February 25th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
स्वर्गो धनं वा धान्यं वा विद्याः पुत्रास्सुखानि च ।
गुरुवृत्त्यनुरोधेन न किञ्चिदपि दुर्लभम् ॥

- रामायण

Transliteration:
svargo dhanaṃ vā dhānyaṃ vā vidyāḥ putrāssukhāni ca ।
guruvṛttyanurodhena na kiñcidapi durlabham ॥
- rāmāyaṇa

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Heaven, wealth, grain (food), knowledge, children and pleasures - none of these are unattainable for the one who reveres his teacher.

Commentary:
Without gurus, the world would be nowhere today!  Even the smallest piece of knowledge such as hunting for food and lighting fire for heat transcended from generation to generation through teaching alone!  Otherwise, each generation will be starting from the beginning, time and again!!

A teacher is obviously not just the one titled 'teacher' at a school.  A being learns from all kinds of sources around him.  His parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, peers and even strangers sometimes.  Hence, all these sources command reverence from him!

One who values and respects the knowledge he has gained and the sources he has gained them from, cannot be stopped from prosperity or progress.  For, all their good wishes and blessings shall be with him and assist him to easily fulfill his desires.

Remember your teachers.  Revere your teachers!

pada vigrahaH:
स्वर्गः धनं वा धान्यं वा विद्याः पुत्राः सुखानि च ।
svargaḥ dhanaṃ vā dhānyaṃ vā vidyāḥ putrāḥ sukhāni ca ।

गुरु-वृत्ति अनुरोधेन न किञ्चित् अपि दुर्लभम् ॥
guru-vṛtti anurodhena na kiñcit api durlabham ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
svargo dhanaM vaa dhaanyaM vaa vidyaaH putraassukhaani cha ।
guruvRuttyanurodhena na ki~nchidapi durlabham ॥
- raamaayaNa

svargaH dhanaM vaa dhaanyaM vaa vidyaaH putraaH sukhaani cha ।
guru-vRutti anurodhena na ki~nchit api durlabham ॥

February 18th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम् ।
उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ॥

- हितोपदेश, सन्धि

Transliteration:
ayaṃ nijaḥ paro veti gaṇanā laghucetasām ।
udāracaritānāṃ tu vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam ॥
- hitopadeśa, sandhi

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Those with petty minds account thus - "this (one) is mine" or "that (one) is his".  But for ones with an exalted life, the whole world itself is a family! 

Commentary:
When one considers something or someone as a part of his family, he does everything in his power to make sure he/she is safe, protected and loved.  But, when one has a demarcation or a boundary of 'this (person) is my family, that (person) is his family', that unconditional love disappears!

When a person identifies himself with anyone or anything, his approach towards that person/object becomes gentle and loving.  For example, he will even be willing to forget and forgive any misdeeds done by that person.  Why?  Because he has a soft corner for the loved one in his heart! He fights for the well-being of that person with all his might, justifying that 'it is not a crime to fight for what is mine!'  So, if one has embraced the whole world as his, he will automatically work towards the betterment of each and everyone in it!  He identifies himself to a broader spectrum.

On the contrary, petty-minded people mark their boundaries and are not open-minded.  They do not stretch their visions.  Even though they do the same things such as loving, protecting and safeguarding their own units of family, their lives, minds and visions remain petty.  This deters them from growing magnanimously in both their attitude and approach.

People could live their lives exceedingly peacefully if the words 'mine and thine' are taken away from the equation, isn't it!!  No pomp, no show.  Only genuine thoughts for the welfare of all! Why not try for a more quiet, peaceful, satisfactory and joyful life for everyone around us?!

pada vigrahaH:
अयं निजः परः वा इति गणना लघु-चेतसाम् ।
ayaṃ nijaḥ paraḥ vā iti gaṇanā laghu-cetasām ।

उदार-चरितानां तु वसुधा एव कुटुम्बकम् ॥
udāra-caritānāṃ tu vasudhā eva kuṭumbakam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
ayaM nijaH paro veti gaNanaa laghuchetasaam ।
udaaracharitaanaaM tu vasudhaiva kuTumbakam ॥
- hitopadesha, sandhi

ayaM nijaH paraH vaa iti gaNanaa laghu-chetasaam ।
udaara-charitaanaaM tu vasudhaa eva kuTumbakam ॥

February 12th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
सन्तुष्टो भार्यया भर्ता भर्त्रा भार्या तथैव च ।
यस्मिन्नेव कुले नित्यं कल्याणं तत्र वै ध्रुवम् ॥

- मनुस्मृति

Transliteration:
santuṣṭo bhāryayā bhartā bhartrā bhāryā tathaiva ca ।
yasminneva kule nityaṃ kalyāṇaṃ tatra vai dhruvam ॥
- manusmṛti

Meaning of the subhAShita:
In a family in which the wife is jubilant with her husband and the husband is also exultant with his wife, only there (resides) prosperity - (this) is incontrovertible!

Commentary:
True prosperity is not as much in abundance of wealth as in abundance of happiness and peaceful existence.  When the ambience is conducive for calmness of the mind, each member of the family shall have the mindset to reach their fullest potential!  If their energies are contained and contaminated in mundane indifferences, then there is neither time nor stamina to pursue their passions, nor is the rest of the family inspired to pursue in their arenas of interest either.

How is such a happy ambience established?  Who are instrumental in these circumstances being entrenched into the day-to-day lives of everyone involved in the family?  It is the two main wheels of the vehicle, the husband and the wife.  If they are at peace with each other, if they revel in the company of the other, if they are jubilant in the camaraderie of the other, the entire household runs smoothly!  That doesn't mean that there are no petty tiffs and tantrums along the way.  But, they have figured out a way to rejoice each other, despite those hurdles!  In fact, it is those minor tussles that make the ride enjoyable :).

The poet says, in such a household where there are minimal controversies, there is: peace and prosperity, laughter and love, joy and jubilation!  May this joy be bestowed generously and showered abundantly on all.

pada vigrahaH:
सन्तुष्टो भार्यया भर्ता भर्त्रा भार्या तथ एव च ।
santuṣṭo bhāryayā bhartā bhartrā bhāryā tatha eva ca ।

यस्मिन् एव कुले नित्यं कल्याणं तत्र वै ध्रुवम् ॥
yasmin eva kule nityaṃ kalyāṇaṃ tatra vai dhruvam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
santuShTo bhaaryayaa bhartaa bhartraa bhaaryaa tathaiva cha ।
yasminneva kule nityaM kalyaaNaM tatra vai dhruvam ॥
- manusmRuti

santuShTo bhaaryayaa bhartaa bhartraa bhaaryaa tatha eva cha ।
yasmin eva kule nityaM kalyaaNaM tatra vai dhruvam ॥

February 11th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यद्वाञ्छति दिवा मर्त्यः वीक्षते वा करोति वा ।
तत्स्वप्नेऽपि तदभ्यासात् ब्रूते वाथ करोति वा ॥

- पञ्चतन्त्र, मित्रभेद

Transliteration:
yadvāñchati divā martyaḥ vīkṣate vā karoti vā ।
tatsvapne'pi tadabhyāsāt brūte vātha karoti vā ॥
- pañcatantra, mitrabheda

Meaning of the subhAShita:
That which is desired, viewed or done by a mortal during the day, (he) speaks or does the same, due to practice even in dreams.

Commentary:
Habituation is what it is!  If one is constantly entertaining certain kinds of thoughts or actions, they are sure to manifest more intensely at a subconscious level.  A psychiatrist opines that one's dreams are either his very strong desires or very strong fears.  When one goes to sleep, whatever had influenced him strongly when awake is sure to kick into high gear.  Many inventors have awoken from sleep with an answer to their quest.  That is because of their constant thinking in that direction.  In sleep, somehow the pieces of the puzzle they had been juggling got put into place!

Whether they are good thoughts or bad, the mind does not discriminate.  It just gives shape and form to those dormant thoughts in the dream world.

Dreams are like stars... one may never touch them, but if he follows them they will lead him to unseen heights!  Make sure to dream big. To dream big, make sure to see, think and do big during waking hours. Then, you can readily go ahead and make your dreams come true!

pada vigrahaH:
यत् वाञ्छति दिवा मर्त्यः वीक्षते वा करोति वा ।
yat vāñchati divā martyaḥ vīkṣate vā karoti vā ।

तत् स्वप्ने अपि तत् अभ्यासात् ब्रूते वा अथ करोति वा ॥
tat svapne api tat abhyāsāt brūte vā atha karoti vā ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yadvaa~nChati divaa martyaH vIkShate vaa karoti vaa ।
tatsvapne.pi tadabhyaasaat brUte vaatha karoti vaa ॥
- pa~nchatantra, mitrabheda

yat vaa~nChati divaa martyaH vIkShate vaa karoti vaa ।
tat svapne api tat abhyaasaat brUte vaa atha karoti vaa ॥

February 4th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यदीच्छसि वशीकर्तुं जगदेकेन कर्मणा ।
परापवादसस्येभ्यः गां चरन्तीं निवारय ॥

- चाणक्य नीति

Transliteration:
yadīcchasi vaśīkartuṃ jagadekena karmaṇā ।
parāpavādasasyebhyaḥ gāṃ carantīṃ nivāraya ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:
If desirous of captivating the world with just one action, avert the cow grazing on the pastures of berating others.

Commentary:
Everyone wants to capture the hearts of his fellow beings.  To do that, what if there is one magic trick that doesn't cost any money or talent yet yields the same results!!  What if it promises one that it will lead one towards a successful life filled with acceptance, admiration and acclaim!  It doesn't need one to acquire degrees from prestigious colleges nor win accolades from reputed universities! Doesn't it sound enticing?  Wouldn't everyone flock to acquire it?!

There really is one such mantra!  If there is one thing that a person has to acquire to be adored by one and all around him, all he needs to do is ward himself from the tongue-enticing habit of castigating others!  When gossip, criticism and chiding others come as easy as breathing, one can not expect to be a front-runner in the good books of others.

In this verse, the poet wonderfully compares this habit to the grazing of a cow.  To a cow, grazing is a natural instinct and so it does not think twice before it heads out to the pastures.  The poet says, ward off that cow who mindlessly grazes on the pastures of berating others!  Then, life shall become a bed of roses very easily.  Passing the buck around is the easiest task.  When one takes responsibility for his actions, the way he sees himself will change.

Blame is just a lazy man's way of making sense of the chaos around him.  Someone once said, a man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.  Let everyone be their own success story.  One doesn't have to pull down the rest to be on top of the world.  He can feel on top of the world only by being in harmony with the world around him.  Otherwise, he will be a lonely man stuck with only himself!

pada vigrahaH:
यदि इच्छसि वशीकर्तुं जगत् एकेन कर्मणा ।
yadi icchasi vaśīkartuṃ jagat ekena karmaṇā ।

पर-अपवाद-सस्येभ्यः गां चरन्तीं निवारय ॥
para-apavaada-sasyebhyaH gaaM charantIM nivaaraya ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yadIchChasi vashIkartuM jagadekena karmaNaa ।
paraapavaadasasyebhyaH gaaM charantIM nivaaraya ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

yadi ichChasi vashIkartuM jagat ekena karmaNaa ।
para-apavāda-sasyebhyaḥ gāṃ carantīṃ nivāraya ॥