June 13th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
स्थानस्थितस्य पद्मस्य मित्रे वरुणभास्करौ ।
स्थानच्युतस्य तस्यैव क्लेदशोषणकारकौ ॥

Transliteration:
sthānasthitasya padmasya mitre varuṇabhāskarau ।
sthānacyutasya tasyaiva kledaśoṣaṇakārakau ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Rain and sunshine are friends to the lotus who is stationed in its (own) place. They (also) cause rotting and drying to the same lotus when removed from its place.

Commentary:
A lotus thrives on water and sunshine. In fact, it lives and grows in water. It blossoms with the sunrise and shuts close at sunset! Hence, the lotus considers water and the sun as its friends.

If the same lotus is plucked from the plant and kept in the sun, it will dry out within no time. And if put in water; it will drench and putrefy. But wait, aren't these the same sun and water that were friends of the lotus a moment ago when it was still on the plant?!

Well, that's the harsh reality of life!! Those who were once friends can turn into foes. When one is not rooted in his position, he loses his following! Meaning, those who befriended him will ignore him when he is not in the locus of his authority. Being oneself and performing duties with total dedication is the true way of maintaining one's position. A husband has his position, a wife has her's. Similarly, a mother, a father and then children, etc. all have positions. Each one needs to do complete justice to the position he/she holds because only then does it make his/her position well held. Otherwise, circumstances and people that were once favorable, prove to suddenly become adverse!

When one pretends to be someone he is not, isn't he abandoning his position 'of being himself?' Isn't it natural for him to face hardships like the lotus plucked out of the plant?

The easiest position to hold in the world is: your own. The most difficult position is the one other people insist you hold. Do not let yourself be put in that position! Keep your spot and be happy :).

pada vigrahaH:
स्थान-स्थितस्य पद्मस्य मित्रे वरुण-भास्करौ ।
sthāna-sthitasya padmasya mitre varuṇa-bhāskarau ।

स्थान-च्युतस्य तस्य एव क्लेद-शोषण-कारकौ ॥
sthāna-cyutasya tasya eva kleda-śoṣaṇa-kārakau ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
sthaanasthitasya padmasya mitre varuNabhaaskarau ।
sthaanachyutasya tasyaiva kledashoShaNakaarakau ॥

sthaana-sthitasya padmasya mitre varuNa-bhaaskarau ।
sthaana-chyutasya tasya eva kleda-shoShaNa-kaarakau ॥

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