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 ॥

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