About the blog

अनुबन्धचतुष्टयम् (anubandhachatuShTayam - The four-fold requisites of a literary work):

1. विषयः (viShayaH) - Subject-matter:
'सुष्ठु भाषितम्' इति सुभाषितम् - 'suShThu bhaaShitam' iti subhaaShitam - 'well spoken' is a subhAShita. 
This blog is a collection of 'Sanskrit pearls of wisdom' that our ancestors have transcended to us.

There is no scarcity for subhAShita-s in any language.  But in Sanskrit, they have received an abundant prominence.  There is a treasure trove of subhAShitaa-s in this language!  This blog is an attempt at remembering a few of the 'pearls of wisdom' that our ancestors have transcended to us.

2. प्रयोजनम् (prayojanam) - Purpose:
These subhaaShita-s (power-packed life lessons in verse form) have been my passion since childhood!  Had the blessed opportunity to learn many from my mother and my wonderful High School teacher.  They instilled the passion in me towards these subhaaShita-s. These have been my guiding lights at every stage of life and helped shape the person that I have become.

This collection is an attempt to write the meanings and a commentary, expressing my take on these verses. (The writings are my understanding of the verses, in my own words, for posterity.)


(This blog is the one true inheritance I would like to leave behind for my 2 children!)

3. अधिकारी (adhikaarI) - Target audience:
The target audience of this blog is anyone in any age group, who is interested in inculcating life values and ethics through small, potent, nuggets of wisdom!


4. सम्बन्धः (sambandaH) - Relationship:
The blog enriches the adhikaarI's depth in his interactions at the level of vyaavahaarika-satta (earthly transactions).  One attains chitta-shuddhi (purity of mind) through this.  That leads one towards shraddhaa (faith) in the shaastra (scriptures).  When these get deep-rooted, working towards aadhyaatma-saadhana (spiritual enquiry of the self) becomes natural.  Enquiry into the nature of the self is the very goal of human birth!

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कालानुक्रमः (kaalaanukramaH) - Chronology of the blog:
  • The blog was started on Sept 25th, 2009, to mark the birthday of my husband.  
  • On Sept 25th, 2010, the blog successfully completed one year, with one new subhaaShita being added every day.
  • On Sept 25th, 2011, the blog completed its second year, with one new subhaaShita being added once a week.  
  • After a year-long break, the blog restarted again on Sept 25th, 2012, with one new subhaaShita being added once a month.
  • Going into the 5th year of the blog on Sept 25th, 2013, will continue to add a new subhaaShita once every month.
  • On Sept 25th, 2014, entering the 6th year, new subhaaShita-s will be added every now and then, with no defined schedule.
  • Mother's Day reward from my husband - He set up the requirements for posting audios for the subhaaShita-s on the blog, a plan that was in its nascent form for years!  Now, Sanskrit Pearls is back with new audio updates starting Mother's Day 2018 (May 13th).  In the upcoming days, audio will be added to all the verses that have been published already.  Do check out this new feature on the blog as well as on the FaceBook page.
  • Father's Day reward from me to my husband - Father's Day 2018 (June 17th)Audio has been added to ALL the verses that have been published so far. Click the audio link below the Sanskrit verse to hear them. 
  • Dec 20th 2018, IAST transliterations have been added to ALL the verses. The previously used baraha transliterations have been moved to a new section labelled 'Alternate Transliteration:', below the pada vigrahaH.
  • Feb 12th 2019Sanskrit Pearls Vol. 1 was released.  It is a book with the first 150 subhaaShitas from this blog.
  • Jun 8th 2019, second volume of the book series, Sanskrit Pearls Vol. 2 was released.  (Release date set for this volume was July 6th, but was met ahead of schedule.)  It is a book with the 2nd set of 150 verses from this blog. 
  • Oct 8th 2019, third volume of the book series, Sanskrit Pearls Vol. 3 was released.  (Release date was set for Sept. 23rd, but was released on Vijayadashami day later.)   It is a book with the 3rd set of 150 verses from this blog. 
  • Feb 12th 2021, 2nd Edition of Sanskrit Pearls Vol. 1 was released.  It is a book with the first 150 subhaaShitas from this blog. (Exactly 2 yrs after its 1st edition, the 2nd edition was released.)
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लेखिका (lekhikaa) - Author:

This blog is published by Rashmi Kashi, under her pen name - Kaavya Sindhu.

(Thanks for your continued support and encouragement!  Please keep your thoughts and comments coming, for the betterment of the blog.)

61 comments:

  1. Dear kayvasindhu-- it will be most helpful if the padvigraha are placed right after the shlokas. Thanks.

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    1. Dear kayvasindhuji
      Pranams,
      We have a small Telugu yahoo Community. We are posting your Sanskrit Pearls one a day in our community with your name. People are getting benefited by your excellent collection and good explanation.
      Thank you so much.
      With Pranams
      Raghav

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    2. Thank you for your kind words Raghav Kasturi-ji _/\_
      By helping spread the knowledge our ancestors have given, you are doing a
      good service. I would recommend you to share the link to the blog rather
      than post the content elsewhere. That way, those interested can browse the
      other shlokas too.

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    3. Thank you Kavya Sindhuji
      I shall share your blog link in our Telugu community so that they will enjoy the total content.
      Raghav Kasturi

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  2. Thanks for your suggestion.
    The padavigraha is at the end, so that those that are ardently interested will check it out. Others who are keen about the meaning may find it hard to digest the intricacies.
    Trying to meet the needs of all :).

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  3. It would be great if you could continue to present some more of the great teachings in Sanskrit from various other ancient texts. I am glad I can scan through here. Continuity would be highly appreciated. Tathastu !1

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    1. Thank you for your kind words as well as suggestions. Will be adding more subhaaShitaa-s every now and then. Stay tuned.

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  4. Hello, I was looking for a specific SubhaaShita for one of my blogs (http://hindumyths.blogspot.in/), and I came across this.

    What you have started here is wonderful. The collection is great, and also your commentary is insightful. Please keep up the good work. I have myself collected a few Sanskrit verses since school, and always intended to do something with them. I am glad that you are already doing justice to this subject.

    Best Regards,
    Shreekant

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  5. Thank you Shreekant Vijaykar, for your nice words. Just doing my share towards what I believe passionately :).

    You are doing good work yourself on your blog. Congratulations for that.

    This blog has a facebook page too. Feel free to follow it there, share with friends and express your thoughts and comments as well.

    Best Regards,

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  6. Thank you so much for this precious blog, a resource site for many generations to come and share worldwide.

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  7. Thank you Rema Devi Menon for your kind words. One of the drives behind starting this blog was, to leave behind something for my children that is more lasting than material wealth. Our rich heritage has given us in-numerous such pearls that, whatever we do is equal to a drop in vast the ocean!! Glad you enjoyed it :).

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  8. सुष्टु भाषितं सुभाषितम् इति उपरि लिखितम् - सुष्टु इत्यस्य स्थाने सुष्ठुः इत्येव साधुः इति मन्ये। एवञ्चेत् कृपया संशोधयतु।
    संस्कृतस्य कृते भवत्या सुष्ठुः कृतमिदं जालपुटम्। मम हार्दिकम् अभिनन्दनम् अत्र सूचयामि।

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  9. Appreciate your work and efforts! It means
    I am trying to remember a shloka about gratefulness/ being thankful, that I read in my school sanskrit text. It had the word "kritagnha" in the second line or maybe "kritagya". The meaning of the shloka was: the lowest deed is being ungrateful in life.
    I'll return to check this blog in case if you find and post it. Thank you.

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    1. It has been many years since your comment! Sorry I missed answering the second part of your question. Here's one that addresses gratitude/ungrateful attitudes -
      https://sanskritpearls.blogspot.com/2011/05/may-20th.html

      Hope that helps.

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  10. I am the above Anon!
    I forgot to complete my compliment.
    "It means" - > It means a lot to be able to read and understand these beautiful verses.

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  11. Would you have a reference for the origin of this sloka

    हस्तस्य भूषणं दानं सत्यं कण्ठस्य भूषणं
    श्रोत्रस्य भूषणं शास्त्रं भूषणैः किं प्रयोजनम्

    Thank you

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  12. Ashvin Srivastava, sorry, I do not have the reference to the original for this beautiful verse. If you are looking for an exposition of the verse, you can find it at
    http://sanskritpearls.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-30th.html
    Hope that helps.

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    1. I was forced to learn sanskrit as a boy in a boarding school in Ooty. Hated it.Today I think differently with regrets. However the underlying message of the slokas we memorized continue to help me in my time of need and to give me direction in my life.
      I want to quote this sloka formally. That is why I need some kind of reference. If you find something please let me know.
      Thank you for your time and effort for this Blog.
      Ashvin

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  13. Thank you very much for sharing this wonderful collection with everyone. this blog is so user-friendly, the commentary part is gr8 , you couldnt have done it better. Thanks again.

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  14. Thank you for your kind words Anu. Glad you are enjoying the postings. Do feel free to share your thoughts regarding the verses and follow the blog on facebook too.

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  15. I am glad to see this blogspot, this gives me some amount of solace that our great language and its heritage will remain etched forever no matter where we are in technologcial world. I always liked Shubhashitas as they are a window to the world's pragmatic side. Keep up the excellent work.

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    1. Thanks for your kind words Pragmatic Totheend. The heritage inherited via these verses are such that, they are relevant for generations to come!

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  16. I was looking for the source of the following verse put in the mouth of Karna: ...दैवायत्तम कुले जन्म मदायत्तम तु पौरुषं and I found it in your blog. I am very pleased to have found your blog and will visit it regularly. While studying at Modern High school, Pune our Sanskrit teacher wrote a beautiful shloka in my notebook. I have been trying to remember it for many years but without success so far. Perhaps you or one of the readers of your blog might help me. I remember only a part of the shloka which goes something like this--...मित्राणि कलिंग फलानि चापि... एकस्य लाभाय सुशोभिनस्य परिक्षितव्यानि फलं शतानि Thanks

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    1. Thank you Shrinivas Tilak, for your kind comments. Glad you found the information you were looking for. I haven't come across the other verse you have mentioned. Will keep a look out and post it if I come across.

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  17. Such a great work. Let us unite our efforts!

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  18. A great service. After all crystallised thoughts are speech and actions. These 'subhashitams' works at the source. A fair dose will keep a person healthy, wealthy and wise.
    Good going Rashmi Ji.

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    1. Thank you balagopal for your kind words. Yes, core values have to crystallized with years, My humble effort in that direction.

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  19. Dear Kavya sindhu, kudos to you work.I really enjoy this.
    Are these shlokas taken from vedas/upanishads or from some other manuscripts?

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    1. Thanks for your kind words. The verses are taken from many different sources like raamaayaNa, mahaabhaarata, pa~nchatantra, subhaaShita-ratna-bhaaNDaagaara, nIti shataka, etc.
      Generally vedic verses do not follow any meter (chandas) like the couplets in the blog. Hope that helps.

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  20. Dear Kavyasindhu

    Thank you for your passion.
    Sharing knowledge and inspiring minds is the noble work needed for the world.
    I have different scriptures on subhashitam and posting weekly for readers.
    Now I got your blogspot and collected a few and more in days to come.
    Vidya daana...mahaa daana...!!!
    Thank you.

    Prasanta

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  21. Great work Devi Sri. Keep it up.

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  22. Will you spare your valuable time in translating the subhashitaratnabhandagara book (the URL LINK is

    https://ia800200.us.archive.org/9/items/SubhashitaRatnaBhandagara/SubhashitaRatnaBhandagara-KashinathSharma.pdf

    the e-book in .pdf is authored by pandit kashinath sharma and is available in the US.ARCHIVE.ORG website.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind words and email as well.
      subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara is a prized book for all subhaaShita fans.

      I am not sure I will be able to work on them all, but I do have some extracted from the book in the blog already.

      http://sanskritpearls.blogspot.com/search?q=subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara+

      Hope you like it.

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  23. Ma'am, it is a pleasure to go over this blog. Why have you decreased/stopped this nice piece of work?

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    1. Thanks for your encouragement! I hope to resume at some point.

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    2. Resumed the work on the blog and published these in a book series under the title 'Sanskrit Pearls' Please visit the link on the top left corner :)

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  24. Can you please include my email in your mailing list? Thanks. venkatraman051@gmail.com

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    1. Namaste Venkat Raman-ji,
      There is no mailing list. You can subscribe to the blog's RSS feed or there is a facebook page for the blog that you can follow. The link for that is

      https://www.facebook.com/SanskritPearls/

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    2. Hi Kaavya
      Great piece of work...please renew/keep it up :-)
      Ramana

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    3. Thank you for your kind words! Glad you are enjoying it. Hope to renew some day :)

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    4. Resumed the work on the blog and published these in a book series under the title 'Sanskrit Pearls' Please visit the link on the top left corner :)

      Delete
  25. Aapka sanskrit ke liye pyar dekhkar bahut khushi hui. maine bhi abhi ek blog creat kiya hai "sanskrit jeeva"

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  26. नमस्ते। भवत्याः एतत् संस्कृतभाषायाः सेवां अत्यन्त श्रेष्ठ च श्लाघ्यः।
    भवत्याः अर्थविवरणं मनोहरं च अतीव सूक्तं अस्ति।
    Hats off to your efforts madam. I too publish a subhashita from here in our family group and everybody has high regards for your commentary.tjanks for this great job and hope to see many more to come.

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    1. Thank you Satyendraji. Glad to hear that you are enjoying the blog and sharing with your family as well. subhaaShita-s are the best gifts we can give our loved ones! :)

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  27. The above post is by myself sathyendra.

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  28. Namaste Kavya Sindhu,
    This is a wonderful website. I am sooo happy that I found this. Everything is so well organised and done really nicely. I am a great admirer of Sanskrit and learner as well. I am so proud of you for doing this. And also you are preserving the heritage. God bless you,
    Best wishes

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    1. Thank you for your wonderful words, Varsha ji. Happy to hear that you found the content useful and organized! Enjoy learning Sanskrit :)

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  29. namaste ji. I am ramanathan from vellore India 81 years young.just came across your blogs. certainly will go through all for the pleasure. great effort from your side. may your good work continue with the blessings of your Guru ji , elders and above all , the almighty. with best regards

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    1. Thank you, Ramanathan ji. Happy to hear that you are enjoying the content.

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  30. I came to your blogspot after acquiring the book versions.It is a legacy that will have impact for generations.Many many thanks!!!

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    1. Happy to hear that you liked the work, Anil Bhat ji. Thank you

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  31. I read daily the various sanskrit subhashitas and also post the link to my relatives, friends WAG, in twitter, linked-in, FB page. Here is a link to the book Mahasubhashita Sanghraha from www.archive.org : link: https://archive.org/details/MahaasubhaasitasamgrahaVol1-8/Mahaasubhaasitasamgraha_Vol_1/page/n167/mode/2up?view=theater
    Will you be in a position to add your pithy commentaries and post them on a daily basis . you may also search for other volumes of this book from this website. "True ignorance is not the absence of knowledge, but the refusal to acquire it." Karl Popper

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    1. Best wishes with your work. I am currently working on a different project and will not be able to take this on. Thank you

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  32. I read daily the various sanskrit subhashitas and also post the link to my relatives, friends WAG, in twitter, linked-in, FB page.

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    1. Happy to hear that you are enjoying the content as well as sharing links 🙂

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