May 20th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
चराणामन्नमचराः दंष्ट्रिणामप्यदंष्ट्रिणः ।
अहस्ताश्च सहस्तानां शूराणां चैव भीरवः ॥

- मनुस्मृति


Transliteration:
carāṇāmannamacarāḥ daṃṣṭriṇāmapyadaṃṣṭriṇaḥ ।
ahastāśca sahastānāṃ śūrāṇāṃ caiva bhīravaḥ ॥
- manusmṛti

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Food for the mobile (deer, etc) are the immobile (grass, etc); for a predator (with sharp teeth, like lion, tiger, etc) are those without sharp teeth (deer, etc); hand-less (fruit, vegetables) are (food) for those with hands (humans); and for the brave, it is the coward.

Commentary:
The poet has deeply analyzed society and its functioning.  He makes a fair observation and quotes some timeless truths—Deer can go from one place to another, but they eat immobile grass. Carnivores, who have sharp teeth, eat deer which do not have sharp teeth. Humans have hands and their food is fruit and vegetable, which do not have hands. Similarly, the brave have courage and feed on those who do not have courage!

A tiger will never attack another tiger. A deer will never eat another deer. People are supposed to eat vegetarian. (That is a different topic altogether.) Even if they are eating meat today, it is because they have attained more power in their hands (in the form of ammunition). They can eat other animals too, simply because they have conquered their fear of the animal. Hence, if being harassed or bullied by a stronger person, one should not simply sympathize with himself and play the victim. That is why it is said, "He is not a victim of the bullier, but a victim of his own cowardice!" 

Whether we like it or not, this happens in the world more often than not! If one doesn't want to offer himself as food for the ones with more strength, he has only one choice—he must embrace courage himself. At the same time, strength is not for bullying others. It should be accompanied by compassion and ethics.

Do not be a coward and become food for bullies.  Also, people with real merit use their strength for the benefit of others and do not make others feel insignificant! 

pada vigrahaH:
चराणाम् अन्नम् अचराः दंष्ट्रिणाम् अपि अदंष्ट्रिणः ।
carāṇām annam acarāḥ daṃṣṭriṇām api adaṃṣṭriṇaḥ ।

अहस्ताः च सहस्तानां शूराणां च एव भीरवः ॥
ahastāḥ ca sahastānāṃ śūrāṇāṃ ca eva bhīravaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
charaaNaamannamacharaaH daMShTriNaamapyadaMShTriNaH ।
ahastaashcha sahastaanaaM shUraaNaaM chaiva bhIravaH ॥
- manusmRuti

charaaNaam annam acharaaH daMShTriNaam api adaMShTriNaH ।
ahastaaH cha sahastaanaaM shUraaNaaM cha eva bhIravaH ॥

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