December 23rd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
वने रणे शत्रुजलाग्निमध्ये
महार्णवे पर्वतमस्तके वा ।
सुप्‍तं प्रमत्तं विषमस्थितं वा
रक्षन्ति पुण्यानि पुराकृतानि ॥
- नीतिशतक

Transliteration:
vane raṇe śatrujalāgnimadhye
mahārṇave parvatamastake vā ।
sup‍taṃ pramattaṃ viṣamasthitaṃ vā
rakṣanti puṇyāni purākṛtāni ॥
- nītiśataka

Meaning of the subhAShita:

In a forest, in a battle, amongst enemies, amidst water or fire, in a vast ocean or on the tip of a mountain, while asleep, awake or in danger - virtuous deeds from (our) past are the protectors.

Commentary:

You will reap what you sow!

If one has performed virtuous deeds in the past, the fruits of those deeds will come to his rescue in times of trouble. karma is like a bank. If we have a positive balance, we can withdraw cash in times of need. But if it is marked in red with a negative balance, there is no chance of getting any returns from that account.

When a person is facing any calamity, whether it be natural or man-made, he will not have to worry about coming out of the situation. His prior deeds of virtue will bring him out unscathed at the end of the tunnel.

Keep the faith and do good to others!

pada vigrahaH:
वने रणे शत्रु-जल-अग्नि-मध्ये
vane raṇe śatru-jala-agni-madhye

महार्णवे पर्वत-मस्तके वा ।
mahārṇave parvata-mastake vā ।

सुप्‍तं प्रमत्तं विषम-स्थितं वा
sup‍taṃ pramattaṃ viṣama-sthitaṃ vā

रक्षन्ति पुण्यानि पुरा कृतानि ॥
rakṣanti puṇyāni purā kṛtāni ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
vane raNe shatrujalaagnimadhye
mahaarNave parvatamastake vaa ।
suptaM pramattaM viShamasthitaM vaa
rakShanti puNyaani puraakRutaani ॥
- neetishataka

vane raNe shatru-jala-agni-madhye

maha arNave parvata-mastake vaa ।

suptaM pramattaM viShama-sthitaM vaa

rakShanti puNyaani puraa kRutaani ॥