July 26th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
कामधेनुगुणाविद्या ह्यकाले फलदायिनी ।
प्रवासे मातृसदृशी विद्या गुप्‍तं धनं स्मृतम् ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
kāmadhenuguṇāvidyā hyakāle phaladāyinī ।
pravāse mātṛsadṛśī vidyā gup‍taṃ dhanaṃ smṛtam ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Knowledge (vidyā) has the attributes of kāmadhenu (the celestial cow, that grants all wishes) and bears fruit in inopportune times too. It (knowledge) is equivalent to a mother when away from home.  Knowledge is deemed to be a hidden stash of wealth.

Commentary:

There is no scarcity of subhāṣitas on vidyā. In this one, the poet says vidyā is like kāmadhenu, the celestial cow that grants all wishes. It gives one the means to achieve anything he desires! How he puts it to use is up to him! One can use his vidyā to attain more money, fame, name, or better yet, Mukti (salvation). 

Knowledge is compared to a mother who nurtures because knowledge fosters one's thinking. Just as a mother's proximity gives a safe haven to her child, so does knowledge give confidence. The confidence gained through knowledge makes one feel at ease even when in a foreign land. Unfamiliar grounds can be trodden with surety when armed with a weapon called knowledge. It is an invisible treasure chest that keeps providing one with the tools as and when needed but it can't be stolen by anyone. It is all his own to keep forever!

Knowledge is power. Equip yourself with it!

pada vigrahaH:
कामधेनु-गुणा-विद्या हि अकाले फल-दायिनी ।
kāmadhenu-guṇā-vidyā hi akāle phala-dāyinī ।

प्रवासे मातृ-सदृशी विद्या गुप्‍तं धनं स्मृतम् ॥
pravāse mātṛ-sadṛśī vidyā gup‍taṃ dhanaṃ smṛtam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
kaamadhenuguNaavidyaa hyakaale phaladaayinI ।
pravaase maatRusadRushI vidyaa guptaM dhanaM smRutam ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

kaamadhenu-guNaa-vidyaa hi akaale phala-daayinI ।

pravaase maatRu-sadRushI vidyaa guptaM dhanaM smRutam ॥