March 3rd


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
आपदि मित्रपरीक्षा च शूरपरीक्षा च रणाङ्गणे ।
विनये वंशपरीक्षा च शीलपरीक्षा तु धनक्षये ॥
Transliteration:
āpadi mitraparīkṣā ca śūraparīkṣā ca raṇāṅgaṇe ।
vinaye vaṃśaparīkṣā ca śīlaparīkṣā tu dhanakṣaye ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:
A friend's testing ground is calamities; the brave are tested on the battlefield; the test of a family is in its humility; and, character is tested in times of poverty.

Commentary:
One might have gazillions of friends that they hang out with and many more that would want to get to know him. But the true testing ground for the friendship is in times of trouble. The true colors of all friends surface the minute he is in a calamity. A person who stands by him through thick and thin is his one true friend.

Talking about courage and even training in martial arts doesn't make one brave. A person's valiance comes to light when he has to face real circumstances and fight a battle on a battlefield. That is his real testing ground.

A family is not weighed as per their possession, wealth, friends and foes. The real test for a family is in its values. The kind of culture and moralities that are imbibed by the children, speak volumes about the state of affairs in the family!

One can be of great character in pleasant times. When he has all the riches in the world, it is easy for one to follow the rules, do good to others, be cheerful, etc. But when the materialistic riches are gone, there is a scarcity of resources, and there is no fallback, the mettle of the person's character is then put to test.

To keep one's moral grounds under all circumstances takes courage and character.

pada vigrahaH:
आपदि मित्र-परीक्षा च शूर-परीक्षा च रण-अङ्गणे ।
āpadi mitra-parīkṣā ca śūra-parīkṣā ca raṇa-aṅgaṇe ।

विनये वंश-परीक्षा च शील-परीक्षा तु धन-क्षये ॥
vinaye vaṃśa-parīkṣā ca śīla-parīkṣā tu dhana-kṣaye ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
aapadi mitraparIkShaa cha shUraparIkShaa cha raNaa~ngaNe ।
vinaye vaMshaparIkShaa cha shIlaparIkShaa tu dhanakShaye ॥

aapadi mitra-parIkShaa cha shUra-parIkShaa cha raNa-a~ngaNe ।
vinaye vaMsha-parIkShaa cha shIla-parIkShaa tu dhana-kShaye ॥

4 comments:

  1. Kindly share the name of grantha where this is included

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Umamaheswari ji, don't know the source of this verse. Wherever know, sources are given right below the verses on this blog.

      Hope it helps.

      Delete
  2. Great collection, you have here - much appreciate

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. Happy to hear that you enjoy the content!

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