Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
क्षुत्क्षामोऽपि जराकृशोऽपि शिथिलप्रायोऽपि कष्टां दशाम्
आपन्नोऽपि विपन्नदीधितिरपि प्राणेषु नश्यत्स्वपि ।
मत्तेभेन्द्रविभिन्नकुम्भपिशितग्रासैकबद्धस्पृहः
किं जीर्णं तृणमत्ति मानमहतामग्रेसरः केसरी ॥
- नीतिशतक
Transliteration:
kṣutkṣāmo'pi jarākṛśo'pi śithilaprāyo'pi kaṣṭāṃ daśām
āpanno'pi vipannadīdhitirapi prāṇeṣu naśyatsvapi ।
mattebhendravibhinnakumbhapiśitagrāsaikabaddhaspṛhaḥ
kiṃ jīrṇaṃ tṛṇamatti mānamahatāmagresaraḥ kesarī ॥
- nītiśataka
Meaning of the subhAShita:
Would a lion - the frontrunner among the respectable, who is desirous of eating the flesh from the slit forehead of a rut elephant, even when emaciated with hunger, haggard with age, slacking (in energy), distressed abundantly, troubled and losing salubrity - eat dilapidated grass?!
Commentary:
A lion is not called the king of the jungle for no reason. He keeps his head high because he is strong, ferocious and majestic. He doesn't bow down under circumstances and lose his self-esteem. Just because he is waning with hunger, lean with age, weak in his pounce, facing multitudes of troubles while losing life's vital energy, he will not succumb to his state of affairs. He still will be desirous of eating the flesh by slitting open the forehead of an elephant - not just any elephant, but a jagged one who is rut with rage. His physical state won't put a dent to his valor! He would never settle for eating some dry grass just because it is easier and available.
The point here is not herbivores versus carnivores. The aspect of interest here is that what doesn't come naturally to him, will not come to him in times of dire circumstance either! Stooping down from our own values, morals, virtues and views due to external situations should not be an option. Nobility comes from being steady, strong and firm through all kinds of circumstance like the lion.
Keep thy values and standards at all times.
pada vigrahaH:
क्षुत् क्षामः अपि जरा कृशः अपि शिथिल-प्रायः अपि कष्टां दशाम्
kṣut kṣāmaḥ api jarā kṛśaḥ api śithila-prāyaḥ api kaṣṭāṃ daśām
आपन्नः अपि विपन्न-दीधितिः अपि प्राणेषु नश्यत्सु अपि ।
āpannaḥ api vipanna-dīdhitiḥ api prāṇeṣu naśyatsu api ।
मत्ते-भेन्द्र-विभिन्न-कुम्भ-पिशित-ग्रास-एक-बद्ध-स्पृहः
matte-bhendra-vibhinna-kumbha-piśita-grāsa-eka-baddha-spṛhaḥ
किं जीर्णं तृणम् अत्ति मान-महताम् अग्रेसरः केसरी ॥
kiṃ jīrṇaṃ tṛṇam atti māna-mahatām agresaraḥ kesarī ॥
The point here is not herbivores versus carnivores. The aspect of interest here is that what doesn't come naturally to him, will not come to him in times of dire circumstance either! Stooping down from our own values, morals, virtues and views due to external situations should not be an option. Nobility comes from being steady, strong and firm through all kinds of circumstance like the lion.
Keep thy values and standards at all times.
pada vigrahaH:
क्षुत् क्षामः अपि जरा कृशः अपि शिथिल-प्रायः अपि कष्टां दशाम्
kṣut kṣāmaḥ api jarā kṛśaḥ api śithila-prāyaḥ api kaṣṭāṃ daśām
आपन्नः अपि विपन्न-दीधितिः अपि प्राणेषु नश्यत्सु अपि ।
āpannaḥ api vipanna-dīdhitiḥ api prāṇeṣu naśyatsu api ।
मत्ते-भेन्द्र-विभिन्न-कुम्भ-पिशित-ग्रास-एक-बद्ध-स्पृहः
matte-bhendra-vibhinna-kumbha-piśita-grāsa-eka-baddha-spṛhaḥ
किं जीर्णं तृणम् अत्ति मान-महताम् अग्रेसरः केसरी ॥
kiṃ jīrṇaṃ tṛṇam atti māna-mahatām agresaraḥ kesarī ॥
kShutkShaamo.pi jaraakRusho.pi shithilapraayo.pi kaShTaaM dashaam
aapanno.pi vipannadIdhitirapi praaNeShu nashyatsvapi ।
mattebhendravibhinnakumbhapishitagraasaikabaddhaspRuhaH
kiM jIrNaM tRuNamatti maanamahataamagresaraH kesarI ॥
- nItishataka
kShut kShaamaH api jaraa kRushaH api shithila-praayaH api kaShThaaM dashaam
aapannaH api vipanna-dIdhitiH api praaNeShu nashyatsu api ।
matte-bhendra-vibhinna-kumbha-pishita-graasa-eka-baddha-spRuhaH
kiM jIrNaM tRuNam atti maana-mahataam agresaraH kesarI ॥
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