June 24th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
उदीरितोऽर्थः पशुनापि गृह्यते
हयाश्च नागाश्च वहन्ति देशिताः ।
अनुक्तमप्यूहति पण्डितो जनः
परेङ्गितज्ञानफला हि बुद्धयः ॥
- हितोपदेश, सुहृद्भेद

Transliteration:
udīrito'rthaḥ paśunāpi gṛhyate
hayāśca nāgāśca vahanti deśitāḥ ।
anuktamapyūhati paṇḍito janaḥ
pareṅgitajñānaphalā hi buddhayaḥ ॥
- hitopadeśa, suhṛdbheda

Meaning of the subhAShita:

That which is enunciated clearly is grasped by even animals, (just as) horses and elephants execute on orders.  The intelligent perceive even that which is unsaid.  Certainly, the consequence of intelligence is an understanding of the intent of others.

Commentary:

'Stay', 'fetch', 'run', 'dance', 'jump' - even animals respond to such instructions.  A horse can run when whipped.  An elephant can lug the load as per the orders of the mahout. Animals (at least the domesticated ones), promptly do what they are told.  So doing what is told is no rocket science for animals.  They do not have to use much intellect or make decisions to follow the instructions.

Shouldn't the intellect of man set him apart?  The intelligence of man allows him to understand and perceive even untold words.  He can deduce (depending upon previous experiences) reactions and responses from those around him.  He thinks his actions through, comprehends the repercussions and executes intelligently.  He takes the initiative to even do those tasks that were not assigned to him.  Taking initiative means doing the right thing without being told!  Many scientists, mathematicians and even philosophers have tread paths that were never explored before.  That is exactly why they were able to make new discoveries or come up with theories!  Someone once said, "discoveries are often made by not following the instructions; by going off the main road; by trying the untried!!"  Else, the world would have seen no discoveries uncovered or inventions invented.  The author says, the consequence of proper intelligence is - the ability to perceive the untold stories!

Get smart.  Do not wait for someone to give instructions all the time.  Take charge, take initiative... Give your best in all good faith and see what comes!  The color of life will change as you see it!!

pada vigrahaH:
उदीरितः अर्थः पशुना अपि गृह्यते
udīritaḥ arthaḥ paśunā api gṛhyate

हयाः च नागाः च वहन्ति देशिताः ।
hayāḥ ca nāgāḥ ca vahanti deśitāḥ ।

अनुक्तम् अपि ऊहति पण्डितः जनः
anuktam api ūhati paṇḍitaḥ janaḥ

पर-इङ्गित-ज्ञान-फलाः हि बुद्धयः ॥
para-iṅgita-jñāna-phalāḥ hi buddhayaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
udIrito.rthaH pashunaapi gRuhyate
hayaashcha naagaashcha vahanti deshitaaH ।
anuktamapyUhati paNDito janaH
pare~ngitaj~naanaphalaa hi buddhayaH ॥
- hitopadesha, suhRudbheda

udIritaH arthaH pashunaa api gRuhyate

hayaaH cha naagaaH cha vahanti deshitaaH ।

anuktam api Uhati paNDitaH janaH

para-i~ngita-j~naana-phalaaH hi buddhayaH ॥

June 17th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
तृणानि भूमिरुदकं वाक्चतुर्थी च सूनृता ।
एतान्यपि सतां गेहे नोच्छिद्यन्ते कदाचन ॥
-महाभारत, उद्योग

Transliteration:
tṛṇāni bhūmirudakaṃ vākcaturthī ca sūnṛtā ।
etānyapi satāṃ gehe nocchidyante kadācana ॥
-mahābhārata, udyoga

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Grass, land, water and the fourth being pleasant and honest speech - these are never severed off from the home of a righteous person.

Commentary:

A righteous man may not be rich and famous.  He may not have cushions of silk with embroidered threads of gold.  He may not have silver plates and golden spoons to eat from.  He may not have an elaborate 7-course menu to offer either.  But, there is never a scarcity of grass.  Grass, because in olden days one would offer a seat of grass to his guest.  This symbolizes that virtuous people always welcome and offer a seat to their guest.  They also have land, means, a place to sit, so the guest is comfortable.  Next is water, a very essential element for the survival of any kind of being.  Be it a rich man or a poor man, be it an animal or a human, be it a bird or a beast, nothing can survive without water.  In fact, this is the reason for habitation to thrive only on planet earth and not any other solar planet!  An honorable man always offers a drink for the visitor to quench his thirst.  There is no special water for the rich man or ordinary water for the common man.  They may come in different packages, but the basic composition of all water is invariably the same!  All these basic elements one can provide are already given by the Lord.

The fourth one is a distinct one.  Pleasant and gentle speech!  This is a faculty that comes through cultivating a good disposition and having a generous heart.  It doesn't need any special equipment or privileges or possessions.  All it takes is a pure, pleasing and gentle demeanor and a great big heart!  Reminds of another poem by a saint (Basavaṇṇa).  He says, 'If you greet others at the first sight with a - How do you do? Do come in! - will yo turn ugly?  If you say - please sit down - will your floor cave in?  If you are first to greet (without waiting for the other to speak first), would your head or belly burst?'  He says even if you don't have anything to offer, if you can't offer basic hospitality, will the Lord appreciate you?

The author of this verse says these four faculties (grass, land, water and honest speech) are never severed from the home of a virtuous person.  No matter his financial status, any human can provide these four.  This means that each of us qualifies to become a virtuous person!  So what's holding us back?  Why are there so many animosities amongst people and why are there so many wars strewn across history?  Looks like there is a very simple solution!  Adapting these four completely inexpensive traits will lead us to the path of happiness and peaceful co-existence.  Let us work towards imbibing them and see where it takes us.  After all, they cost nothing!

Be nice!

pada vigrahaH:
तृणानि भूमिः उदकं वाक् चतुर्थी च सूनृता ।
tṛṇāni bhūmiḥ udakaṃ vāk caturthī ca sūnṛtā ।

एतानि अपि सतां गेहे न उच्छिद्यन्ते कदाचन ॥
etāni api satāṃ gehe na ucchidyante kadācana ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
tRuNaani bhUmirudakaM vaakchaturthI cha sUnRutaa ।
etaanyapi sataaM gehe nochChidyante kadaachana ॥
- mahaabhaarata, udyoga

tRuNaani bhUmiH udakaM vaak chaturthI cha sUnRutaa ।

etaani api sataaM gehe na uchChidyante kadaachana ॥

June 10th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
उच्चैरुच्चरितव्यं यत्किञ्चिदजानतापि पुरुषेण ।
मूर्खा बहु मन्यन्ते विदुषामपि संशयो भवति ॥
- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

Transliteration:
uccairuccaritavyaṃ yatkiñcidajānatāpi puruṣeṇa ।
mūrkhā bahu manyante viduṣāmapi saṃśayo bhavati ॥
- subhāṣitasudhānidhi

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Whatever little is spoken by a person should be pronounced intensely (loudly and clearly), even if unaware of everything.  For, (not only shall) the foolish regard highly, (but) even the wise shall become incredulous.

Commentary:

While speaking, the conviction of the speaker weighs in quite a bit, along with what is being spoken!  Like it or not, if the speaker is not certain of himself, how can he expect his audience to have any faith in what he is saying?  Swallowing words or stuttering or stammering does not catch the attention of the onlooker, nor does mumbling or droning.

They say, 'write to be understood, speak to be heard'!  If one wants to be heard, he needs to speak and speak clearly he MUST!  Speech is power when used aptly if not, one will regret that he ever opened his mouth!  But when he does, he should make sure it is loud and clear.

The poet goes a step further and says, even if unaware of everything, one should speak clearly!  Because, the dull-witted shall have high regard due to one's delivery and the smart ones too shall doubt for a moment that the speaker might know everything ;). Deception is not the purpose here, nor is promoting pompousness!  All the author is saying is, be confident and present whatever little you know, in a crystal clear manner.

Don't mumble... SPEAK UP... so you can be heard!

pada vigrahaH:
उच्चैः उच्चरितव्यं यत् किञ्चित् अजानताः अपि पुरुषेण ।
uccaiḥ uccaritavyaṃ yat kiñcit ajānatāḥ api puruṣeṇa ।

मूर्खाः बहु मन्यन्ते विदुषाम् अपि संशयः भवति ॥
mūrkhāḥ bahu manyante viduṣām api saṃśayaḥ bhavati ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
uchchairuchcharitavyaM yatki~nchidajaanataapi puruSheNa ।
mUrkhaa bahu manyante viduShaamapi saMshayo bhavati ॥
- subhaaShitasudhaanidhi

uchchaiH uchcharitavyaM yat ki~nchit ajaanataaH api puruSheNa ।

mUrkhaaH bahu manyante viduShaam api saMshayaH bhavati ॥

June 3rd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
उद्यन्तु शतमादित्याः उद्यन्तु शतमिन्दवः ।
न विना विदुषां वाक्यैः नश्यत्याभ्यन्तरं  तमः ॥
- सभारञ्जन शतक

Transliteration:
udyantu śatamādityāḥ udyantu śatamindavaḥ ।
na vinā viduṣāṃ vākyaiḥ naśyatyābhyantaraṃ tamaḥ ॥
- sabhārañjana śataka

Meaning of the subhAShita:

May a hundred suns rise, may (there) rise a hundred moons.  (But) without listening to the words of the wise men, the internal darkness cannot be annihilated!

Commentary:

They say, 'there isn't enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one little candle'.  At the same time, at the other end of the spectrum, 'there isn't enough light in this world to eradicate an ounce of the darkness within, without listening to the wise words of wisdom from the learned'!

Humans are in a unique situation than any other living beings.  He is the only 'animal' blessed with the faculty of speech and understanding.  He is the only being who has been blessed with a thinking mind and an intellect to make choices!  Ever since the dinosaur era, has anyone heard of a more intelligent animal than a human?  Why on earth did God give that facility, if He did not mean to set us apart from the rest of the creatures?  Would the Lord create even a strand of hair without a purpose?!!  Similarly, why did He create such an elaborate and complicated structure of language and thought processes exclusively for the human race?!!  Obviously, there was a specific and essential purpose for it!  Would it be to show the supremacy of humans over other animals?  Definitely not!  Dominion and surrender aren't natural to any being.  That which doesn't come naturally, cannot be dharma.  That which is not dharma, CANNOT be the purpose in the Lord's mind!  Then, what could it be?  The only possible reason could be - to spread the knowledge..., the knowledge of the ultimate truth.

The poet says, the ignorance within (which is equated to darkness), can be eradicated only through listening to the wise words of the learned.  Even if a hundred suns rise at once and a hundred moons emerge along with them, all that collective light is not sufficient to decimate the ignorance within!  The one and only ray of hope to cure that internal murkiness is, 'listening to the teaching of the great masters and seers'.  No other choice!

Isn't it better to light that candle of knowledge than curse the darkness?!

May the quest of finding the light within bring us to our gurus.  May each of us find our guiding light and tread with ease towards attaining our goal. 

pada vigrahaH:
उद्यन्तु शतम् आदित्याः उद्यन्तु शतम् इन्दवः ।

udyantu śatam ādityāḥ udyantu śatam indavaḥ ।

न विना विदुषां वाक्यैः नश्यति आभ्यन्तरं तमः ॥
na vinā viduṣāṃ vākyaiḥ naśyati ābhyantaraṃ tamaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
udyantu shatamaadityaaH udyantu shatamindavaH ।
na vinaa viduShaaM vaakyaiH nashyatyaabhyantaraM tamaH ॥
- sabhaara~njana shataka

udyantu shatam aadityaaH udyantu shatam indavaH ।

na vinaa viduShaaM vaakyaiH nashyati aabhyantaraM tamaH ॥