January 22nd


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यथा खनन् खनित्रेण नरो वार्यधिगच्छति ।
तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति ॥

- मनुस्मृति

Transliteration:
yathā khanan khanitreṇa naro vāryadhigacchati ।
tathā gurugatāṃ vidyāṃ śuśrūṣuradhigacchati ॥
- manusmṛti

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Just as a person gets to water by digging with a spade, similarly one attains vidyā (knowledge) from a guru (teacher) by serving him.

Commentary:
It is a known fact that to get to the water reserves in the earth, one has to work tirelessly and dig with an axe/spade. To dig a well, one cannot just dig a few times in one place and then move on to more spots. He has to choose the place he wants the well to be  in and then keep digging deeper in the same location until he finds water. This process needs patience, perseverance and dedication.  Only then, can a well be made!

Similarly, if one is interested in learning vidyā, he needs to find the right guru for him, in whom he has total faith and trust. He needs to continuously serve his guru with utmost respect and dedication. Just as one can't make a well by digging in different spots, one also can't attain knowledge by jumping from one guru to another, or by randomly and inconsistently paying attention. The attitude with which the guru is regarded with makes a tremendous difference in the amount of learning. If two students go to the same guru - the one who is keen to learn will absorb more from the guru than one who is barely paying attention. Just like blotting paper absorbs the liquid quicker than sandpaper, an eager and attentive student will absorb knowledge faster.  Having the right attitude and perseverance are key to students.

आचार्य देवो भव (ācārya devo bhava) - (deem) the teacher as God himself!

pada vigrahaH:
यथा खनन् खनित्रेण नरो वारी अधिगच्छति ।
yathā khanan khanitreṇa naro vārī adhigacchati ।

तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुः अधिगच्छति ॥
tathā gurugatāṃ vidyāṃ śuśrūṣuḥ adhigacchati ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yathaa khanan khanitreNa naro vaaryadhigachChati ।
tathaa gurugataaM vidyaaM shushrUShuradhigachChati ॥
- manusmRuti

yathaa khanan khanitreNa naro vaarI adhigachChati ।
tathaa gurugataaM vidyaaM shushrUShuH adhigachChati ॥

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