March 25th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
एतावानेव पुरुषः कृतं यस्मिन्न नश्यति ।
यावच्च कुर्यादन्योऽस्य कुर्याद्बहुगुणं ततः ॥
- महाभारत, आदिपर्व

Transliteration:
etāvāneva puruṣaḥ kṛtaṃ yasminna naśyati ।
yāvacca kuryādanyo'sya kuryādbahuguṇaṃ tataḥ ॥
- mahābhārata, ādiparva

Meaning of the subhAShita:

He to whom a favor done does not dissipate right there, is the real (noble) man.  Upon receiving benevolence from others, return it manifold.

Commentary:

Upon receiving generosity from others, it is not ethical to forget it and move on.  Neither is it business, to return an equal or lesser favor.  For, it is not a 'buy one, get one of equal or lesser value' sale :).  Remembering and returning the favor in plentiful is a magnanimous attribute!

The scriptures are strewn with multitudes of such examples.  In Mahābhārata, once when the Pāṇḍavas were in disguise (after the lākṣāgṛha (wax palace) incident), took shelter in a brahmin's house in Ekacakranagara.  The people of the town had a pact with a rākṣasa (demon) named Bakāsura that one person would go to him from each family as food.  When it was the turn of the brahmin's family, Kuntī (the mother of the Pāṇḍavas), offered to send her own son Bhīma, in return of their favor.  They had given shelter to them in time of need, in turn, she offered to send her own son in place of a member of their family!  That is nobility!

In Rāmāyaṇa too, after Hanumān's visit to lankaa upon receiving news about Sītā, Lord Rāma embraces Hanumān and pledges his friendship to him forever!!  He does not diminish the immense favor He did with a simple 'Thank you'!  That is nobility.  In fact, interestingly enough, there is NO equivalent word for 'thank you' in Sanskrit!  There is only कृतज्ञता भाव (kṛtajñatā bhāva) - कृतं जानामि इति भावः (kṛtaṃ jānāmi iti bhāvaḥ) - I acknowledge your favor, I am aware of your benevolence.  There is nothing that can be done to repay that debt,  I am greatly indebted to you!

An extension of this value is, not keeping track of the favors done nor expecting favors in return. Do your best at any given time to aid those in need and move on.

Don't these attributes make life much simpler and satisfactory?  Don't they keep our hearts purer and lighter?  No baggage, no regrets, no guilt...

The take-home point here is that the noble never forget what they receive nor remember what they give!  Acquire nobility in its true sense.

pada vigrahaH:
एतावान् एव पुरुषः कृतं यस्मिन् न नश्यति ।
etāvān eva puruṣaḥ kṛtaṃ yasmin na naśyati ।

यावत् च कुर्यात् अन्यः अस्य कुर्यात् बहु-गुणं ततः ॥
yāvat ca kuryāt anyaḥ asya kuryāt bahu-guṇaṃ tataḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
etaavaaneva puruShaH kRutaM yasminna nashyati ।
yaavachcha kuryaadanyo.sya kuryaadbahuguNaM tataH ॥
- mahaabhaarata, aadiparva

etaavaan eva puruShaH kRutaM yasmin na nashyati ।

yaavat cha kuryaat anyaH asya kuryaat bahu-guNaM tataH ॥

March 18th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
कुतो वा नूतनं वस्तु वयमुत्प्रेक्षितुं क्षमाः ।
वचोविन्यासवैचित्र्यमात्रमत्र विचार्यताम् ॥
- न्यायमञ्जरी

Transliteration:
kuto vā nūtanaṃ vastu vayamutprekṣituṃ kṣamāḥ ।
vacovinyāsavaicitryamātramatra vicāryatām ॥
- nyāyamañjarī

Meaning of the subhAShita:

How can we speculate about a new fact?  Only, the same can be said in a variety of ways! Reflect on this. 

Commentary:

When a discovery is made, can one exaggerate it so much that he changes the facts all together?  Can he speculate on things that don't even exist?  Not really.  But then, the same can be presented in a variety of ways.

This rule is not true only of newfound discoveries and inventions alone.  Even when narrating an incident, one should not deviate too much from reality.  Otherwise, it becomes a fiction!  However, the same can be presented in many different ways.  Depending on how and what the approach is, the results are received accordingly!

The best example of presenting information correctly is that of Hanumān.  After his return from Laṅkā, when he first met Rāma, he ardently said, 'द्रष्टा सीता' (draṣṭā Sītā - saw Sītā) instead of inadvertently saying the word Sītā first.  His logic was that he didn't want to cause any unnecessary anxiety in Rāma's mind upon hearing the word Sītā.  Rāma's mind could have thought of many unpleasant happenings to Sītā before Hanumān even had the chance of saying that he saw her.  He was THAT thoughtful!  He first conveyed the main highlight of his quest which was the 'sighting' of Sītā!  The same thing could have been narrated with uncanny words, unwanted details, an unpleasant demeanor or worse yet, gloat about his adventures en route!  But that wasn't the case.  He was SO cautious of Rāma's feelings even in the split-second timing of his words.  That should be the thoughtfulness behind one's speech! It is a marvelous way of presenting the facts as well.

The lesson to take away - Saying things the way they are isn't the only criteria.  The same can be done in many different ways.  Be mindful and complaisant of others' feelings.  That not only sets amiable communication standards but also paves the way for honest and hearty conversations and relationships!

pada vigrahaH:
कुतः वा नूतनं वस्तु वयम् उत्प्रेक्षितुं क्षमाः ।
kutaḥ vā nūtanaṃ vastu vayam utprekṣituṃ kṣamāḥ ।

वचोविन्यास-वैचित्र्य-मात्रम् अत्र विचार्यताम् ॥
vacovinyāsa-vaicitrya-mātram atra vicāryatām ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
kuto vaa nUtanaM vastu vayamutprekShituM kShamaaH ।
vachovinyaasavaichitryamaatramatra vichaaryataam ॥
- nyaayama~njarI

kutaH vaa nUtanaM vastu vayam utprekShituM kShamaaH ।

vachaovinyaasa-vaichitrya-maatram atra vichaaryataam ॥

March 11th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
दूरस्थो ज्ञायते सर्वः पर्वते ज्वलनादिवत् ।
चूडामणिः शिरस्थोऽपि दृश्यते न स्वचक्षुषा ॥
- रामायणमञ्जरी, किष्किन्दा

Transliteration:
dūrastho jñāyate sarvaḥ parvate jvalanādivat ।
cūḍāmaṇiḥ śirastho'pi dṛśyate na svacakṣuṣā ॥
- rāmāyaṇamañjarī, kiṣkindā

Meaning of the subhAShita:

From afar, everyone can perceive things as a fire atop a hill.  But when on one's own head, even a crest jewel is invisible to the eye.

Commentary:

Grass on the other side seems greener!  The verse says the same thing.  When something is far away, it is valued more and seems to be perceived well too.  Fire, when seen from far, might seem like a shiny jewel. One can even start aspiring to own it. On the other hand, even if a precious crest jewel is situated on his head, he cannot see it with his eyes.  Unless he sees it in a mirror or someone tells him, he will not perceive what's on his own head!

The essence of this is to know the worth of what's in hand.  Ignoring one's own talents and aspiring for something that he doesn't have will lead to no progress.  Extending the logic, many times, people do not see the good in those who are close to them, but sing praises of their 'idea' of the character of someone who they do not know too well!

Start where you are. Distant fields always look greener, but opportunity lies right where you are. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.

pada vigrahaH: 
दूरस्थः ज्ञायते सर्वः पर्वते ज्वलन-अदिवत् ।
dūrasthaḥ jñāyate sarvaḥ parvate jvalana-adivat ।

चूडामणिः शिरस्थः अपि दृश्यते न स्व-चक्षुषा ॥
cūḍāmaṇiḥ śirasthaḥ api dṛśyate na sva-cakṣuṣā ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
dUrastho j~naayate sarvaH parvate jvalanaadivat ।
chUDaamaNiH shirastho.pi dRushyate na svachakShuShaa ॥
- raamaayaNama~njarI, kiShkindaa

dUrasthaH j~naayate sarvaH parvate jvalana-adivat ।

chUDaamaNiH shirasthaH api dRushyate na sva-chakShuShaa ॥

March 4th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
गुणग्रामाभिसम्वादि नामापि हि महात्मनाम् ।
यथा सुवर्णश्रीखण्डरत्नाकरसुधाकराः ॥
- प्रसन्नराघव

Transliteration:
guṇagrāmābhisamvādi nāmāpi hi mahātmanām ।
yathā suvarṇaśrīkhaṇḍaratnākarasudhākarāḥ ॥
- prasannarāghava

Meaning of the subhAShita:

What to say about the virtues and valor of the noble, even their name shows their greatness!  Just like suvarṇa (one with an attractive color - gold), śrīkhaṇḍa (a piece of wood filled with the richness of sandal - sandalwood), ratnākara (one who holds/makes precious gems and stones - ocean), sudhākara (one who gives essence like the divine nectar - moon).

Commentary:

The nobility is dripping from every facet of the noble!.  They are constantly looking for opportunities to do good to others.  Their nobility oozes out from all planes, so much that even their names are an indication of their virtues!  (The name itself gives away their characteristics.)

The name is the first entity to which one identifies himself!  Especially in Sanskrit, words are derived with such precision that there is no contention to their accordance or congruity.  Each word has a declension and its own root word which makes the word self-evident.  In olden days, this may quite very well have been the reason to give substantial, meaningful and appropriate names when children were born.  The child would grow up to become an embodiment of his name/quality.  The name is given with a hope that it attains fruition.  That is what he identifies himself with for the rest of his life!  However, a name without merit is in vain after all :(.

The purpose of the verse from the poet is not so much for the generalization, but for upholding the fact that the nobility of the noble can be found in every aspect of their being.  They ceaselessly work for the betterment of those around them and selflessly give themselves in their entirety for the welfare of others.   That certainly is something to ponder about, isn't it?!

pada vigrahaH:
गुण-ग्राम-अभिसम्वादि नाम अपि हि महात्मनाम् ।
guṇa-grāma-abhisamvādi nāma api hi mahātmanām ।

यथा सुवर्ण-श्रीखण्ड-रत्नाकर-सुधाकराः ॥
yathā suvarṇa-śrīkhaṇḍa-ratnākara-sudhākarāḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
guNagraamaabhisamvaadi naamaapi hi mahaatmanaam ।
yathaa suvarNashrIkhaNDaratnaakarasudhaakaraaH ॥
- prasannaraaghava

guNa-graama-abhisamvaadi naama api hi mahaatmanaam ।

yathaa suvarNa-shrIkhaNDa-ratnaakara-sudhaakaraaH ॥