March 13th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
कुग्रामवासः कुजनस्य सेवा
कुभोजनं क्रोधमुखी च भार्या  ।
मूर्खश्च पुत्रो विधवा च कन्या
दहन्ति चैतानि जनं विनाग्निम् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय

Transliteration:
kugrāmavāsaḥ kujanasya sevā
kubhojanaṃ krodhamukhī ca bhāryā ।
mūrkhaśca putro vidhavā ca kanyā
dahanti caitāni janaṃ vināgnim ॥
- subhāṣitaratnasamuccaya

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Life in an ill-fated village; serving the evil; banal food; a wrathful wife; stupid son; and a widowed daughter - these (six) burn one without the requirement of fire.

Commentary:
1. Living in unfavorable circumstances and conditions is not fun. Living among people who do not have any value for dharma or a living ambience which brings misery is not pleasant for anyone.

2. When having to serve the evil, one must kill his own conscience. There is no hell worse than having to silence one's inner voice and slug along life, under an evildoer.

3. All the efforts and endeavors one undertakes are for the sake of his stomach. At the end of the day, whether he is rich or poor, his efforts are to satiate his palette. If the food is stale and unhealthy, that will negate all his efforts so far.  Neither would he enjoy eating such food nor does it assist in nurturing his health. It only aids in slowly killing the person.

4. A wife is the backbone of the household in many respects. She needs to be strong, yet pleasant because she serves as the shock absorber for the entire family. If the shock absorber is not effective, the family will not get a cushion from calamities. If the spouse is always wrathful and angry-faced, one will not look forward to coming to a relaxing and peaceful place called home. The pleasantness of the husband and wife towards each other is an integral part of a successful household.

5. Every parent wants their children to prosper in life. In this regard, they equip their children with education, for that alone is the tool in leading a happy life. What if the son is an idiot and refuses to learn? The parents of such children suffer anxiety throughout their lives.

6. No parent wants to see their offspring suffer any kind of pain. How can parents see their daughter suffer the loss of her husband?  Sorrow of the child is like a death sentence to the parents.

All these circumstances above are equated to death. When a person dies, he is burnt on a pyre with fire. However, any of these circumstances is capable of burning a person alive, without the need for fire.

Some of these circumstances are destiny. But whatever is within our control, shouldn't we take charge of it?  Shouldn't we make sure that our lives and those around us are as happy as we can make it?

pada vigrahaH:
कुग्राम-वासः कुजनस्य सेवा
kugrāma-vāsaḥ kujanasya sevā

कुभोजनं क्रोध-मुखी च भार्या ।
kubhojanaṃ krodha-mukhī ca bhāryā ।

मूर्खः च पुत्रः विधवा च कन्या
mūrkhaḥ ca putraḥ vidhavā ca kanyā

दहन्ति च एतानि जनं विना अग्निम् ॥
dahanti ca etāni janaṃ vinā agnim ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
kugraamavaasaH kujanasya sevaa
kubhojanaM krodhamukhI cha bhaaryaa ।
mUrkhashcha putro vidhavaa cha kanyaa
dahanti chaitaani janaM vinaagnim ॥
- subhaaShitaratnasamuchchaya

kugraama-vaasaH kujanasya sevaa
kubhojanaM krodha-mukhI cha bhaaryaa ।
mUrkhaH cha putraH vidhavaa cha kanyaa
dahanti cha etaani janaM vinaa agnim ॥

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