October 4th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यः पठति लिखति पश्यति परिपृच्छति पण्डितानुपाश्रयति ।
तस्य दिनकरकिरणैर्नलिनीदलमिव विकास्यते बुद्धिः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार


Transliteration:
yaḥ paṭhati likhati paśyati paripṛcchati paṇḍitānupāśrayati ।
tasya dinakarakiraṇairnalinīdalamiva vikāsyate buddhiḥ ॥
- subhāṣitaratnabhāṇḍāgāra

Meaning of the subhAShita:

A person who reads, writes, sees, inquires, (and) keeps the company of the learned—his intelligence blooms like the petals of a lotus upon seeing the sun.

Commentary:

There are many ways for a person to increase his knowledge base. A person's intelligence will expand effortlessly if he reads books, takes written notes, observes the happenings around him, inquires about the things he doesn't know, and keeps the company of the learned. These aspects factor in as learnability. If we inculcate these disciplines, then knowledge will come naturally.  

The simile given is: with these habits, learning will be as effortless as the blooming of the petals of a lotus when touched by the rays of the Sun. Even an expert in anything was once a beginner! His expertise is the direct result of this learnability.  

The capacity to learn is a gift, the ability to learn is a skill, and the willingness to learn is a choice! Learn the right way of learning. 

pada vigrahaH:

यः पठति लिखति पश्यति परिपृच्छति पण्डितान् उपाश्रयति ।
yaḥ paṭhati likhati paśyati paripṛcchati paṇḍitān upāśrayati ।

तस्य दिनकर-किरणैः नलिनी-दलम् इव विकास्यते बुद्धिः ॥
tasya dinakara-kiraṇaiḥ nalinī-dalam iva vikāsyate buddhiḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yaH paThati likhati pashyati paripRuchChati paNDitaanupaashrayati ।
tasya dinakarakiraNairnalinIdalamiva vikaasyate buddhiH ॥
- subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara

yaH paThati likhati pashyati paripRuchChati paNDitaan upaashrayati ।

tasya dinakara-kiraNaiH nalinI-dalam iva vikaasyate buddhiH ॥