August 3rd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
सुश्रान्तोऽपि वहेद्भारं शीतोष्णं न च पश्यति ।
सन्तुष्टश्चरते नित्यं त्रीणि शिक्षेच्च गर्दभात् ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
suśrānto'pi vahedbhāraṃ śītoṣṇaṃ na ca paśyati ।
santuṣṭaścarate nityaṃ trīṇi śikṣecca gardabhāt ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Carries weight even when tired; doesn't mind heat or cold (weather); wanders in contentment always—learn these 3 (attitudes) from a donkey.

Commentary:

There are lessons to be learnt even from a donkey!

• A donkey is used for carrying excessive amounts of weight and is even called the 'beast of burden'. Yet, it never complains!
• Be it a sunny, windy, rainy, or dusty day, it carries on with its chores. It doesn't discriminate or react to its surroundings!
• It grazes on dry grass or some leaves—whatever is available. Yet, it is content in itself. It doesn't expect a fancy meal and is in no rush to win any race. It wanders happily going about his chores.

These 3 traits are praiseworthy in any being. Who doesn't want to be content, level-headed, and industrious?! When the brighter side of things is seen, even a donkey has insights to share. We can learn from anyone, anywhere! 

pada vigrahaH:
सु-श्रान्तः अपि वहेत् भारं शीत-उष्णं न च पश्यति ।
su-śrāntaḥ api vahet bhāraṃ śīta-uṣṇaṃ na ca paśyati ।

सन्तुष्टः चरते नित्यं त्रीणि शिक्षेत् च गर्दभात् ॥
santuṣṭaḥ carate nityaṃ trīṇi śikṣet ca gardabhāt ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
sushraanto.pi vahedbhaaraM shItoShNaM na cha pashyati ।
santuShTashcharate nityaM trINi shikShechcha gardabhaat ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

su-shraantaH api vahet bhaaraM shIta-uShNaM na cha pashyati ।

santuShTaH charate nityaM trINi shikShet cha gardabhaat ॥