January 23rd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
प्रथमवयसि पीतं तोयमल्पं स्मरन्तः
शिरसि निहितभारा नारिकेला नराणाम् ।
ददति जलमनल्पास्वादमाजीवितान्तं
न हि कृतमुपकारं साधवो विस्मरन्ति ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार


Transliteration:
prathamavayasi pītaṃ toyamalpaṃ smarantaḥ
śirasi nihitabhārā nārikelā narāṇām ।
dadati jalamanalpāsvādamājīvitāntaṃ
na hi kṛtamupakāraṃ sādhavo vismaranti ॥
- subhāṣitaratnabhāṇḍāgāra

Meaning of the subhAShita:

In memory of the little water consumed as a seedling, a coconut tree, bearing weight on its head throughout its life, abundantly gives sweet water to humans. The noble will never forget any assistance given to them.

Commentary:

In life, the beneficiary soon forgets the benefit he received from a benefactor! But noble people never forget the help they receive from another, no matter how negligible. They will remember and be forever grateful to their benefactor, just like a coconut tree. 

Coconut trees don't need much water once they root themselves firmly in place. They survive pretty well in lands with scant irrigation or rainwater. But they need a lot of tending as seedlings while they are growing. Once they mature they will bear sweet coconut water in their shells. The coconut tree obviously doesn't get to enjoy the refreshingly sweet, tender coconut water itself! Instead, it continuously and graciously offers its cool waters to us, as if in gratitude for the tending.

In fact, an interesting word in Sanskrit for this context is—कृतज्ञ (kṛtajña). This is derived as कृतं जानामि इति कृतज्ञः (kṛtaṃ jānāmi iti kṛtajñaḥ). Literally, it means 'I know what you did for me', 'I acknowledge what you did for me'. Saying a 'thank you' and moving on just doesn't suffice! There is no forgetting the favor for any reason.  The noble are grateful (कृतज्ञ, kṛtajña) to their benefactors forever. 

The more we practice the art of gratitude, the more we will have to be grateful for. Therefore, instead of taking things for granted, it is better to receive them with gratitude! 

pada vigrahaH:

प्रथम वयसि पीतं तोयम् अल्पं स्मरन्तः
prathama vayasi pītaṃ toyam alpaṃ smarantaḥ

शिरसि निहित-भारा नारिकेला नराणाम् ।
śirasi nihita-bhārā nārikelā narāṇām ।

ददति जलम् अनल्पास्वादम् आजीवित-अन्तं
dadati jalam analpāsvādam ājīvita-antaṃ

न हि कृतम् उपकारं साधवः विस्मरन्ति ॥
na hi kṛtam upakāraṃ sādhavaḥ vismaranti ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
prathamavayasi pItaM toyamalpaM smarantaH
shirasi nihitabhaaraa naarikelaa naraaNaam ।
dadati jalamanalpaaswaadamaajIvitaantaM
na hi kRutamupakaaraM saadhavo vismaranti ॥
- subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara

prathama vayasi pItaM toyam alpaM smarantaH

shirasi nihita-bhaaraa naarikelaa naraaNaam ।

dadati jalam analpaaswaadam aajIvita-antaM

na hi kRutam upakaaraM saadhavaH vismaranti ॥