUteShu maatRurUpeNa saMsthitaa ।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaH ॥

yaa devI sarva bhUteShu maatRu rUpeNa saMsthitaa ।
namaH tasyai namaH tasyai namaH tasyai namo namaH ॥

May 20th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
मित्रद्रोही कृतघ्नश्च यश्च विश्वासघातकः ।
ते नरा नरकं यान्ति यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ ॥

- पञ्चतन्त्र, मित्रभेद

Transliteration:
mitradrohī kṛtaghnaśca yaśca viśvāsaghātakaḥ ।
te narā narakaṃ yānti yāvaccandradivākarau ॥
- pañcatantra, mitrabheda

Meaning of the subhAShita:
He who is treacherous to a friend; he who is ungrateful for rendered benefactions; he who is a traitor (slays trust) - these people attain hell for as long as the sun and moon shall exist. 

Commentary:
A friend is for pulling one out of rough times, not for putting him through it!  When one considers another as a friend and confides in him, there is no ethical justification for betraying him.  One would have let all his guards down and exposed his most vulnerable side to that friend.  Backstabbing that credence and trust is not dharma in any which way!

When you 'pray' to someone, do not 'prey' on them!  When someone has been a benefactor in time of need, there is nothing in this world that can be given to repay that debt.  One would be indebted to that patron forever in his life because he gave assistance in a time of need.  There is no deed that can compensate for that timely aid received.  Forgetting that and showing ingratitude is not even a choice!  When an act is not even an option, how can that be deemed as dharma?!!

Trust is a silky thread, holding which the world functions.  If there was no trust factor, one would not trust the grain grown by the farmer or the fruit brought by the gardener!  One would have to depend on himself for everything and be entirely self-sufficient!  Even then, he will have to trust in his own abilities and mother nature to assist in his efforts!  Hence, it is quite unlikely for anyone to live life without trusting anyone.  Therefore, trust is a very essential ingredient for basic survival itself!  It is the very thread on which the world keeps functioning.  Breaking that bond is not something small.  Like someone said, 'I am not upset that you lied to me, but because, I can't believe you anymore'.  Not only the faith in the current situation is broken but the faith in that person for all future scenarios is broken as well!  That which breaks the very reason for co-existence, cannot be dharma!

Anything that is not coherent with dharma is punishable.  Whether one likes it or not, he has to reap the fruit of all his actions.  The fruit for such breakage of bonds of trust is, going to hell!  When the poet says they shall attain hell for as long as the sun and moon exist,  it does not mean, that they stay in hell until the sun and moon literally stop existing, but that this law holds good as long as the sun and moon are shining!  The poet is basically saying that such people will remain in hell forever.  Hell is not necessarily a specific place, but any place where one will not be able to enjoy his time or be happy.  One can create such a 'living hell' for himself by doing adharma.

'To be trusted' is a much greater compliment than 'to be loved!'  Be trustworthy!

pada vigrahaH:
मित्र-द्रोही कृतघ्नः च यः च विश्वास-घातकः ।
mitra-drohī kṛtaghnaḥ ca yaḥ ca viśvāsa-ghātakaḥ ।

ते नराः नरकं यान्ति यावत् चन्द्र-दिवाकरौ ॥
te narāḥ narakaṃ yānti yāvat candra-divākarau ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
mitradrohI kRutaghnashcha yashcha vishvaasaghaatakaH ।
te naraa narakaM yaanti yaavachchandradivaakarau ॥
- pa~nchatantra, mitrabheda

mitra-drohI kRutaghnaH cha yaH cha vishvaasa-ghaatakaH ।
te naraaH narakaM yaanti yaavat chandra-divaakarau ॥

May 13th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यत्रोऽत्साहसमारम्भः यत्रालस्यविहीनता ।
नयविक्रमसंयोगः तत्र श्रीरचला ध्रुवम् ॥
- पञ्चतन्त्र, मित्रसम्प्राप्‍ति

Transliteration:
yatro'tsāhasamārambhaḥ yatrālasyavihīnatā ।
nayavikramasaṃyogaḥ tatra śrīracalā dhruvam ॥
- pañcatantra, mitrasamprāp‍ti

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Where there is zeal in the effort, where there is an absence of indolence, there, in the conjugation of humility and courage, wealth is certain to be steady.

Commentary:
Zealousness in any action is what makes the task that much easier!  When there is enthusiasm and passion in what one is undertaking, it kindles gusto in those around.  It ignites a sense of eagerness in everyone to reach the goal sooner and better. To be zealous in the face the hurdles and brick walls one comes across constantly, takes a lot of courage!

About zeal, it is said that it suits only the wise, but found mostly in fools!  When there is energy, shouldn't there be a sense of direction for that energy?  Where there is no misdirected energy, there is no place for indolence.  'Indolence', the word just makes laziness appear classy, but is useful nowhere!

Wisdom and proper knowledge bring humility in a person.  In the union of humility and courage, there is no stopping of prosperity.  Where there is prosperity, there is abundance and abundance leads to wealth!  Hence, if aspiring for wealth, inculcate these very essential attributes!

pada vigrahaH:
यत्र उत्साह-समारम्भः यत्र आलस्य-विहीनता ।
yatra utsāha-samārambhaḥ yatra ālasya-vihīnatā ।

नय-विक्रम-संयोगः तत्र श्रीः अचला ध्रुवम् ॥
naya-vikrama-saṃyogaḥ tatra śrīḥ acalā dhruvam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yatro.tsaahasamaarambhaH yatraalasyavihInataa ।
nayavikramasaMyogaH tatra shrIrachalaa dhruvam ॥
- pa~nchatantra, mitrasampraapti

yatra utsaaha-samaarambhaH yatra aalasya-vihInataa ।
naya-vikrama-samyogaH tatra shrIH achalaa dhruvam ॥

May 6th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यः विद्ययाऽलङ्‍कृतोऽपि सन् ।
मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किमसौ न भयङ्करः ॥

- नीतिशतक, भर्तृहरि

Transliteration:
durjanaḥ parihartavyaḥ vidyayā'laṅ‍kṛto'pi san ।
maṇinā bhūṣitaḥ sarpaḥ kimasau na bhayaṅkaraḥ ॥
- nītiśataka, bhartṛhari

Meaning of the subhAShita:
An evildoer should be evaded even if ornate with knowledge!  Just because it is adorned with a jewel,  isn't a snake scary?

Commentary:
Someone once said, 'If you see a snake, just kill it.  For God's sake! Do not appoint a committee on snakes!' (although sounds phobic). Such is the reputation of a snake.  The enticement of a beautiful jewel on its head will not overtake the fear it generates in the hearts of people.  It is still regarded as a scary creature and people will stay away from it.  Similarly, a person's versatility or expertise in different arenas, will not draw people to him if his mind is evil.  Those around him are bound to be hurt.  Many times, his mind's evilness may not even be evident to those around.  Especially if he is a learned man, he would have mastered the art of deceit!  Hence, the author says, just because a snake is bedecked with a shiny jewel on its head, doesn't make it less scary.  An evildoer adorned with vidyā (knowledge) is just the same.  If knowledge is a jewel, his evil thoughts are his fangs! Hence, one should avoid the evildoer just as he would a snake,  at all costs!

Knowledge and viciousness do not go hand in hand.  One day or the other, his malevolence will be exposed and ostracized. True knowledge should make one humble and pious.  Aim for true vidyā.   Respect, lovability and piety will follow automatically.

pada vigrahaH:
दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यः विद्यया अलङ्‍कृतः अपि सन् ।
durjanaḥ parihartavyaḥ vidyayā alaṅ‍kṛtaḥ api san ।

मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किम् असौ न भयङ्करः ॥
maṇinā bhūṣitaḥ sarpaḥ kim asau na bhayaṅkaraḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
durjanaH parihartavyaH vidyayaa.la~nkRuto.pi san ।
maNinaa bhUShitaH sarpaH kimasau na bhaya~nkaraH ॥
- nItishataka, bhartRuhari

durjanaH parihartavyaH vidyayaa ala~nkRutaH api san ।
maNinaa bhUShitaH sarpaH kim asau na bhaya~nkaraH ॥