October 6th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
रे रे चातक सावधानमनसा मित्र क्षणं श्रूयताम्
अम्भोदा बहवो वसन्ति गगने सर्वेऽपि नैकादृशाः ।
केचित् वृष्टिभिराद्रयन्ति वसुधां गर्जन्ति केचिद्वृथा
यं यं पश्यसि तस्य तस्य पुरतो मा ब्रूहि दीनं वचः ॥
- नीतिशतक


Transliteration:
re re cātaka sāvadhānamanasā mitra kṣaṇaṃ śrūyatām
ambhodā bahavo vasanti gagane sarve'pi naikādṛśāḥ ।
kecit vṛṣṭibhirādrayanti vasudhāṃ garjanti kecidvṛthā
yaṃ yaṃ paśyasi tasya tasya purato mā brūhi dīnaṃ vacaḥ ॥
- nītiśataka

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Hey Chātaka! My friend, listen mindfully for a minute. There are many clouds residing in the skies, but not all of them are the same. Some will dampen the earth with their waters, while some roar wastefully. Don't implore every (passing cloud) you see (in the sky).

Commentary:

Allegory says that Chātaka is a bird that has its beak on its head.  Hence, it is unable to drink any water that has already reached the ground but can only drink directly from the rain. It stands with its beak wide open, looking at the skies.

This subhāṣita is an advice to one such thirsty bird, crying for water. He begs every passing cloud to please show mercy on him and shower him with its waters. The poet is advising the bird to remain composed. There is no use pleading to every cloud because not all of them carry rain. Some simply roar while a few others quench the thirst of the earth with their cool waters.

Here the Chātaka bird is a metaphor used to advise people. We should be aware of whom to ask for help from.  Not everyone is willing or eager to offer a helping hand.  Beseeching such people who think it is beneath them to be kind, is only a waste of time.  It is pointless to implore or plead with them as it only demeans one's own self-respect.

Make proper judgment.  Do not lose self-respect. Otherwise, we will always be under someone else foot.  Self-respect has to be stronger than your passing feelings. 

pada vigrahaH:

रे रे चातक सावधान मनसा मित्र क्षणं श्रूयताम्
re re cātaka! sāvadhāna manasā mitra kṣaṇaṃ śrūyatām

अम्भोदाः बहवः वसन्ति गगने सर्वे अपि न एकादृशाः ।
ambhodāḥ bahavaḥ vasanti gagane sarve api na ekādṛśāḥ ।

केचित् वृष्टिभिः आद्रयन्ति वसुधां गर्जन्ति केचित् वृथा
kecit vṛṣṭibhiḥ ādrayanti vasudhāṃ garjanti kecit vṛthā

यं यं पश्यसि तस्य तस्य पुरतः मा ब्रूहि दीनं वचः ॥
yaṃ yaṃ paśyasi tasya tasya purataḥ mā brūhi dīnaṃ vacaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
re re chaataka! saavadhaanamanasaa mitra kShaNaM shrUyataam
ambhodaa bahavo vasanti gagane sarve.pi naikaadRushaaH ।
kechit vRuShTibhiraadrayanti vasudhaaM garjanti kechidvRuthaa
yaM yaM pashyasi tasya tasya purato maa brUhi dInaM vachaH ॥
- neetishataka

re re chaataka! saavadhaana manasaa mitra kShaNaM shrUyataam

ambhodaaH bahavaH vasanti gagane sarve api na ekaadRushaaH ।

kechit vRuShTibhiH aadrayanti vasudhaaM garjanti kechit vRuthaa

yaM yaM pashyasi tasya tasya purataH maa brUhi dInaM vachaH ॥