Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
केयूरा न विभूषयन्ति पुरुषं हारा न चन्द्रोज्ज्वलाः
न स्नानं न विलेपनं न कुसुमं नालङ्कृता मूर्धजाः ।
वाण्येका समलङ्करोति पुरुषं या संस्कृता धार्यते
क्षीयन्ते खलु भूषणानि सततं वाग्भूषणं भूषणम् ॥
- नीतिशतक
Transliteration:
kēyūrā na vibhūṣayanti puruṣaṃ hārā na candrojjvalāḥ
na snānaṃ na vilepanaṃ na kusumaṃ nālaṅkṛtā mūrdhajāḥ ।
vāṇyekā samalaṅkaroti puruṣaṃ yā saṃskṛtā dhāryate
kṣīyante khalu bhūṣaṇāni satataṃ vāgbhūṣaṇaṃ bhūṣaṇam ॥
- nītiśataka
Meaning of the subhAShita:
A person's adornments are not just his armlets or necklaces, bright as the moon. It is also not in taking a bath or applying perfume, or even wearing flowers or fancy tresses. Speech embalmed with culture is the only ornament. Every other adornment will diminish over time. The adornment of speech is the only one true adornment.
Commentary:
One might think that wearing big bright jewellery, nice clothes, perfume, fancy hairstyles or shoes will make them look well groomed or 'pulled together'. In reality, it doesn't!
All these ornaments thin out over time. They lose lustre, and get lost or broken. But practising well constructed, well-formed, refined, polished speech is something that will never lose its value, charm or go out of fashion.
It is truly our words that either make friends or foes. A superior person is always modest in his words. Nice words don't cost much, yet they accomplish a lot! What's the harm in cultivating the habit of speaking well?!
Make speech thy ornament!
pada vigrahaH:
केयूराः न विभूषयन्ति पुरुषं हारा न चन्द्र-उज्ज्वलाः
kēyūrāḥ na vibhūṣayanti puruṣaṃ hārā na candra-ujjvalāḥ
न स्नानं न विलेपनं न कुसुमं न अलङ्कृता मूर्धजाः ।
na snānaṃ na vilepanaṃ na kusumaṃ na alaṅkṛtā mūrdhajāḥ ।
वाणी एका सम्-अलङ्करोति पुरुषं या संस्कृता धार्यते
vāṇī ekā sam-alaṅkaroti puruṣaṃ yā saṃskṛtā dhāryate
क्षीयन्ते खलु भूषणानि सततं वाक् भूषणं भूषणं ॥
kṣīyante khalu bhūṣaṇāni satataṃ vāk bhūṣaṇaṃ bhūṣaṇam ॥
All these ornaments thin out over time. They lose lustre, and get lost or broken. But practising well constructed, well-formed, refined, polished speech is something that will never lose its value, charm or go out of fashion.
It is truly our words that either make friends or foes. A superior person is always modest in his words. Nice words don't cost much, yet they accomplish a lot! What's the harm in cultivating the habit of speaking well?!
Make speech thy ornament!
pada vigrahaH:
केयूराः न विभूषयन्ति पुरुषं हारा न चन्द्र-उज्ज्वलाः
kēyūrāḥ na vibhūṣayanti puruṣaṃ hārā na candra-ujjvalāḥ
न स्नानं न विलेपनं न कुसुमं न अलङ्कृता मूर्धजाः ।
na snānaṃ na vilepanaṃ na kusumaṃ na alaṅkṛtā mūrdhajāḥ ।
वाणी एका सम्-अलङ्करोति पुरुषं या संस्कृता धार्यते
vāṇī ekā sam-alaṅkaroti puruṣaṃ yā saṃskṛtā dhāryate
क्षीयन्ते खलु भूषणानि सततं वाक् भूषणं भूषणं ॥
kṣīyante khalu bhūṣaṇāni satataṃ vāk bhūṣaṇaṃ bhūṣaṇam ॥
keyUraa na vibhUShayanti puruShaM haaraa na chandrojjwalaaH
na snaanaM na vilepanaM na kusumaM naala~nkRutaa mUrdhajaaH ।
vaaNyekaa samala~nkaroti puruShaM yaa saMskRutaa dhaaryate
kSheeyante khalu bhUShaNaani satataM vaagbhUShaNaM bhUShaNaM ॥
- neetishataka
keyUraaH na vibhUShayanti puruShaM haaraa na chandra-ujjwalaaH
na snaanaM na vilepanaM na kusumaM na ala~nkRutaa mUrdhajaaH ।
vaaNI ekaa sam-ala~nkaroti puruShaM yaa saMskRutaa dhaaryate
kSheeyante khalu bhUShaNaani satataM vaak bhUShaNaM bhUShaNaM ॥
चन्द्रोज्वलाः = चन्द्रोज्ज्वलाः ।
ReplyDeleteOf course! Thanks lalitaalaalitaH for catching it.
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