August 27th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
प्रातरुत्थानं युद्धं च संविभागं च बन्धुषु ।
स्वयमाक्रम्य भुक्तं च शिक्षेच्चत्वारि कुक्कुटात् ॥
- चाणक्य नीति

Transliteration:
prātarutthānaṃ yuddhaṃ ca saṃvibhāgaṃ ca bandhuṣu ।
svayamākramya bhuktaṃ ca śikṣeccatvāri kukkuṭāt ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Waking up in the morning, belligerence, sharing with kin, feeding oneself - learn these 4 (attributes) from a rooster.

Commentary:

Waking up early, readiness to fight, sharing, and not ignoring one's needs - 4 precious lessons anyone could use. A rooster possess all of these!

• Waking up early not only keeps one healthy and alert, but it also gives more time to undertake productive tasks throughout the day. Who doesn't want an extra hour to finish up the day's chores? Best way to do it is by waking up in the early hours of the morning.
• One needs to have faith in himself and his beliefs. If need be, he should be able to defend himself. 'If need be' is instrumental. We are not talking about 'standing ready to fight for no good reason'. When one's rudimentary beliefs are being questioned, one should have the courage and confidence to stand up for himself. This is very essential.
• Whether it is a morsel of grain or a whole barn full, sharing with friends and family is more enticing! Recognizing this slays one's selfish motives. Be it food, knowledge, or resources, sharing makes it more delectable.
• Paying attention to one' own basic needs is very essential as well. Doing so paves the way to confidence within. That confidence can be the driving force behind many future achievements.

There is a lesson to be learnt from each and every being! That is what makes each being special and also essential to the creation at large. Else, the Lord would not have put an effort into creating that being!!

pada vigrahaH:
प्रातः उत्थानं युद्धं च संविभागं च बन्धुषु ।
prātaḥ utthānaṃ yuddhaṃ ca saṃvibhāgaṃ ca bandhuṣu ।

स्वयम् आक्रम्य भुक्तं च शिक्षेत् चत्वारि कुक्कुटात् ॥
svayam ākramya bhuktaṃ ca śikṣet catvāri kukkuṭāt ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
praatarutthaanaM yuddhaM cha saMvibhaagaM cha bandhuShu ।
svayamaakramya bhuktaM cha shikShechchatvaari kukkuTaat ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

praataH utthaanaM yuddhaM cha saMvibhaagaM cha bandhuShu ।

svayam aakramya bhuktaM cha shikShet chatvaari kukkuTaat ॥