July 12th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
गन्धः सुवर्णे फलमिक्षुदण्डे
नाकारि पुष्पं खलु चन्दनस्य ।
विद्वान् धनाढ्यश्च नृपश्चिरायुः
धातुः पुरा कोऽपि न बुद्धिदोऽभूत् ॥
- चाणक्य नीति

Transliteration:
gandhaḥ suvarṇe phalamikṣudaṇḍe
nākāri puṣpaṃ khalu candanasya ।
vidvān dhanāḍhyaśca nṛpaścirāyuḥ
dhātuḥ purā ko'pi na buddhido'bhūt ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Fragrance in gold; fruit in sugarcane; big flowers too in sandalwood; an educated who is rich; a king who lives forever - (alas!) there were no counsellors for the creator earlier!

Commentary:

This poet is suggesting ideas for the Creator (Brahma) that would have been nice additions to the creation itself! Shouldn't He have created the world like this poet's suggestions?

• Gold is precious and liked by most people. What if it came with a sweet fragrance? One could smell the fragrance of their precious gold!
• Sugarcane is definitely sweet, but what if it bore edible fruit that carried its sweetness! The sweetness would then be readily accessible to everyone.
• Sandalwood retains fragrance for decades, but what if it bloomed beautiful big flowers bearing its sweet fragrance? They would beautify a home even as they spread their aroma.
• Riches make one's life easy and comfortable. However, what if the educated were bestowed with lots of wealth? Hopefully, they would put their wealth to good use!  He would have the best of both worlds and hence, an envious life.
• A good king is a rare find. What if such a leader lived forever? There would be no worries for the future or unanticipated anarchy.

The poet says, Alas! Weren't there any intelligent people around to give proper counsel to Brahma?!

The world mentioned above would certainly be great!  But then, doesn't the Creator know what's best? If everything was perfect and everyone had all their wishes granted, would there be any point in the existence of the world itself? He will not put all the arrows in one quiver, meaning, He will not put all attributes into one object! He knows what's best and wants people to work with available resources.  It is as though His message is: "the world is not a utopia, but a reality!"

One has to bring out the best from what there is and be content! One needs to appreciate anything for what it is, rather than count its shortcomings.

pada vigrahaH:
गन्धः सुवर्णे फलम् इक्षुदण्डे
gandhaḥ suvarṇe phalam ikṣudaṇḍe

नाकारि पुष्पं खलु चन्दनस्य ।
nākāri puṣpaṃ khalu candanasya ।

विद्वान् धनाढ्यः च नृपः चिरायुः
vidvān dhanāḍhyaḥ ca nṛpaḥ cirāyuḥ

धातुः पुरा कः अपि न बुद्धिदः अभूत् ॥
dhātuḥ purā kaḥ api na buddhidaḥ abhūt ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
gandhaH suvarNe phalamikShudaNDe
naakaari puShpaM khalu chandanasya ।
vidvaan dhanaaDhyashcha nRupashchiraayuH
dhaatuH puraa ko.pi na buddhido.bhUt ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

gandhaH suvarNe phalam ikShudaNDe

naakaari puShpaM khalu chandanasya ।

vidvaan dhanaaDhyaH cha nRupaH chiraayuH

dhaatuH puraa kaH api na buddhidaH abhUt ॥