December 11th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
वस्त्रेण वपुषा वाचा विद्यया विनयेन च ।
वकारैः पञ्चभिर्हीनः नरो नायाति गौरवम् ॥

Transliteration:
vastreṇa vapuṣā vācā vidyayā vinayena ca ।
vakāraiḥ pañcabhirhīnaḥ naro nāyāti gauravam ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

A person without all these 5 'va' kāra-s (words starting with 'va') does not attain respect—clothes, appearance, speech, knowledge, and humility.

Commentary:

For a person to attain respect, there are a few basic requirements. All the five requirements quoted here start with the Sanskrit alphabet 'va'.

1. vastra (clothes)—For humans, being clothed in society is necessary. It doesn't have to be extravagant and expensive, just decent and appropriate.
2. vapuṣā (appearance)—This is not just referring to physical beauty, but more to the presentability of a person.  It is about inner beauty and cleanliness.
3. vācā (speech)—One's speech should be pleasant, appealing, and harmless.
4. vidyaa (knowledge, education)—A person needs to have this to possess the above three 'va'kāra-s. Education gives one awareness of the world (and himself). It is also the one surefire way to attain liberation (mukti).
5. vinaya (humility). This is the most important adornment to any human being. Whether one is rich or poor, young or old - humility is the one adornment he can carry with him at all times.

Respect is both earned and lost. A person who has all the above 5 attributes, automatically attains respect wherever he goes.

pada vigrahaH:

वस्त्रेण वपुषा वाचा विद्यया विनयेन च ।
vastreṇa vapuṣā vācā vidyayā vinayena ca ।

वकारैः पञ्चभिः हीनः नरः न आयाति गौरवम् ॥
vakāraiḥ pañcabhiḥ hīnaḥ naraḥ na āyāti gauravam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
vastreNa vapuShaa vaachaa vidyayaa vinayena cha ।
vakaaraiH pa~nchabhirhInaH naro naayaati gauravam ॥

vastreNa vapuShaa vaachaa vidyayaa vinayena cha ।

vakaaraiH pa~nchabhiH hInaH naraH na aayaati gauravam ॥