April 25th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
हस्ती अङ्कुशमात्रेण वाजी हस्तेन ताड्यते ।
शृङ्गी लगुडहस्तेन खड्गहस्तेन दुर्जनः ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
hastī aṅkuśamātreṇa vājī hastena tāḍyate ।
śṛṅgī laguḍahastena khaḍgahastena durjanaḥ ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

An elephant is (restrained) with just a goad; a horse is hit with the hand; a horned animal with a (holding) stick in the hand; an evil-doer with a sword in the hand.

Commentary:

There is a restraining factor for everything and everyone. One only needs to figure out which works with any particular one. Tried and tested are some of these methods -

• An elephant is controlled by showing it a goad (ankus). It is afraid of the stab of the goad and will do as it is told.
• A horse heeds to patting with the hand by his master. He knows he has no choice but to heed.
• Horned animals like cows, goats, etc. are kept in line by brandishing a stick. They are afraid of the stick and will not dare to wander away.
• But an evil-doer doesn't budge for any mild strategies. He should be stopped with a sword in hand, says the poet! This doesn't literally mean, to pick up a sword and wage a war. But at the same time, it is also giving a 'go-ahead', if an extreme step needs to be taken. One has to be strong enough to stand up for himself and for the values he believes in. If a wicked man wants to bring them down, he should do everything in his power to protect dharma. However, this doesn't warrant one to fight for unjust reasons, just because it is in his favor.

Apply the right tool for the right purpose. Pulling out an axe to cut a fingernail is neither justified nor makes sense!  Use your judgment.

pada vigrahaH:
हस्ती अङ्कुश-मात्रेण वाजी हस्तेन ताड्यते ।
hastī aṅkuśa-mātreṇa vājī hastena tāḍyate ।

शृङ्गी लगुड-हस्तेन खड्ग-हस्तेन दुर्जनः ॥
śṛṅgī laguḍa-hastena khaḍga-hastena durjanaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
hastI a~nkushamaatreNa vaajI hastena taaDyate ।
shRu~ngI laguDahastena khaDgahastena durjanaH ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

hastI a~nkusha maatreNa vaajI hastena taaDyate ।

shRu~ngI laguDa hastena khaDga hastena durjanaH ॥