October 21st


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
दानेन पाणिर्न तु कङ्कणेन स्नानेन शुद्धिर्न तु चन्दनेन ।
मानेन तृप्‍तिर्न तु भोजनेन ज्ञानेन मुक्तिर्न तु पूजनेन ॥


Transliteration:
dānena pāṇirna tu kaṅkaṇena snānena śuddhirna tu candanena ।
mānena tṛp‍tirna tu bhojanena jñānena muktirna tu pūjanena ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Bestowal makes a hand (graceful), not bracelets; ablution purifies, not sandalwood paste; contentment comes from character, not food; absolution comes from knowledge, not (merely) worshipping.

Commentary:
Giving charity is a better adornment to a hand than beautiful shiny bangles. Nice perfumes or smearing sandalwood paste won't do a good job in cleansing, a bath is essential for that. Food won't satiate the soul, but integrity will. Mere chanting of mantras and worshipping will not bring salvation. True knowledge that removes ignorance (about our worldly existence vs. our true nature) is required to liberate the आत्मा (ātmā), soul.

Adornment is never anything except the true reflection of the heart!  The misnomers about adornments are thus put to rest.

pada vigrahaH:
दानेन पाणिः न तु कङ्कणेन स्नानेन शुद्धिः न तु चन्दनेन ।
dānena pāṇiḥ na tu kaṅkaṇena snānena śuddhiḥ na tu candanena ।

मानेन तृप्‍तिः न तु भोजनेन ज्ञानेन मुक्तिः न तु पूजनेन ॥
mānena tṛp‍tiḥ na tu bhojanena jñānena muktiḥ na tu pūjanena ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
daanena paaNirna tu ka~nkaNena snaanena shuddhirna tu chandanena ।
maanena tRuptirna tu bhojanena jnaanena muktirna tu pUjanena ॥

daanena paaNiH na tu ka~nkaNena snaanena shuddhiH na tu chandanena ।
maanena tRuptiH na tu bhojanena jnaanena muktiH na tu pUjanena ॥

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