April 2nd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यथा चतुर्भिः कनकं परीक्ष्यते निघर्षणच्छेदनतापताडनैः ।
तथा चतुर्भिः पुरुषः परीक्ष्यते त्यागेन शीलेन गुणेन कर्मणा ॥
- चाणक्य नीति

Transliteration:
yathā caturbhiḥ kanakaṃ parīkṣyate nigharṣaṇacchedanatāpatāḍanaiḥ ।
tathā caturbhiḥ puruṣaḥ parīkṣyate tyāgena śīlena guṇena karmaṇā ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Just as gold is tested through rubbing, cutting, heating and beating; a man is examined on four (grounds) - liberality, character, efficacy (and) action.

Commentary:

Gold is the most malleable and ductile element. It can be beaten into the thinnest sheets or stretched to make the longest threads. Its lustre is unique too. A goldsmith, who works day in and day out with the metal, checks for the authenticity of the gold brought to him. The way he does this is by rubbing it against a rough stone. Real gold won't lose its shine or leave streaks. He even beats it, heats it and cuts it in the process of evaluating it.

Similarly, the testing grounds for a person are:

1. Liberality - how generous he is in his giving; it could be with his wealth, services or even compassion.
2. Character - his values and morals come under this umbrella.
3. Efficacy - his nature, temperament and attributes in general.
4. Action - deeds. Saying is one thing, yet doing is a whole other ball game.

A person is graded based on these 4 faculties.  Know your moral grounds.

pada vigrahaH:
यथा चतुर्भिः कनकं परीक्ष्यते निघर्षण-छेदन-ताप-ताडनैः ।
yathā caturbhiḥ kanakaṃ parīkṣyate nigharṣaṇa-chedana-tāpa-tāḍanaiḥ ।

तथा चतुर्भिः पुरुषः परीक्ष्यते त्यागेन शीलेन गुणेन कर्मणा ॥
tathā caturbhiḥ puruṣaḥ parīkṣyate tyāgena śīlena guṇena karmaṇā ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yathaa chaturbhiH kanakaM parIkShyate nigharShaNachChedanataapataaDanaiH ।
tathaa chaturbhiH puruShaH parIkShyate tyaagena shIlena guNena karmaNaa ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

yathaa chaturbhiH kanakaM parIkShyate nigharShaNa-Chedana-taapa-taaDanaiH ।

tathaa chaturbhiH puruShaH parIkShyate tyaagena shIlena guNena karmaNaa ॥