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 ॥