December 18th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
सम्पूर्णकुम्भो न करोति शब्दम्
अर्धोघटो घोषमुपैति नूनम्  ।
विद्वान्कुलीनो न करोति गर्वं
मूढास्तु जल्पन्ति गुणैर्विहीनाः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार

Transliteration:
sampūrṇakumbho na karoti śabdam
ardhoghaṭo ghoṣamupaiti nūnam ।
vidvānkulīno na karoti garvaṃ
mūḍhāstu jalpanti guṇairvihīnāḥ ॥
- subhāṣitaratnabhāṇḍāgāra

Meaning of the subhAShita:

A completely filled pot will not make any noise.  (Whereas), a half-filled pot will make noise.  The learned/noble do not pride themselves (on their accomplishments), but fools prattle as if devoid of efficacy.

Commentary:

The metaphor of a pot is given very efficiently to depict the difference between the learned and the ignorant. A pot which is filled to the brim does not swish water around and make noise. Whereas if a pot is half full, it has enough room to swish around even the smallest amount of water since it has so much empty space!  This creates a lot of noise.

Similarly, the noble do not brag about their prowess, even though they are filled to the brim with knowledge.  Whereas, fools, possessing only a little bit of knowledge, make great noise just to show off their insignificant skills.

Isn't humility the adornment of the noble?!

pada vigrahaH:
सम्पूर्ण-कुम्भः न करोति शब्दम्
sampūrṇa-kumbhaḥ na karoti śabdam

अर्धः घटः घोषम् उपैति नूनम् ।
ardhaḥ ghaṭaḥ ghoṣam upaiti nūnam ।

विद्वान् कुलीनः न करोति गर्वं
vidvān kulīnaḥ na karoti garvaṃ

मूढाः तु जल्पन्ति गुणैः विहीनाः ॥
mūḍhāḥ tu jalpanti guṇaiḥ vihīnāḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
sampUrNakumbho na karoti shabdam
ardhoghaTo ghoShamupaiti nUnam ।
vidvaankulIno na karoti garvaM
mUDhaastu jalpanti guNairvihInaaH ॥
- subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara

sampUrNa-kumbhaH na karoti shabdam

ardhaH ghaTaH ghoSham upaiti nUnam ।

vidvaan kulInaH na karoti garvaM

mUDhaaH tu jalpanti guNaiH vihInaaH ॥