April 29th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अनिच्छन्तोऽपि विनयं विद्याभ्यासेन बालकाः ।
भेषजेनेव नैरुज्यं प्रापणीयाः प्रयत्नतः ॥
- हरिहरसुभाषित

Transliteration:
anicchanto'pi vinayaṃ vidyābhyāsena bālakāḥ ।
bheṣajeneva nairujyaṃ prāpaṇīyāḥ prayatnataḥ ॥
- hariharasubhāṣita

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Even if not desired, just as a disease (is treated) through medicine, children should be taught humility (and values) through education.

Commentary:

Medicine doesn't always taste good or smell enticing.  But when in sickness, does the person have a choice?  Don't his likes and dislikes get put aside in such a circumstance?  It is the exact same scenario when a child's upbringing is at hand.  Just because he has his whims and fancies, a child cannot be allowed to go about his demeanor however he pleases.  It becomes the most primal duty of those around to inculcate values in the child through education.  Acquiring the right knowledge chisels him out into a wonderful human being as he grows up.

The bitter taste of medicine cannot be the deciding factor for its consumption.  Similarly, the hardships and sacrifices that come with learning cannot be the deciding factors against becoming virtuous and learned human beings!

pada vigrahaH:
अनिच्छन्तः अपि विनयं विद्या-अभ्यासेन बालकाः ।
anicchantaḥ api vinayaṃ vidyā-abhyāsena bālakāḥ ।

भेषजेन इव नैरुज्यं प्रापणीयाः प्रयत्नतः ॥
bheṣajena iva nairujyaṃ prāpaṇīyāḥ prayatnataḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
anichChanto.pi vinayaM vidyaabhyaasena baalakaaH ।
bheShajeneva nairujyaM praapaNIyaaH prayatnataH ॥
- hariharasubhaaShita

anichChantaH api vinayaM vidyaa-abhyaasena baalakaaH ।

bheShajena iva nairujyaM praapaNIyaaH prayatnataH ॥

April 22nd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यदमी दशन्ति दशनाः रसना तत्स्वादमनुभवति ।
प्रकृतिरियं विमलानां क्लिश्यन्ति यदन्यकार्येषु ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार

Transliteration:
yadamī daśanti daśanāḥ rasanā tatsvādamanubhavati ।
prakṛtiriyaṃ vimalānāṃ kliśyanti yadanyakāryeṣu ॥
- subhāṣitaratnabhāṇḍāgāra

Meaning of the subhAShita:

The taste of that which is chewed by the teeth is enjoyed by the tongue!  Anguish over the benefaction of others - this is the nature of the impeccable souls.

Commentary:

One of the job descriptions of the teeth is to chew food.  It does its role ardently too.  But then, it never ever gets to taste the food that it helped chew!  The tongue which didn't really aid in the chewing of the food gets to enjoy every bit of the flavor though! 

Such is the nature of noble, impeccable souls.  Just as teeth aid the tongue to taste the food, they strive with their entire being for the betterment of others, without any vested interest for themselves.  They get absolutely no material benefit out of their actions, but they tirelessly give their best for every action they execute!  These noble souls are the very reason that we have a working society.

If each and every person strives to give their best for the those around, what a wonderful society ours would be!  If unable to function that way, one should at least not pose impediments or throw hurdles in the path of such great souls.  That in itself would be a small benefaction that they offer to society.

pada vigrahaH:
यत् अमी दशन्ति दशनाः रसना तत् स्वादम् अनुभवति ।
yat amī daśanti daśanāḥ rasanā tat svādam anubhavati ।

प्रकृतिः इयं विमलानां क्लिश्यन्ति यत् अन्य-कार्येषु ॥
prakṛtiḥ iyaṃ vimalānāṃ kliśyanti yat anya-kāryeṣu ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yadamI dashanti dashanaaH rasanaa tatsvaadamanubhavati ।
prakRutiriyaM vimalaanaaM klishyanti yadanyakaaryeShu ॥
- subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara

yat amI dashanti dashanaaH rasanaa tat svaadam anubhavati ।

prakRutiH iyaM vimalaanaaM klishyanti yat anya-kaaryeShu ॥

April 15th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
वरं पर्वतदुर्गेषु भ्रान्तं वनचरैः सह ।
न मूर्खजनसंपर्कः सुरेन्द्रभवनेष्वपि ॥
- नीतिशतक

Transliteration:
varaṃ parvatadurgeṣu bhrāntaṃ vanacaraiḥ saha ।
na mūrkhajanasaṃparkaḥ surendrabhavaneṣvapi ॥
- nītiśataka

Meaning of the subhAShita:

It is rather a blessing to wander in the mountains and caves with wild animals than keeping the company of the foolish even if it is in the palatial quarters of Indra (the king of Gods)!

Commentary:

It is not about the ambiance and the setting as much as it is about the company kept.  There should be a common goal, a productive direction and an enjoyable experience when in one's company.  If none of it is practical, then it is better to have no company at all.  The poet curtly says that one will have a blessed time meandering on the mountains and caves of a forest with wild animals rather than savoring the company of the ludicrous, even if the venue is Heaven itself!

Many times, the company of the idiotic brings about adverse consequences for the others around.  There is no fruitful outcome for anyone.  Time and effort go futile or even become detrimental to one's progress.  Time and again, it has been seen that 'bad company corrupts good character'.  Isn't it better to keep your sanity than working on redoing it again!

Someone jokingly said, 'Go to heaven for the climate and to hell for the company'!  In reality, if the company is bad, reject the climate too :).

pada vigrahaH:
वरं पर्वत-दुर्गेषु भ्रान्तं वन-चरैः सह ।
varaṃ parvata-durgeṣu bhrāntaṃ vana-caraiḥ saha ।

न मूर्ख-जन-संपर्कः सुरेन्द्र-भवनेषु अपि ॥
na mūrkha-jana-saṃparkaḥ surendra-bhavaneṣu api ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
varaM parvatadurgeShu bhraantaM vanacharaiH saha ।
na mUrkhajanasaMparkaH surendrabhavaneShvapi ॥
- nItishataka

varaM parvata-durgeShu bhraantaM vana-charaiH saha ।

na mUrkha-jana-saMparkaH surendra-bhavaneShu api ॥

April 8th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
श्रीमानजननिन्द्यश्च शूरश्चाप्यविकत्थनः ।
समदृष्टिः प्रभुश्चैव दुर्लभाः पुरुषास्त्रयः ॥
- योगवासिष्ठ, वैराग्य

Transliteration:
śrīmānajananindyaśca śūraścāpyavikatthanaḥ ।
samadṛṣṭiḥ prabhuścaiva durlabhāḥ puruṣāstrayaḥ ॥
- yogavāsiṣṭha, vairāgya

Meaning of the subhAShita:

A wealthy man who is not culpable, a valiant man who is not blusterous, a leader who is not prejudiced - these 3 people are rare to find!

Commentary:

A wealthy man, whether he gained his wealth by just means or unjust means, gets rebuked.  He gets blamed for having earned unjustly or for not doing enough good with his affluence, or for being overly lucky!  Rare is a man who is applauded for his abundance and his attitude towards his fortune.

If one is courageous, chances are that he is proud of his valiance and recounting his valor every chance he gets!  Humility in conjunction with heroism is a rare commodity.  How often do we come across a Rāma or a Hanumān?

It is said, 'a politician thinks of the next election, whereas a statesman thinks of the next generation!'  When one has power is in his hands, arrogance goes to the head!  Misuse of the power, prejudice towards kith and kin, bias towards the lowly and helpless - these become his main attributes.  It is very rare to see someone with power in his hands and a level head on his shoulders.  A true leader is he who can view all his subjects equally!  This is a virtue of rarity in itself.  He who possesses this is a true statesman. 

Inculcate the right traits when blessed with opportunities and privileges.

pada vigrahaH:
श्रीमान् अ-जन-निन्द्यः च शूरः च अपि अ-विकत्थनः ।
śrīmān a-jana-nindyaḥ ca śūraḥ ca api a-vikatthanaḥ ।

सम-दृष्टिः प्रभुः च एव दुर्लभाः पुरुषाः त्रयः ॥
sama-dṛṣṭiḥ prabhuḥ ca eva durlabhāḥ puruṣāḥ trayaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
shrImaanajananindyashcha shUrashchaapyavikatthanaH ।
samadRuShTiH prabhushchaiva durlabhaaH puruShaastrayaH ॥
- yogavaasiShTha, vairaagya

shrImaan a-jana-nindyaH cha shUraH cha api a-vikatthanaH ।

sama-dRuShTiH prabhuH cha eva durlabhaaH puruShaaH trayaH ॥

April 1st

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
सुदुर्बलं नावजानाति किञ्चित् युक्तो रिपुं सेवते बुद्धिपूर्वम् ।
न विग्रहं रोचयते बलस्थैः काले च यो विक्रमते स धीरः ॥
- विदुरनीति

Transliteration:
sudurbalaṃ nāvajānāti kiñcit yukto ripuṃ sevate buddhipūrvam ।
na vigrahaṃ rocayate balasthaiḥ kāle ca yo vikramate sa dhīraḥ ॥
- viduranīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

He who does not show even a little contempt towards the weak; handles enemies with an objective; steers clear from having a conflict with the stronger and demonstrates valor is brave.

Commentary:

Bravery is not a measure of how muscular a person is or a yardstick for how aggressive he is.  True bravery shows in different colors.

The brave are compassionate towards the weak.  They do not show the slightest contempt towards those that have lesser endurance.

They deal with their opponents tactfully.  Just because they have muscle or brains, they do not invite trouble onto themselves unnecessarily.

If the opponent is stronger, it is certainly not a smart idea to provoke.  Acknowledging the other person's strength takes courage too!  In such a circumstance, the truly brave keep their head on their shoulders and do not go asking for trouble.

All these are validations for one's bravery. He who is brave is free!  Live bravely.  There is nothing to lose really!

pada vigrahaH:
सुदुर्बलं न अवजानाति किञ्चित् युक्तः रिपुं सेवते बुद्धि-पूर्वम् ।
sudurbalaṃ na avajānāti kiñcit yuktaḥ ripuṃ sevate buddhi-pūrvam ।

न विग्रहं रोचयते बलस्थैः काले च यो विक्रमते स धीरः ॥
na vigrahaṃ rocayate balasthaiḥ kāle ca yo vikramate sa dhīraḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
sudurbalaM naavajaanaati ki~nchit yukto ripuM sevate buddhipUrvam ।
na vigrahaM rochayate balasthaiH kaale cha yo vikramate sa dhIraH ॥
- viduranIti

sudurbalaM na avajaanaati ki~nchit yuktaH ripuM sevate buddhi-pUrvam ।

na vigrahaM rochayate balasthaiH kaale cha yo vikramate sa dhIraH ॥