August 11th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
प्रभूतं कार्यमल्पं वा यन्नरः कर्तुमिच्छति ।
सर्वारम्भेण तत्कार्यं सिंहादेकं प्रचक्षते ॥

- चाणक्य नीति

Transliteration:
prabhūtaṃ kāryamalpaṃ vā yannaraḥ kartumicchati ।
sarvārambheṇa tatkāryaṃ siṃhādekaṃ pracakṣate ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:
He (a wise man) who is desirous of doing a task, be it a significant or trivial one, looks it over once from start (to finish), in the very beginning. (Learn a thing or two) from the lion.

Commentary:
A lion first approaches stealthily and then crouches silently, watching every move of his prey so he can pounce at the right time. This is his style of hunting! He certainly has to execute all of these steps every single time. He can't relax on any of his hunting techniques just because he is preying on a little rabbit! He still has to be as cautious as possible so he does not alert his meal away from himself :). He works just the same, whether he is hunting down a huge elephant or a tiny hare! His attention is totally on the prey and he does his hunting with complete focus. He runs the whole process in his head from start to finish before actually putting it into action!

There is a term called 'siṃhāvalokana'. A lion travels great distances, but every now and then, it stops to look back at how much distance it has traversed.  It reviews the land where it has marked its territory in thorough detail!

One should execute the task at hand similarly, whether it be a significant one or a trivial one! Whether the task gets recognized by the entire world or his duty calls him to a no man's land with no fan following..., it should be done with the same fervor and forethought!  Running the plan at a glance upfront helps accomplish the task more easily.  Looking back in detail every now and then also helps catch any errors that might have been overlooked.

Dedication is not what others expect of one, but what one expects of himself and offers to others! That should include forethought, vision and prudence.

pada vigrahaH:
प्रभूतं कार्यम्-अल्पं वा यत् नरः कर्तुम् इच्छति ।
prabhūtaṃ kāryam-alpaṃ vā yat naraḥ kartum icchati ।

सर्व-आरम्भेण तत् कार्यं सिंहात् एकं प्रचक्षते ॥
sarva-ārambheṇa tat kāryaṃ siṃhāt ekaṃ pracakṣate ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
prabhUtaM kaaryamalpaM vaa yannaraH kartumichChati ।
sarvaarambheNa tatkaaryaM siMhaadekaM prachakShate ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

prabhUtaM kaaryam-alpaM vaa yat naraH kartum ichChati ।
sarva-aarambheNa tat kaaryaM siMhaat ekaM prachakShate ॥

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