April 11th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
उपकारिषु यः साधुः साधुत्वे तस्य को गुणः ।
अपकारिषु यः साधुः स साधुः सद्भिरुच्यते ॥
- पञ्चतन्त्र

Transliteration:
upakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sādhutve tasya ko guṇaḥ ।
apakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sa sādhuḥ sadbhirucyate ॥
- pañcatantra

Meaning of the subhAShita:

What is the efficacy of showing virtue toward one's benefactor? Noble people say that 'he who can be virtuous to his wrongdoers too, is great!'

Commentary:

Being kind and courteous to one's benefactor is the easiest kind of deed. Since he did good to me, I will do good to him too! What is the greatness in that? The virtuous deeds done by both cancel each other out. 

However, great is he who can overlook the misgivings of another and yet, be nice and helpful to his wrongdoers. That takes a lot more of one's greatness and generosity. He needs to forget and forgive the wrong that was done to him. At the same time, he needs to take a further step by helping the person who wronged him. 

When one can see past the misdeeds of another, he belongs to a league of a different order instantaneously! The logic of 'a thorn is removed by a thorn' does not work in this case. His broadness of mind and greatness of virtue will have the ability to change the wrongdoer internally. Then, the thorn gets removed automatically, without a requirement to use another thorn.

Forget and forgive. Look past the follies of others.  Do not regret being nice to wrongdoers.  Afterall, everyone can only offer what's in their hearts! 

pada vigrahaH:
उपकारिषु यः साधुः साधुत्वे तस्य कः गुणः ।
upakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sādhutve tasya kaḥ guṇaḥ ।

अपकारिषु यः साधुः सः साधुः सद्भिः उच्यते ॥
apakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ saḥ sādhuḥ sadbhiḥ ucyate ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
upakaariShu yaH saadhuH saadhutve tasya ko guNaH ।
apakaariShu yaH saadhuH sa saadhuH sadbhiruchyate ॥
- pa~nchatantra

upakaariShu yaH saadhuH saadhutve tasya kaH guNaH ।

apakaariShu yaH saadhuH saH saadhuH sadbhiH uchyate ॥