July 11th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
पठकाः पाठकाश्चैव ये चान्ये शास्त्रचिन्तकाः ।
सर्वे व्यसनिनो मूर्खाः यः क्रियावान् स पण्डितः ॥
- महाभारत, वनपर्व


Transliteration:
paṭhakāḥ pāṭhakāścaiva ye cānye śāstracintakāḥ ।
sarve vyasanino mūrkhāḥ yaḥ kriyāvān sa paṇḍitaḥ ॥
- mahābhārata, vanaparva

Meaning of the subhAShita:

A reader, a preceptor, or a thinker of the scriptures—all of them are foolish addicts. Only he who is industrious is learned!

Commentary:

Knowledge is of no value unless it is put into practice! 

The application of one's knowledge is of utmost importance. The poet believes that all those who only read, teach, or contemplate on the scriptures, are all simply addicted to the teachings, not essentially grasping the contents. One is truly learned if he is industrious and puts the knowledge to use. Applying the values in day-to-day activities is what practicing is all about!  

This is especially true of scriptural knowledge.  It exalts our higher spiritual Self rather than the lower self of the transactional world! This should not be limited to learning the word jargon but must be put into practice and make our lives wholesome. 

Even parrots can chant verses. The true difference is when you bring about a change by putting your knowledge to work!  It is a reminder to 'preach what you practice and practice what you preach'.

pada vigrahaH:
पठकाः पाठकाः च एव ये च अन्ये शास्त्र-चिन्तकाः ।
paṭhakāḥ pāṭhakāḥ ca eva ye ca anye śāstra-cintakāḥ ।

सर्वे व्यसनिनः मूर्खाः यः क्रियावान् सः पण्डितः ॥
sarve vyasaninaḥ mūrkhāḥ yaḥ kriyāvān saḥ paṇḍitaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
paThakaaH paaThakaashchaiva ye chaanye shaastrachintakaaH ।
sarve vyasanino mUrkhaaH yaH kriyaavaan sa paNDitaH ॥
- mahaabhaarata, vanaparva

paThakaaH paaThakaaH cha eva ye cha anye shaastra-chintakaaH ।

sarve vyasaninaH mUrkhaaH yaH kriyaavaan saH paNDitaH ॥