September 3rd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
साहित्यसङ्गीतकलाविहीनः 

साक्षात्पशुः पुच्छविषाणहीनः ।
तृणं न खादन्नपि जीवमानः 

तद्भागधेयं परमं पशूनाम् ॥
- नीतिशतक


Transliteration:
sāhityasaṅgītakalāvihīnaḥ 

sākṣātpaśuḥ pucchaviṣāṇahīnaḥ ।
tṛṇaṃ na khādannapi jīvamānaḥ 

tadbhāgadheyaṃ paramaṃ paśūnām ॥

- nītiśataka

Meaning of the subhAShita:

He who is devoid of (the knowledge of) literary compositions, music/melody or art forms, is an embodiment of an animal without a tail and horns. The animals are fortunate that he survives without eating up the grass (of their share)!

Commentary:

The poet asserts that those who lack knowledge of literature, and scriptures, or have no appreciation for music and the arts (collectively referred to as vidyā) are no better than animals—without a tail or horns, yet equally devoid of the higher faculties that define humanity. He goes further, humorously suggesting that real animals should be grateful, for humans who lack such knowledge don't even graze on their share of food!

The underlying message is clear: a human must not only appreciate various forms of art but also place a high value on learning itself, in all its dimensions. Vidyā, or knowledge, is the very attribute that distinguishes humans from animals. Without it, how different are we from the creatures of the wild?

Knowledge nourishes the soul, just as food nourishes the body. Feed your soul with wholesome knowledge, in abundant, divine portions.

pada vigrahaH:
साहित्य-सङ्गीत-कला-विहीनः 
sāhitya-saṅgīta-kalā-vihīnaḥ 

साक्षात् पशुः पुच्छ-विषाण-हीनः ।

sākṣāt paśuḥ puccha-viṣāṇa-hīnaḥ ।

तृणं न खादन्न् अपि जीवमानः 
tṛṇaṃ na khādann api jīvamānaḥ 

तत् भागधेयं परमं पशूनाम् ॥

tat bhāgadheyaṃ paramaṃ paśūnām ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
saahityasa~ngItakalaavihInaH 

saakShaatpashuH puchChaviShaaNahInaH ।
tRuNaM na khaadannapi jIvamaanaH 

tadbhaagadheyaM paramaM pashUnaam ॥
- nItishataka

saahitya-sa~ngIta-kalaa-vihInaH 

saakShaat pashuH puchCha-viShaaNa-hInaH ।

tRuNaM na khaadann api jIvamaanaH 

tat bhaagadheyaM paramaM pashUnaam ॥