February 20th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अनभ्यासे विषं विद्या अजीर्णे भोजनं विषम् ।
मूर्खस्य च विषं गोष्ठी वृद्धस्य तरुणी विषम् ॥

- समयोचितपद्यमालिका

Transliteration:
anabhyāse viṣaṃ vidyā ajīrṇe bhojanaṃ viṣam ।
mūrkhasya ca viṣaṃ goṣṭhī vṛddhasya taruṇī viṣam ॥
- samayocitapadyamālikā

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Knowledge (turns) poisonous without practice; food is (like) poison (during) indigestion; an assembly is (like) poison for the foolish; a young girl is (equal to) poison for an ageing man.

Commentary:
Poison is disastrous whether it causes death or not. This verse has examples of things that can be as fatal as poison, even if they don't cause death.

1. Practice makes perfect! Knowledge which has lost touch, is out of tune, or not updated - is a disaster waiting to happen. A person cannot claim authority of the vidyā that he has not practised. Because chances are, he might have forgotten bits and pieces and not even be aware of it. He may not be abreast with the latest updates on the subject. He may not be as skillful either, due to lack of practice. Such knowledge can be dangerous.

2. On occasions of indigestion, the best rule to follow is - लङ्घनं परमौषधम् (laṅghanaṃ paramauṣadham). Meaning, 'skipping a meal is the best medicine'! Given a little time, nature sets itself right quickly. In order to make an avenue for that, the best remedy is to not stuff the stomach with more food. Food can turn as painful as poison.

3. An assembly of people where thoughts are being discussed and ideas exchanged, isn't the place a foolish person enjoys going to. He may not have the required knowledge, material or oratory skills essential for such a setting. For him, such a place is as unpleasant as poison.

4. A young girl brings distress to an old man. She reminds him of his lost years of youth and therefore brings unhappiness.

If one can identify his shortcomings, it will be easy to avoid getting into stressful situations like those stated above.

pada vigrahaH:
अनभ्यासे विषं विद्या अजीर्णे भोजनं विषम् ।
anabhyāse viṣaṃ vidyā ajīrṇe bhojanaṃ viṣam ।

मूर्खस्य च विषं गोष्ठी वृद्धस्य तरुणी विषम् ॥
mūrkhasya ca viṣaṃ goṣṭhī vṛddhasya taruṇī viṣam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
anabhyaase viShaM vidyaa ajIrNe bhojanaM viSham ।
mUrkhasya cha viShaM goShThI vRuddhasya taruNI viSham ॥
- samayochitapadyamaalikaa

anabhyaase viShaM vidyaa ajIrNe bhojanaM viSham ।
mUrkhasya cha viShaM goShThI vRuddhasya taruNI viSham ॥

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