March 4th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
चित्तस्य शुद्धये कर्म न तु वस्तूपलब्धये ।
वस्तुसिद्धिर्विचारेण न किञ्चित् कर्मकोटिभिः ॥
- विवेकचूडामणि

Transliteration:
cittasya śuddhaye karma na tu vastūpalabdhaye ।
vastusiddhirvicāreṇa na kiñcit karmakoṭibhiḥ ॥
- vivekacūḍāmaṇi

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Action is for the cleansing of the mind, not the attainment of knowledge (आत्म-वस्तु विचार - ātma-vastu vicāra - knowledge about the self). 'ātma-jñāna' is attained through self-inquiry, not by performing countless deeds.

Commentary:

Actions are essential for the cleansing of one's mind. However, performing innumerous actions will not lead towards true knowledge about oneself. This knowledge is attained only through constant self-inquiry and reflection about oneself on a constant basis. It is not a dish that someone else can prepare and present for one's consumption. This inquiry has to come from within and it stays with the inquirer. Scriptures, teachers and books can only lead one in that direction. But what each person achieves using these tools is entirely up to himself. How one analyzes the teachings and reflects upon them defines the depth of understanding of 'ātma-jñāna' (knowledge about the Self).

Once knowledge is attained, this will drive him to do actions for the betterment of the society without being attached to their fruit (result), which instantaneously makes him a 'yogi'.

pada vigrahaH:
चित्तस्य शुद्धये कर्म न तु वस्तु उपलब्धये ।
cittasya śuddhaye karma na tu vastu upalabdhaye ।

वस्तु-सिद्धिः विचारेण न किञ्चित् कर्म-कोटिभिः ॥
vastu-siddhiḥ vicāreṇa na kiñcit karma-koṭibhiḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
chittasya shuddhaye karma na tu vastUpalabdhaye ।
vastusiddhirvichaareNa na ki~nchit karmakoTibhiH ॥
- vivekachUDaamaNi

chittasya shuddhaye karma na tu vastu upalabdhaye ।

vastu-siddhiH vichaareNa na ki~nchit karma-koTibhiH ॥