January 25th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
बोद्धारो मत्सरग्रस्ताः प्रभवः स्मयदूषिताः ।
अबोधोपहताश्चान्ये जीर्णमङ्गे सुभाषितम् ॥
- नीतिशतक

Transliteration:
boddhāro matsaragrastāḥ prabhavaḥ smayadūṣitāḥ ।
abodhopahatāścānye jīrṇamaṅge subhāṣitam ॥
- nītiśataka

Meaning of the subhAShita:

The perceptive (people) are in the grasp of jealousy, the kings are corrupt with arrogance and the rest are beyond perception... (Alas!) the subhāṣitas dilapidated within myself.

Commentary:

भर्तृहरि (Bhartṛhari) who wrote the wonderful book 'नीतिशतक' (Nītiśataka), says that there are all kinds of people in the world. Some are sharp and perceptive, and some are not. Some have the power to propagate knowledge (like the kings) and some don't. He dolefully laments that the problem is—all these people have their own specific reasons for ignoring the subhāṣitas.

1. The intelligent are very busy trying to beat the rat race and outshining their fellow beings. Devoured by jealousy, they do not have any affection towards the subhāṣitas.
2. The kings, or other people in power, are so arrogant about their high position that instead of using their power for the propagation of values and ethics (that are in the subhāṣitas), they do not even care for the subhāṣitas.
3. The rest are not knowledgeable enough to be receptive to the subhāṣitas.

Alas, that represents most people.  So, who is to heed the words of wisdom? Despite knowing this, Bhartṛhari wrote the wonderful book with 100 beautiful verses, hoping that someone, someday will be eager to learn. Each verse is a pearl of wisdom that is a guiding light to daily life.

Let us be the people putting those luminous pearls to practical use in our day-to-day lives!

pada vigrahaH:
बोद्धारः मत्सर ग्रस्ताः प्रभवः स्मय-दूषिताः ।
boddhāraḥ matsara grastāḥ prabhavaḥ smaya-dūṣitāḥ ।

अबोध-उपहताः च अन्ये जीर्णम् अङ्गे सुभाषितम् ॥
abodha-upahatāḥ ca anye jīrṇam aṅge subhāṣitam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
boddhaaro matsaragrastaaH prabhavaH smayadUShitaaH ।
abodhopahataashchaanye jIrNama~nge subhaaShitam ॥
- nItishataka

boddhaaraH matsara grastaaH prabhavaH smaya-dUShitaaH ।

abodha-upahataaH cha anye jIrNam a~nge subhaaShitam ॥