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; rest are just guards to their houses.

Commentary:
Guest is called 'अतिथि, अ-तिथि' (atithi, a-tithi), which means, he 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 the house at any given time without any reservations.

A guest can drop into another's house and feel at ease, only if his relationship with the host is a pleasant one. His comfort level depends on the way the host treats his guests. 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 the house is as good as a guard to his 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. 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 frequently visit.

Be a householder, not a guard!

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 ॥