December 1st


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
न देवा दण्डमादाय रक्षन्ति पशुपालवत् ।
यं तु रक्षितुमिच्छन्ति सद्‍बुद्ध्या योजयन्ति तम्  ॥
-
विदुरनीति

Transliteration:
na devā daṇḍamādāya rakṣanti paśupālavat ।
yaṃ tu rakṣitumicchanti sad‍buddhyā yojayanti tam ॥
-viduranīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Gods do not bring a stick and protect (us) like herdsmen. They give wisdom to those that they want to protect.

Commentary:
Sheep, goats and other cattle do not have to think much. The first one goes where the herdsman leads and the rest just follow suit. Even if one falls off the cliff the rest will do the same! However, that doesn't work for us. We have to use our own judgement, wisdom and thoughts to make our own decisions.

God doesn't necessarily draw the lines of the paths, we should follow. Rather, He arms us with wisdom and then, we are on our own.

Therefore, we can't complain about the choices that WE make...


pada vigrahaH:
न देवाः दण्डम् आदाय रक्षन्ति पशुपालवत् ।
na devāḥ daṇḍam ādāya rakṣanti paśupālavat ।

यं तु रक्षितुम् इच्छन्ति सत् बुद्ध्या योजयन्ति तम् ॥
yaṃ tu rakṣitum icchanti sat buddhyā yojayanti tam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
na devaa daNDamaadaaya rakShanti pashupaalavat ।
yaM tu rakShitumichChanti sadbuddhyaa yojayanti tam ॥
- viduraneeti

na devaaH daNDam aadaaya rakShanti pashupaalavat ।
yaM tu rakShitum ichChanti sat buddhyaa yojayanti tam ॥

2 comments:

  1. Can you please name the Purana from which this Shloka is from ?

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    Replies
    1. This verse is not from a puraaNa, but from 'vidura neeti'. It comes in the mahaabhaarata's udyoga parva, a dialogue between vidura and dhritaraaShTra.

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