December 30th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
विद्या मित्रं प्रवासेषु भार्या मित्रं गृहेषु च ।
व्याधितस्यौषधं मित्रं धर्मो मित्रं मृतस्य च ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
vidyā mitraṃ pravāseṣu bhāryā mitraṃ gṛheṣu ca ।
vyādhitasyauṣadhaṃ mitraṃ dharmo mitraṃ mṛtasya ca ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Knowledge is a friend when on a journey, a wife is a friend at home, medicine is the friend of the sick, and virtue is the friend of the dead.

Commentary:

When traveling, knowledge is one thing that can be carried painlessly. Knowledge is the tool that can help one thrive in a foreign land.

At home, the wife is the best friend one can trust and rely upon. She is the cornerstone of the family and can withstand any kind of weathering the family has to face.

For a sick person, medicine is a friend. The medicine may taste bitter, but it is in the person's best interest to gulp it down because it is only going to make him feel better.

The virtuous deeds and actions performed during one's lifetime are his friends after passing on. No amount of wealth, family, or friends will accompany him beyond the graveyard. It is only his merits and demerits that will follow him and decide his path of onward travel.

Know your friends in each aspect of life because they are your greatest blessings.  

pada vigrahaH:

विद्या मित्रं प्रवासेषु भार्या मित्रं गृहेषु च ।
vidyā mitraṃ pravāseṣu bhāryā mitraṃ gṛheṣu ca ।

व्याधितस्य औषधं मित्रं धर्मः मित्रं मृतस्य च ॥
vyādhitasya auṣadhaṃ mitraṃ dharmaḥ mitraṃ mṛtasya ca ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
vidyaa mitraM pravaaseShu bhaaryaa mitraM gRuheShu cha ।
vyaadhitasyauShadhaM mitraM dharmo mitraM mRutasya cha ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

vidyaa mitraM pravaaseShu bhaaryaa mitraM gRuheShu cha ।

vyaadhitasya auShadhaM mitraM dharmaH mitraM mRutasya cha ॥