March 18th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
चला लक्ष्मीश्चलाः प्राणाः चलं जीवितयौवनम् ।
चलाचले च संसारे धर्म एको हि निश्चलः ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
calā lakṣmīścalāḥ prāṇāḥ calaṃ jīvitayauvanam ।
calācale ca saṃsāre dharma eko hi niścalaḥ ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Variable is wealth, unsteady is life's vital breath, and changeable is life and youth. In this world of steady and unsteady, virtue is the one and only firm (aspect).

Commentary:

One may be the richest person in town, but at any given instant his riches could be burnt to ashes. A healthy person could die with his breath stopping, without even giving a hint. It is a known fact that youth is short-lived and passes on fast, as does life. In such a world of uncertainties and variable factors, people tend to anchor on things that are unstable to begin with! How can a sinking boat save a person from drowning? 

In this ocean of saṃsāra, a shore is not in sight until absolution is attained. If one wants to stay above water, he needs to hang on to a boulder that will not get battered by the high winds or water. Virtue or dharma is the one lone boulder that is eternal and remains steady, whether one takes its support or not. 

Then why hang on to the impermanent materialistic comforts when we are offered reliable, steady support to get through life?! Having a firm anchor makes the journey through the ocean of saṃsāra much easier and very pleasant. Again, the choice is ours and ours alone!

pada vigrahaH:
चलाः लक्ष्मीः चलाः प्राणाः चलं जीवित-यौवनम् ।
calāḥ lakṣmīḥ calāḥ prāṇāḥ calaṃ jīvita-yauvanam ।

चला-अचले च संसारे धर्मः एकः हि निश्चलः ॥
calā-acale ca saṃsāre dharmaḥ ekaḥ hi niścalaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
chalaa lakShmIshchalaaH praaNaaH chalaM jIvita-yauvanam ।
chalaachale cha saMsaare dharma eko hi nishchalaH ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

chalaaH lakShmIH chalaaH praaNaaH chalaM jIvita-yauvanam ।

chalaa-achale cha saMsaare dharmaH ekaH hi nishchalaH ॥