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 opines that those devoid of knowledge of literature, scriptures or a flair for music and other art forms (vidyā in short) is as good as an animal. He just falls short on the faculties of a tail and horns! :). The poet further says that the real animals should be thankful that such a human being doesn't consume grass from their share of food!

The essence of this is the fact that a human being needs to not only be appreciative of different art forms but should also value learning of all forms. Vidyā (knowledge) is one faculty that sets humans apart from animals. If that is not valued, isn't he the same as animals?

Knowledge is the food for the soul! Feed the soul with healthy food in heavenly 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 ॥