February 10th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अहोरात्राणि गच्छन्ति सर्वेषां प्राणिनामिह ।
आयूम्षि क्षपयन्त्याशु ग्रीष्मे जलमिवाम्शवः ॥
- रामायण, अयोध्याकाण्ड

Transliteration:
ahorātrāṇi gacchanti sarveṣāṃ prāṇināmiha ।
āyūmṣi kṣapayantyāśu grīṣme jalamivāmśavaḥ ॥
- rāmāyaṇa, ayodhyākāṇḍa

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Days and nights pass for all beings here (on earth). Their salubrity (life's vital energy) runs out just like water particles (evaporate) due to sun rays in summer.

Commentary:

Days and nights come and go. Days turn to weeks, weeks to years and years to decades. Thus, a whole lifespan runs out just like that. Unfortunately, selfish motives get higher priority than helping fellow beings. Doing a good deed or two is saved for another day. Spiritual growth and learning are the last things on the agenda. All deeds aiding one's progress are procrastinated for a later time and date. In doing so, a whole lifespan slides by and nothing is achieved by the end of it. The simile given is that of water in the summer. When in contact with sun rays, it evaporates quickly and runs out fast. So does life. It is up to oneself to use it or lose it! One could utilize every day to accumulate virtues and knowledge, little by little. One can move towards achieving a higher goal, inch by inch, every single day with every single opportunity; without allowing life to run out like the water particles in summer.

pada vigrahaH:
अहः रात्राणि गच्छन्ति सर्वेषां प्राणिनाम् इह ।
ahaḥ rātrāṇi gacchanti sarveṣāṃ prāṇinām iha ।

आयूम्षि क्षपयन्ति आशु ग्रीष्मे जलम् इव अम्शवः ॥
āyūmṣi kṣapayanti āśu grīṣme jalam iva amśavaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
ahoraatraaNi gachChanti sarveShaaM praaNinaamiha ।
aayUmShi kShapayantyaashu grIShme jalamivaamshavaH ॥
- raamaayaNa, ayodhyaakaaNDa

ahaH raatraaNi gachChanti sarveShaaM praaNinaam iha ।

aayUmShi kShapayanti aashu grIShme jalam iva amshavaH ॥