July 17th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
कः कालः कानि मित्राणि को देशः कौ व्ययाऽगमौ ।
कश्चाहं का च मे शक्तिः इति चिन्त्यं मुहुर्मुहुः ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
kaḥ kālaḥ kāni mitrāṇi ko deśaḥ kau vyayā'gamau ।
kaścāhaṃ kā ca me śaktiḥ iti cintyaṃ muhurmuhuḥ ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

These should be thought over, again and again—What are (my) circumstances? Who are (my) friends? What region have I come from? What are (my) income and expenses? Who am I? What are my strengths? 

Commentary:

If one asked—"do fish grow on trees?", the answer would always be the same—"NO!" However, certain questions do not always have the same answer, nor are they as simple. One's situation is new and different every time. Therefore, the answers to our questions will be different each time, too!

To be on top of his own state of affairs, one needs to question himself time and again - "What are my circumstances today?"  "Who are my current friends and foes?"  "What part of the world am I living in?"  "What are the economic and political situations in my surroundings?"   "How are my balance sheets of income and expenses matching up?" And, importantly, "What are my strengths and weaknesses?" 

None of these will remain consistent throughout one's life. The answers to these questions keep changing based on many external factors as well as personal growth.  Contemplating these gives a person an opportunity to re-evaluate his life at each step and patch a leak at the earliest.

A small leak can wreck a great ship. If caught in time, one can save a whole lot of time and trouble for himself later.

Stop, rethink, re-evaluate—do not hesitate to make tough decisions.

pada vigrahaH:
कः कालः कानि मित्राणि को देशः कौ व्यय-आगमौ ।
kaḥ kālaḥ kāni mitrāṇi ko deśaḥ kau vyaya-āgamau ।

कः च अहं का च मे शक्तिः इति चिन्त्यं मुहुः मुहुः ॥
kaḥ ca ahaṃ kā ca me śaktiḥ iti cintyaṃ muhuḥ muhuḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
kaH kaalaH kaani mitraaNi ko deshaH kau vyayaa.gamau ।
kashchaahaM kaa cha me shaktiH iti chintyaM muhurmuhuH ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

kaH kaalaH kaani mitraaNi ko deshaH kau vyaya-aagamau ।

kaH cha ahaM kaa cha me shaktiH iti chintyaM muhuH muhuH ॥