March 23rd


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अणुमात्रं मनस्तस्मात् आशा नाम लतोद्गता ।
तस्या नालमुपघ्नाय भुवनानि चतुर्दश ॥

- आश्चर्यचूडामणि व्याख्या


Transliteration:
aṇumātraṃ manastasmāt āśā nāma latodgatā ।
tasyā nālamupaghnāya bhuvanāni caturdaśa ॥
- āścaryacūḍāmaṇi vyākhyā

Meaning of the subhAShita:
The mind is merely the size of an atom (and) in it a creeper named 'desire' sprouts. For its tendrils to spread, the fourteen worlds (fall short).

Commentary:
As per common knowledge, a pint-sized jug holds a pint of water; a quart-sized mug, a quart of juice; a gallon-sized pail, a gallon of liquid. Yet, man can turn this common sense rule upside down in a jiffy!

The mind is barely the size of an atom. It is imaginary and doesn't even take physical space. But when 'seeds of wants' are sown, a creeper named 'desire' sprouts. Very quickly, it encompasses everything that comes its way, obscuring the true value of the people around. Also, it keeps growing at such a monstrous pace that as much room is given, its potential to grow keeps increasing exponentially! The poet says that even the 14 worlds seem small under the radius of desire!! It encompasses anything and everything, without even considering its authenticity or validity.

All desire seeks only the end of desire! The best way to stop the weed of desire from spreading to destructive proportions is—by nipping it in the bud.

As soon as desire knocks on the door, hold up a sign: 'Desire, beware!' It prevents us from cognizing the true value of what we already possess! 

pada vigrahaH:
अणु-मात्रं मनः तस्मात् आशा नाम लता उद्गता ।
aṇu-mātraṃ manaḥ tasmāt āśā nāma latā udgatā ।

तस्याः नालम् उपघ्नाय भुवनानि चतुर्दश ॥
tasyāḥ nālam upaghnāya bhuvanāni caturdaśa ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
aNumaatraM manastasmaat aashaa naama latodgataa ।
tasyaa naalamupaghnaaya bhuvanaani chaturdasha ॥
- aashcharyachUDaamaNi vyaakhyaa

aNu-maatraM manaH tasmaat aashaa naama lataa udgataa ।
tasyaaH naalam upaghnaaya bhuvanaani chaturdasha ॥

2 comments:

  1. namaste

    ati uttamam asti. dhanyavAdaH. ekah prashnaH asti.
    padacchede
    लता उद्गता ( not लत )
    तस्याः ( not तस्या )
    ca bhavityam khila ?.

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  2. Have laxed on the 'visarga sandhi' in the pada vigraha in many of the shlokas. That section was mainly for breaking up long complex words into readable bits. Will keep your suggestion in mind. Thanks.

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