April 18th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अत्यन्त कोपः कटुका च वाणी दरिद्रता च स्वजनेषु वैरम् ।
नीचप्रसङ्गः कुलहीनसेवा चिह्नानि देहे नरकस्थितानाम् ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
atyanta kopaḥ kaṭukā ca vāṇī daridratā ca svajaneṣu vairam ।
nīcaprasaṅgaḥ kulahīnasevā cihnāni dehe narakasthitānām ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Excessive anger, displeasing diction, poverty, enmity in kin, company of the wretched, and servitude of the lowly—these are the signs of being in hell, even when embodied (having a bodily form).

Commentary:

Whether there is a heaven or hell afterlife or not, they certainly exist—right here, right now—while one is still living.

• Excessive anger hurts oneself the most, both physically and emotionally.
• Unpleasant diction or harsh words are not appealing to anyone, and others avoid such a person.
• Poverty is something that no one wishes for.
• Enmity with one's kin agitates the mind so much to the point that there is no peace in the mind.
• Company of the wretched not only hinders one's progress as an individual, but it also spirals him down the ladder of morals and ethics.
• The servitude of the lowly is unpleasant because one has to constantly slam his own faiths and beliefs, day in and day out, to please his master.

Under these circumstances, life becomes a living hell! He doesn't have to wait for the afterlife to get a taste of it!! One should get out of such situations as soon as he possibly can.

The mind can choose whether to make our life merry or miserable! What we make of our lives is in our own hands—heaven or hell. 

pada vigrahaH:

अत्यन्त कोपः कटुका च वाणी दरिद्रता च स्वजनेषु वैरम् ।
atyanta kopaḥ kaṭukā ca vāṇī daridratā ca svajaneṣu vairam ।

नीचप्रसङ्गः कुलहीन-सेवा चिह्नानि देहे नरक स्थितानाम् ॥
nīcaprasaṅgaḥ kulahīna-sevā cihnāni dehe naraka sthitānām ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
atyanta kopaH kaTukaa cha vaaNI daridrataa cha swajaneShu vairam ।
nIchaprasa~ngaH kulahInasevaa chihnaani dehe narakasthitaanaam ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

atyanta kopaH kaTukaa cha vaaNI daridrataa cha swajaneShu vairam ।

nIchaprasa~ngaH kulahIna-sevaa chihnaani dehe naraka sthitaanaam ॥