May 7th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
उष्ट्राणां च विवाहेषु गीतं गायन्ति गर्दभाः ।
परस्परं प्रशंसन्ति अहो रूपमहो ध्वनिः ॥
- समयोचितपद्यमालिका


Transliteration:
uṣṭrāṇāṃ ca vivāheṣu gītaṃ gāyanti gardabhāḥ ।
parasparaṃ praśaṃsanti aho rūpamaho dhvaniḥ ॥
- samayocitapadyamālikā

Meaning of the subhAShita:

In the wedding of camels, donkeys sing the song. They both praise each other, 'Ah! the form!', 'ah! the voice!'

Commentary:

The camel is an animal that is not particularly popular for its grace and form. Similarly, a donkey is an animal whose braying is not exactly famous for melody. But this scene is of the wedding of camels where the donkeys are singing in merry! As if this weren't enough, they are both praising each other for their beauty and tone respectively! :)

This is a great imaginary scenario that works as an example of false praise. When one praises, it does not warrant the person praised to let it get to his head. 

Just because the camels said that the donkeys sang wonderfully, it is not reality. It is also important to note that, only the finest can recognize finesse. A donkey is not really the best candidate to identify beauty to begin with.

None are more taken by flattery than the proud, who wish to be the best, but are not. False praise is worse than no praise at all.  Beware of flatterers and watch your own reactions to such fawning and eyewash compliments!  Wise people would rather benefit from constructive criticism than be ruined by false praise. 

pada vigrahaH:
उष्ट्राणां च विवाहेषु गीतं गायन्ति गर्दभाः ।
uṣṭrāṇāṃ ca vivāheṣu gītaṃ gāyanti gardabhāḥ ।

परस्परं प्रशंसन्ति अहो रूपम् अहो ध्वनिः ॥
parasparaṃ praśaṃsanti aho rūpam aho dhvaniḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
uShTraaNaaM cha vivaaheShu gItaM gaayanti gardabhaaH ।
parasparaM prashaMsanti aho rUpamaho dhvaniH ॥
- samayochitapadyamaalikaa

uShTraaNaaM cha vivaaheShu gItaM gaayanti gardabhaaH ।

parasparaM prashamsanti aho rUpam aho dhvaniH ॥