December 24th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
भुक्त्वा तृणानि शुष्कानि पीत्वा तोयं जलाशयात् ।
दुग्धं ददति लोकेभ्यः गावो लोकस्य मातरः ॥

Transliteration:
bhuktvā tṛṇāni śuṣkāni pītvā toyaṃ jalāśayāt ।
dugdhaṃ dadati lokebhyaḥ gāvo lokasya mātaraḥ ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

After eating dry grass and drinking water from the stream, cows give milk to people. (They truly) are (like) mothers to the world.

Commentary:

Cows do not look forward to choosing from fancy lunch or dinner menus. They'll eat whatever dry grass and leaves come their way and drink water from any available source of water - whether it is a lake, pool, pond, or stream. They do not expect anything from anyone. Yet at the same time, they don't live life indifferently. They provide an abundance of milk, that yields other products like yogurt, butter, ghee, etc.

Although they do not receive too much from the world, they do more than their fair share for society. They are like a mother who works tirelessly for her child without expecting anything in return. A mother always has the child's best interest at heart and continues to work towards putting forth her best possible efforts. Cows provide not just to one person, but to the entire world. Hence, they are considered as mothers of the world.

Cows are the gentlest of creatures that ever breathed. They are so divine that no wonder they are worshipped as Gods.  

pada vigrahaH:
भुक्त्वा तृणानि शुष्कानि पीत्वा तोयं जलाशयात् ।
bhuktvā tṛṇāni śuṣkāni pītvā toyaṃ jalāśayāt ।

दुग्धं ददति लोकेभ्यः गावो लोकस्य मातरः ॥
dugdhaṃ dadati lokebhyaḥ gāvo lokasya mātaraḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
bhuktvaa tRuNaani shuShkaani pItvaa toyaM jalaashayaat ।
dugdhaM dadati lokebhyaH gaavo lokasya maataraH ॥

bhuktvaa tRuNaani shuShkaani pItvaa toyaM jalaashayaat ।

dugdhaM dadati lokebhyaH gaavo lokasya maataraH ॥