Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
गुणैरुत्तमतां याति नोच्चैरासनसंस्थिताः ।
प्रासादशिखरस्थोऽपि काकः किं गरुडायते ॥
- चाणक्य नीति
Transliteration:
guṇairuttamatāṃ yāti noccairāsanasaṃsthitāḥ ।
prāsādaśikharastho'pi kākaḥ kiṃ garuḍāyate ॥
- cāṇakya nīti
Meaning of the subhAShita:
Excellence is attained through efficacy, not by clinging to a tall throne. Just by sitting on a pinnacle, can a crow transform into an eagle?
Commentary:
A 'great big throne' is only an indication or representation of one's greatness. One's greatness comes from his own vices and virtues. What he makes his personality with, is entirely upon himself. He could choose to keep more vices than virtues, or vice versa. But, it is foolish to think that anyone sitting on a throne will become great!
The metaphor given here is that of a crow who poses and sits on the pinnacle of a mountain and thinks he became an eagle! The eagle is deemed as the king of birds. He gets that title not because he sits on the highest altitudes, but because he carries with him the grace and tenacity of a king. That qualifies him for the title. If a crow imitates an eagle and sits on the apex of a tree it won't automatically instill in him the rest of the eagle's qualities.
Don't be carried away by titles, they don't have much bearing when it comes to true excellence! The truly excellent do not even care for the name of their designation! Their actions are true to their nature and they continue working, irrespective of the accolades they may receive.
pada vigrahaH:
गुणैः उत्तमतां याति न उच्चैः आसन संस्थिताः ।
guṇaiḥ uttamatāṃ yāti na uccaiḥ āsana saṃsthitāḥ ।
प्रासाद-शिखरस्थः अपि काकः किं गरुडायते ॥
prāsāda-śikharasthaḥ api kākaḥ kiṃ garuḍāyate ॥
The metaphor given here is that of a crow who poses and sits on the pinnacle of a mountain and thinks he became an eagle! The eagle is deemed as the king of birds. He gets that title not because he sits on the highest altitudes, but because he carries with him the grace and tenacity of a king. That qualifies him for the title. If a crow imitates an eagle and sits on the apex of a tree it won't automatically instill in him the rest of the eagle's qualities.
Don't be carried away by titles, they don't have much bearing when it comes to true excellence! The truly excellent do not even care for the name of their designation! Their actions are true to their nature and they continue working, irrespective of the accolades they may receive.
pada vigrahaH:
गुणैः उत्तमतां याति न उच्चैः आसन संस्थिताः ।
guṇaiḥ uttamatāṃ yāti na uccaiḥ āsana saṃsthitāḥ ।
प्रासाद-शिखरस्थः अपि काकः किं गरुडायते ॥
prāsāda-śikharasthaḥ api kākaḥ kiṃ garuḍāyate ॥
guNairuttamataaM yaati nochchairaasanasaMsthitaaH ।
praasaadashikharastho.pi kaakaH kiM garuDaayate ॥
- chaaNakya nIti
guNaiH uttamataaM yaati na uchchaiH aasana saMsthitaaH ।
praasaada-shikharasthaH api kaakaH kiM garuDaayate ॥
An excellent observation.
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