November 16th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
क्षमा शस्त्रं करे यस्य दुर्जनः किं करिष्यति ।
अतृणे पतितो वह्निः स्वयमेवोपशाम्यति ॥
- महाभारत, उद्योगपर्व

Transliteration:
kṣamā śastraṃ kare yasya durjanaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati ।
atṛṇe patito vahniḥ svayamevopaśāmyati ॥
- mahābhārata, udyogaparva

Meaning of the subhAShita:
What can an evil-doer do to one whose weapon is forgiveness/forbearance? A spark of fire (that has) fallen where there is no grass, burns itself out.

Commentary:
A spark of fire can flare into a blaze quickly, provided the circumstances are in its favor. If the spark comes in contact with things that can fuel its rage, it will surely turn fierce. But for a spark that has fallen on the ground, where there is no grass or any other fuel, there is no choice but to extinguish itself.

Similarly, a troublemaker can't do much harm to a person armed with the weapon of forgiveness and forbearance. If one keeps forgiving the evil-doer, he can't last much longer than the spark that has fallen on empty ground.

Isn't this the best way to resolve conflicts?

pada vigrahaH:
क्षमा शस्त्रं करे यस्य दुर्जनः किं करिष्यति ।
kṣamā śastraṃ kare yasya durjanaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati ।

अतृणे पतितः वह्निः स्वयम् एव उपशाम्यति ॥
atṛṇe patitaḥ vahniḥ svayam eva upaśāmyati ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
kShamaa shastraM kare yasya durjanaH kiM kariShyati ।
atRuNe patito vahniH swayamevopashaamyati ॥
- mahaabhaarata, udyogaparva

kShamaa shastraM kare yasya durjanaH kiM kariShyati ।
atRuNe patitaH vahniH swayam eva upashaamyati ॥

1 comment:

  1. करिश्यति = करिष्यति ।
    स्वयमेवोपशम्यति = स्वयमेवोपशाम्यति ॥

    ReplyDelete