June 11th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
क्षीयन्ते सर्वदानानि यज्ञहोमबलिक्रियाः ।
न क्षीयते पात्रदानम् अभयं सर्वदेहिनाम् ॥
- चाणक्य नीति

Transliteration:
kṣīyante sarvadānāni yajñahomabalikriyāḥ ।
na kṣīyate pātradānam abhayaṃ sarvadehinām ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

All the (virtues earned through) all kinds of giving, sacrificial rituals, fire sacrifices, oblations and other forms of worship diminish (over time). But the virtue earned by giving to a person in need never diminishes.

Commentary:

Even the fruit of virtues can only go so far. They are exhaustible as well. Virtuous deeds can be of many genres. Performing sacrificial rituals, fire sacrifices, etc, have limited returns. But when a man in need is assisted, that will never diminish. The given object might perish over time; the giver or receiver may be gone. But the feeling instilled in both the giver and the receiver flows through them to those around. That is eternal! It is not just the fruit of the act, but also the inspiration which encourages both the giver and the receiver to do good remains forever. This flow continues further and further.

In reality, it is not the receiver that is blessed, but the giver! He is the one that should be thankful for being given an opportunity to exercise the power of benevolence and hence become pure at heart.

Give with all your heart when you have a chance. Real generosity towards the future lies in giving all to the present!

pada vigrahaH:
क्षीयन्ते सर्व-दानानि यज्ञ-होम-बलि-क्रियाः ।
kṣīyante sarva-dānāni yajña-homa-bali-kriyāḥ ।

न क्षीयते पात्र-दानम् अभयं सर्व-देहिनाम् ॥
na kṣīyate pātra-dānam abhayaṃ sarva-dehinām ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
kShIyante sarvadaanaani yaj~nahomabalikriyaaH ।
na kShIyate paatradaanam abhayaM sarvadehinaam ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

kShIyante sarva-daanaani yaj~na-homa-bali-kriyaaH ।

na kShIyate paatra-daanam abhayaM sarva-dehinaam ॥