January 4th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
राजा बन्धुरबन्धूनां राजा चक्षुरचक्षुषां ।
राजा पिता च माता च राजा चार्तिहरो गुरुः ॥
Transliteration:
rājā bandhurabandhūnāṃ rājā cakṣuracakṣuṣāṃ ।
rājā pitā ca mātā ca rājā cārtiharo guruḥ ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

The king is a relative to those who don't have kinsman; the king is the eye for those without eyes; the king is also mother and father; and the king is the teacher who takes away distress.

Commentary:

For a nation to prosper, their king should have his heart and mind in the right places. The position of a king is such that he needs to act as the kinsman for even those who do not have any kith and kin in this world. He cannot discriminate between his citizens. He should act as eyes for the blind, meaning he should provide aid in all possible ways to make life comfortable for all those who are challenged, in one way or another. More importantly, he is the mother as well as the father to his whole nation. He is the teacher who guides his people away from distress and trouble.

Such should be the quality of a leader. The title could be King, President, Prime Minister, Mayor, or Parent! They are leaders in their own right. When leaders have the correct approach to things, all the people under them will prosper, which in turn, allows the entire nation to prosper. This is the universal truth.

pada vigrahaH:
राजा बन्धुः अबन्धूनां राजा चक्षुः अचक्षुषां ।
rājā bandhuḥ abandhūnāṃ rājā cakṣuḥ acakṣuṣāṃ ।

राजा पिता च माता च राजा च आर्ति-हरः गुरुः ॥
rājā pitā ca mātā ca rājā ca ārti haraḥ-guruḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
raajaa bandhurabandhUnaaM raajaa chakShurachakShuShaaM ।
raajaa pitaa cha maataa cha raajaa chaartiharo guruH ॥

raajaa bandhuH abandhUnaaM raajaa chakShuH achakShuShaaM ।

raajaa pitaa cha maataa cha raajaa cha aarti-haraH guruH ॥