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, aggressiveness, sharing with kin, even seizing and 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 possesses all of these!

• Waking up early not only keeps one healthy and alert, but 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? The 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' being 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 than eating alone! Understanding this eliminates selfish motives. Be it food, knowledge, or resources—sharing makes anything more delectable.
• Paying attention to one’s own basic needs is just as important as sharing with others. Sharing is not an act of subservience, nor does it mean sacrificing everything while neglecting oneself. Prioritizing personal well-being fosters self-confidence, which can become a powerful driving force for future accomplishments.

Every being can be a source of learning. The uniqueness of each one makes them special and essential to the larger tapestry of creation. After all, the Creator would not have put effort into bringing that being into existence without a purpose!  

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 ॥