December 7th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
आरम्भगुर्वी क्षयिणी क्रमेण
लघ्वी पुरा वृद्धिमती च पश्चात् ।
दिनस्य पूर्वार्धपरार्धभिन्ना
छायेव मैत्री खलसज्जनानाम् ॥
- नीतिशतक

Transliteration:
ārambhagurvī kṣayiṇī krameṇa
laghvī purā vṛddhimatī ca paścāt ।
dinasya pūrvārdhaparārdhabhinnā
chāyeva maitrī khalasajjanānām ॥
- nītiśataka

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Long to begin with, but diminishes later; (then again), it is small to start off but increases gradually - just the way a shadow differs in the first half of the day from the second half (of the day), so does the friendship of a wicked person vs. a good person.

Commentary:

Early in the morning, the shadow cast by the sun is longer than the object itself.  As the day progresses the Sun is directly over the head.  The shadow is hardly evident, lying right at the foot of the object. During the second half of the day - it starts off small, at the bottom of the object.  It grows gradually, and by the end of the day, it is bigger than the object itself!

Such is the difference between the friendships of a rogue and a noble person. With a rogue, it starts off on a very high note, only to diminish and disappear over time. However, with the noble, although it starts on a low key, it grows bigger and stronger by the end.

Time is the true testing ground of friendship!  Make lasting friendships.  Be an indelible friend. 

pada vigrahaH:
आरम्भ गुर्वी क्षयिणी क्रमेण
ārambha gurvī kṣayiṇī krameṇa

लघ्वी पुरा वृद्धिमती च पश्चात् ।
laghvī purā vṛddhimatī ca paścāt ।

दिनस्य पूर्व-अर्ध-पर-अर्ध-भिन्ना
vyagrāḥdinasya pūrva-ardha-para-ardha-bhinnā

छाया इव मैत्री खल-सज्जनानाम् ॥
chāyā iva maitrī khala-sajjanānām ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
aarambhagurvI kShayiNI krameNa
laghvI puraa vRuddhimatI cha pashchaat ।
dinasya pUrvaardhaparaardhabhinnaa
Chaayeva maitrI khalasajjanaanaam ॥
- neetishataka

aarambha-gurvI kShayiNI krameNa

laghvI puraa vRuddhimatI cha pashchaat ।

dinasya pUrva-ardha-para-ardha-bhinnaa

Chaayaa iva maitrI khala-sajjanaanaam ॥