December 5th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day: 
अष्टादशपुराणानं सारं व्यासेन कीर्तितम् ।
परोपकारः पुण्याय पापाय परपीडनम् ॥

Transliteration:
aṣṭādaśapurāṇānaṃ sāraṃ vyāsena kīrtitam ।
paropakāraḥ puṇyāya pāpāya parapīḍanam ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita: 

The essence of all the 18 purāNās (scriptures) is sung by maharṣi Vyāsa: benevolence leads to virtue; torturing others leads to vice.

Commentary: 

The great sage Veda Vyāsa summarizes the essence of the entire 18 purāNās in one sentence!  A person can be proficient in all the purāNās and know them like the back of his hand. However, if he needs a shortcut to all the teachings, even without knowing the scriptures, there is one simple rule: do good unto others and don't cause hurdles for others. Tormenting others is a surefire way of collecting more sin. Selfishness and self-centeredness don't get much merit either.

Living for the benefit of the world and for those around us is the one true way to eternal happiness.

pada vigrahaH: 

अष्टादश-पुराणानं सारं व्यासेन कीर्तितम् ।
aṣṭādaśa-purāṇānaṃ sāraṃ vyāsena kīrtitam ।

पर-उपकारः पुण्याय पापाय पर-पीडनम् ॥
para-upakāraḥ puṇyāya pāpāya para-pīḍanam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
aShTaadashapuraaNaanaM saaraM vyaasena keertitam ।
paropakaaraH puNyaaya paapaaya parapeeDanam ॥

aShTaadasha-puraaNaanaM saaraM vyaasena keertitam ।

para-upakaaraH puNyaaya paapaaya para-peeDanam ॥