August 28th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
बुद्धिर्यस्य बलं तस्य निर्बुद्धेस्तु कुतो बलम् ।
वने सिंहो मदोन्मत्तः शशकेन निपातितः ॥
- चाणक्य नीति

Transliteration:
buddhiryasya balaṃ tasya nirbuddhestu kuto balam ।
vane siṃho madonmattaḥ śaśakena nipātitaḥ ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

He who has wisdom has strength. Where is that strength for the foolish? The intoxicated lion in the forest got thrown down by the rabbit. (In the Panchatantra story of The Lion and the Rabbit.)

Commentary:

One doesn’t always need physical strength to overcome an opponent. Often, a bit of extra wisdom is all it takes to turn the tide in one’s favor. With the ability to think quickly and strategically, a person can navigate even the most challenging situations.

In a story from the Panchatantra, a small hare defeats a mighty lion through cleverness. The hare convinces the lion that another lion, claiming to be the true King of the Jungle, resides in a well. The lion, unable to recognize his own reflection in the water, leaps into the well to confront the "other" lion, ultimately meeting his demise.

Even physical power is rendered useless without wisdom. One must know how to wisely direct their strength, or else their efforts will be in vain.

Victory does not always belong to the strongest. It belongs to the wisest!

pada vigrahaH:
बुद्धिः यस्य बलं तस्य निर्-बुद्धेः तु कुतः बलम् ।
buddhiḥ yasya balaṃ tasya nir-buddheḥ tu kutaḥ balam ।

वने सिंहः मद-उन्मत्तः शशकेन निपातितः ॥
vane siṃhaḥ mada-unmattaḥ śaśakena nipātitaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
buddhiryasya balaM tasya nirbuddhestu kuto balam ।
vane siMho madonmattaH shashakena nipaatitaH ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

buddhiH yasya balaM tasya nir-buddheH tu kutaH balam ।

vane siMhaH mada-unmattaH shashakena nipaatitaH ॥