January 12th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
द्राक्षा म्लानमुखी जाता शर्करा चाश्मताङ्गता ।
सुभाषितरसस्याग्रे सुधा भीता दिवङ्गता 
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार

Transliteration:
drākṣā mlānamukhī jātā śarkarā cāśmatāṅgatā ।
subhāṣitarasasyāgre sudhā bhītā divaṅgatā ॥
- subhāṣitaratnabhāṇḍāgāra

Meaning of the subhAShita: 
Grapes (had) a wilted face; (and) sugar solidified. Upon the genesis (origination) of the essence of subhāṣitas, the divine nectar ran away to heaven in fear!

Commentary:
The poet has beautifully reasoned the existence of raisins, rock sugar, and amṛta (divine nectar). Grapes are dried to yield sweet raisins. Sugar is crystallized to obtain 'rock sugar'. Amṛta, which belongs to the Gods is naturally in heaven.

But the poet elegantly proposes that grapes withered out, sugar solidified, and amṛta ran away in fear - upon the origination of subhāṣitas!  The poet implies when subhāṣitas came into existence, these sweet objects (grapes, sugar, and divine nectar) thought they did not stand a chance against the sweetness carried in the subhāṣitas.  Hence, they attained their current states as raisins, rock sugar, and divine nectar in heaven!

The affability of the advice, disciplines, and ethics given in subhāṣitas is sweeter than any of these sweet things!

Such is the charm of succinct subhāṣitas because they are eternal truths.  They are relevant in any time or era.  There is a treasure trove of such verses in Sanskrit literature. Blessed are those who relish the sweetness of these pearls of wisdom!

pada vigrahaH: 
द्राक्षा म्लान-मुखी जाता शर्करा च अश्मतां  गता ।
drākṣā mlāna-mukhī jātā śarkarā ca aśmatāṃ gatā ।

सुभाषित-रसस्य अग्रे सुधा भीता दिवं गता ॥
subhāṣita-rasasya agre sudhā bhītā divaṃ gatā ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
draakShaa mlaanamukhI jaataa sharkaraa chaashmataa~ngataa ।
subhaaShitarasasyaagre sudhaa bhItaa diva~ngataa ॥
- subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara

draakShaa mlaana-mukhI jaataa sharkaraa cha ashmataaM gataa ।
subhaaShita-rasasya agre sudhaa bhItaa divaM gataa ॥

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