May 22nd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
दूरादतिथयो यस्य गृहमायान्ति निर्वृताः ।
गृहस्थः स तु विज्ञेयः शेषास्तु गृहरक्षिणाः ॥
- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

Transliteration:
dūrādatithayo yasya gṛhamāyānti nirvṛtāḥ ।
gṛhasthaḥ sa tu vijñeyaḥ śeṣāstu gṛharakṣiṇāḥ ॥
- subhāṣitasudhānidhi

Meaning of the subhAShita:

He, to whose house guests come from near and far happily, should be considered a householder; the rest are just guards to their houses.

Commentary:
In Sanskrit, the word for guest is—अतिथि, atithi (अ-तिथि, a-tithi)—which means, one who doesn't have an appointment. In essence, he does not have a set तिथि (tithi - date and time) as to when he arrives. That means—he is welcome to come to the house at any given time without any prior notice.

The guest's comfort level depends on the way the host treats his guests. Someone can drop into another person's house and feel at ease, only if his relationship is a pleasant one. This depends on whether the host is being a good host or hostile! 

The poet says a householder is one to whose residence guests come and go cheerfully. If not, the owner of that house is as good as a guard to the house. There is no heart or emotions invested in running such a household. It is a sad situation if one is deemed as the front door guard of his own house!

Guests are considered as divine - 'अतिथि देवो भव' (atithi devo bhava). No one treats deities indifferently. The same applies to guests as well.

Someone once said, 'If it were not for guests, all houses would be graves'. They make the mundane routine of the house a little different and more lively. The ornaments of the house are the guests who visit frequently.

Be a householder, not a guard to your own house!

pada vigrahaH:
दूरात् अतिथयः यस्य गृहम् आयान्ति निर्वृताः ।
dūrāt atithayaḥ yasya gṛham āyānti nirvṛtāḥ ।

गृहस्थः स तु विज्ञेयः शेषाः तु गृहरक्षिणाः ॥
gṛhasthaḥ sa tu vijñeyaḥ śeṣāḥ tu gṛharakṣiṇāḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
dUraadatithayo yasya gRuhamaayaanti nirvRutaaH ।
gRuhasthaH sa tu vij~neyaH sheShaastu gRuharakShiNaaH ॥
- subhaaShitasudhaanidhi

dUraat atithayaH yasya gRuham aayaanti nirvRutaaH ।

gRuhasthaH sa tu vij~neyaH sheShaaH tu gRuharakShiNaaH ॥