February 22nd


Sanskrit Pearl of the day: 
जन्मेदं वन्ध्यतां नीतं भवभोगोपलिप्सया ।
काचमूल्येन विक्रीतः हन्त चिन्तामणिर्मया ॥

- शान्तिशतक

Transliteration:
janmedaṃ vandhyatāṃ nītaṃ bhavabhogopalipsayā ।
kācamūlyena vikrītaḥ hanta cintāmaṇirmayā ॥
- śāntiśataka

Meaning of the subhAShita: 
This birth went futile in worldly indulgences. Alas! A 'cintāmaṇi' (precious stone) has been traded by me at the price of glass.

Commentary: 
A 'cintāmaṇi' is supposedly a stone stronger than penetrating radium and its dynamic rays instantly increase a person's vibratory frequencies.  They are known to bestow upon him/her the ability to see into the past and future and even make one evolve into an immortal being. With this description, a 'cintāmaṇi' is, beyond doubt, a rare and precious gem.

So is life! It is a gift from God and is put to use best by learning, doing good to the people around us, and bettering ourselves, every day. In this verse, the poet says that he foolishly indulged in mundane pleasures and threw away a precious lifetime that he could have used for the betterment of his soul.  

Life is a gift that we often take for granted.  The poet says he whiled away such a precious birth, as if, trading off the rare and precious 'cintāmaṇi' callously, like it were a piece of glass! Whether one realizes it or not, the cintāmaṇi stone is ever precious. The trader is the loser if he trades it off for peanuts without knowing its worth. The same applies to life. It is up to oneself to make use of it for the betterment of himself, for the betterment of the people around him, and to make society a nicer place to live in. If this aspect is not valued, he will pay the price.  

Life is precious! Don't waste!!  

pada vigrahaH: 
जन्म-इदं वन्ध्यतां नीतं भवभोग-उपलिप्सया ।
janma-idaṃ vandhyatāṃ nītaṃ bhavabhoga-upalipsayā ।

काच-मूल्येन विक्रीतः हन्त चिन्तामणिः मया ॥
kāca-mūlyena vikrītaḥ hanta cintāmaṇiḥ mayā ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
janmedaM vandhyataaM nItaM bhavabhogopalipsayaa ।
kaachamUlyena vikrItaH hanta chintaamaNirmayaa ॥
- shaantishataka

janma-idaM vandhyataaM nItaM bhavabhoga-upalipsayaa ।
kaacha-mUlyena vikrItaH hanta chintaamaNiH mayaa ॥

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