April 30th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
हस्तस्य भूषणं दानं सत्यं कण्ठस्य भूषणं ।
श्रोत्रस्य भूषणं शास्त्रं भूषणैः किं प्रयोजनम् ॥

Transliteration:
hastasya bhūṣaṇaṃ dānaṃ satyaṃ kaṇṭhasya bhūṣaṇaṃ ।
śrotrasya bhūṣaṇaṃ śāstraṃ bhūṣaṇaiḥ kiṃ prayojanam ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Giving is the adornment for the hand; truth is the embellishment for the throat; good counsel (scriptures) is the enhancement to the ear; what is the use of (other) ornaments?

Commentary:
To look pretty, one may consider dressing up with necklaces, bracelets, earrings, toe rings, finger rings, what else and what not! This is what is promoted by society all around. The poet opines that these are futile and worthless. The true adornments are totally different!

The true adornment for a hand is not a shiny bracelet, but the act of giving. Giving something to the needy, assisting someone during hardships, extending a hand of assurance to someone in distress. The true act of giving is done in silence. It is not advertised to the world with cameras, photo-ops or pictures. It is done with no expectations in return either. This is what beautifies the hand.

The purpose of the throat or neck is not to show off a sparkling necklace! Truth is the true embellishment for the neck. How can one tell small white lies here and there, a couple big ones elsewhere, and then hope to achieve the eternal purpose of life - the quest for truth?! Speaking the truth always is the very purpose of having a voice.

Flashy earrings may entice the eye from the outside. But the reason these sense organs were given to us was to understand the scriptures, listen to and abide by good counsel. This enhances both the presence and the purpose of the ears.

Beauty is skin deep and external ornaments can only beautify oneself so much. Instead, make use of these faculties to beautify the soul from within.  These are true adornments that will last a lifetime!

pada vigrahaH:
हस्तस्य भूषणं दानं सत्यं कण्ठस्य भूषणं ।
hastasya bhūṣaṇaṃ dānaṃ satyaṃ kaṇṭhasya bhūṣaṇaṃ ।

श्रोत्रस्य भूषणं शास्त्रं भूषणैः किं प्रयोजनम् ॥
śrotrasya bhūṣaṇaṃ śāstraṃ bhūṣaṇaiḥ kiṃ prayojanam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
hastasya bhUShaNaM daanaM satyaM kaNThasya bhUShaNaM ।
shrotrasya bhUShaNaM shaastraM bhUShaNaiH kiM prayojanam ॥

hastasya bhUShaNaM daanaM satyaM kaNThasya bhUShaNaM ।
shrotrasya bhUShaNaM shaastraM bhUShaNaiH kiM prayojanam ॥

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