July 29th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
उपकर्तुं यथा स्वल्पः समर्थो न तथा महान् ।
प्रायः कूपस्तृषां हन्ति न कदापि तु वारिधिः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय

Transliteration:
upakartuṃ yathā svalpaḥ samartho na tathā mahān ।
prāyaḥ kūpastṛṣāṃ hanti na kadāpi tu vāridhiḥ ॥
- subhāṣitaratnasamuccaya

Meaning of the subhAShita:

In the way a trifle can be of assistance, the great may not be able to.  Probably a well can quench the thirst, but never the (mighty) ocean.

Commentary:

Each in its own place and time.  The purpose of one cannot be served by the other.  An ocean may be mighty and magnificent.  But when a thirsty man comes to it, he will look for a different source of drinking water.  Although the ocean is a storehouse for most of the water available on earth and torrential rains are nothing in the face of its capacity, not even a drop of it is useful in quenching the thirst of a weary traveler!  However, a well may very well be a heavenly sight to a tired hiker, even though it is a minuscule speck in comparison to the ocean.

Same holds true in all aspects of life.  Each person cannot be the leader of the world!  If that is true, then who will they lead?!  As much as leaders are required, people that need to be led are essential as well.  Every man can't be an architect, there needs to be someone to build the structure as well.  One person's shoe cannot fit another. At the same time, the existence of each and every being is very important.

For example, the existence of every grain of sand and blade of grass is crucial.  If it wasn't required to be there, He would have already made sure that it was not there!  If it is there, it is already important and essential.  Same with beings.  If they weren't special and essential, the Lord wouldn't have made them!!

Never disrespect anything or anyone based on their pervasiveness.  All are indispensable in their own unique ways!  Value them for what they essentially are.  A great man once said, 'Everybody is a genius.  But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid!'  What a profound statement that is!!

pada vigrahaH: 
उपकर्तुं यथा स्वल्पः समर्थः न तथा महान् ।
upakartuṃ yathā svalpaḥ samarthaḥ na tathā mahān ।

प्रायः कूपः तृषां हन्ति न कदा अपि तु वारिधिः ॥
prāyaḥ kūpaḥ tṛṣāṃ hanti na kadā api tu vāridhiḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
upakartuM yathaa svalpaH samartho na tathaa mahaan ।
praayaH kUpastRuShaaM hanti na kadaapi tu vaaridhiH ॥
- subhaaShitaratnasamuchchaya

upakartuM yathaa svalpaH samarthaH na tathaa mahaan ।

praayaH kUpaH tRuShaaM hanti na kadaa api tu vaaridhiH ॥

July 22nd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
रात्रिर्गमिष्यति भविष्यति सुप्रभातम्
भास्वानुदेष्यति हसिष्यति पङ्कजश्रीः ।
इत्थं विचिन्तयति कोशगते द्विरेफे
हा हन्त हन्त नलिनीं गज उज्जहार ॥
- कुवलयानन्द

Transliteration:
rātrirgamiṣyati bhaviṣyati suprabhātam
bhāsvānudeṣyati hasiṣyati paṅkajaśrīḥ ।
itthaṃ vicintayati kośagate dvirephe
hā hanta hanta nalinīṃ gaja ujjahāra ॥
- kuvalayānanda

Meaning of the subhAShita:

"The night shall pass, dawn shall arrive, the sun shall rise and the lotus shall bloom" - even as the bee stuck in the lotus bud, was thinking; alas, alas, an elephant uprooted the lotus!!

Commentary:
Timing is everything or destiny has the final say?!

This verse is the height of poetic fiction!  Here, he narrates the story of a busy little bee who was anxious to get the last sip of nectar before the fall of the day.  He hovered over a lotus and settled down for the sip.  But since it was almost dusk, the lotus closed its petals to rest for the day and the bee got stuck inside the petals.  There was no way it could get out from the grasp of the tender petals of the closed lotus bud!  So, the bee consoled itself thus, "the night shall pass, daybreak shall come, the sun shall rise and the lotus shall bloom..." - so that when the flower opened the petals, it could fly away.  But alas, what luck!  Even as the bee was thinking this, a rut elephant uprooted the closed lotus bud!!  Now that the lotus wasn't rooted anymore, neither the rise of the sun nor the midday scorch can bring a difference in the petals.  The bud shall never ever open again, hence trapping the bee inside, to draw its last breath! :(

Like they say, 'it is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped'!  Perhaps, the outcome would have been different if the bee had judged the time of the day better.  Perhaps, the bee would have been spared if he wasn't greedy for that one last sip.  Perhaps, the consequence would have been different if the bee was swift enough to fly out when the bud was closing up.  Perhaps..., perhaps... These can only be speculations.

Many times in life, one would never know what would have happened differently if he made different choices.  Perhaps, it is the choices and not chances, that determine one's destiny?!!  It is probably for oneself to decide...

pada vigrahaH:
रात्रिः गमिष्यति भविष्यति सुप्रभातम्
rātriḥ gamiṣyati bhaviṣyati suprabhātam

भास्वान् उदेष्यति हसिष्यति पङ्कजश्रीः ।
bhāsvān udeṣyati hasiṣyati paṅkajaśrīḥ ।

इत्थं विचिन्तयति कोश-गते द्विरेफे
itthaṃ vicintayati kośa-gate dvirephe

हा हन्त हन्त नलिनीं गज उज्जहार ॥
hā hanta hanta nalinīṃ gaja ujjahāra ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
raatrirgamiShyati bhaviShyati suprabhaatam
bhaaswaanudeShyati hasiShyati pa~nkajashrIH ।
itthaM vichintayati koshagate dvirephe
haa hanta hanta nalinIM gaja ujjahaara ॥
- kuvalayaananda

raatriH gamiShyati bhaviShyati suprabhaatam

bhaaswaan udeShyati hasiShyati pa~nkajashrIH ।

itthaM vichintayati kosha-gate dvirephe

haa hanta hanta nalinIM gaja ujjahaara ॥

July 15th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
भवन्ति नम्रास्तरवः फलोद्गमैः
नवाम्बुभिर्भूरिविलम्बिनो घनाः ।
अनुद्धताः सत्पुरुषाः समृद्धिभिः
स्वभाव एवैष परोपकारिणाम् ॥
- नीतिशतक

Transliteration:
bhavanti namrāstaravaḥ phalodgamaiḥ
navāmbubhirbhūrivilambino ghanāḥ ।
anuddhatāḥ satpuruṣāḥ samṛddhibhiḥ
svabhāva evaiṣa paropakāriṇām ॥
- nītiśataka

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Trees bow down when fruit are shooting forth; clouds hang low when filled with water; the noble become humble in opulence - this is the very nature of the benevolent.

Commentary:

"If you wish to have happiness, provide happiness for others" - this is probably the motto of the trees, clouds and the noble!  They attain their internal peace and calm through their acts of benevolence towards others.  They are not just affable, they are humble too!  Humility is their prime attribute.

When a tree is full of fruit, it doesn't stiffen itself straight in arrogance that it is providing fruit to everyone.  It bends down in humility as if to make it easier for everyone to access its fruit!

When clouds are brimming with water, they hang low as if in diffidence, so they can shower their cool waters at the earliest to quench the thirst of the earth!

The noble when bestowed with opulence, display utmost humility.  They do not have even the slightest of arrogance about any of their resources or boons.  They display utmost modesty and believe that humility is a lifelong lesson.  They do not slack from their humility at any time!  It is a natural trait that comes spontaneously to them at all times.  Clearly, their stance is that 'humility is the cornerstone of all other virtues'.  Hence, they never take a respite from this wonderful attribute.

Those that do good to others never take pride in themselves.  Pride makes us artificial, humility makes us real.  Let's be real!

pada vigrahaH:
भवन्ति नम्राः तरवः फल-उद्गमैः
bhavanti namrāḥ taravaḥ phala-udgamaiḥ

नव-अम्बुभिः भूरि-विलम्बिनः घनाः ।
nava-ambubhiḥ bhūri-vilambinaḥ ghanāḥ ।

अनुद्धताः सत्-पुरुषाः समृद्धिभिः
anuddhatāḥ sat-puruṣāḥ samṛddhibhiḥ

स्वभावः एव एषः पर-उपकारिणाम् ॥
svabhāvaḥ eva eṣaḥ para-upakāriṇām ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
bhavanti namraastraravaH phalodgamaiH
navaambubhirbhUrivilambino ghanaaH ।
anuddhataaH satpuruShaaH samRuddhibhiH
svabhaava evaiSha paropakaariNaam ॥
- nItishataka

bhavanti namraaH taravaH phala-udgamaiH

nava-ambubhiH bhUri-vilambinaH ghanaaH ।

anuddhataaH sat-puruShaaH samRuddhibhiH

svabhaavaH eva eShaH para-upakaariNaam ॥

July 8th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
लभेत सिकतासु तैलमपि यत्नतः पीडयन्
पिबेच्च मृगतृष्णिकासु सलिलं पिपासार्दितः ।
कदाचिदपि पर्यटन् शशविषाणमासादयेत्
न तु प्रतिनिविष्टमूर्खजनचित्तमाराधयेत् ॥
- नीतिशतक

Transliteration:
labheta sikatāsu tailamapi yatnataḥ pīḍayan
pibecca mṛgatṛṣṇikāsu salilaṃ pipāsārditaḥ ।
kadācidapi paryaṭan śaśaviṣāṇamāsādayet
na tu pratiniviṣṭamūrkhajanacittamārādhayet ॥
- nītiśataka

Meaning of the subhAShita:

(One) may procure oil from the sand after forceful exertion; an extremely thirsty person may get a drink of water from a mirage; sometimes after (immense) wandering, may obtain a rabbit horn; but can never appease the mind of an unreasonable fool!

Commentary:

Is there even an ounce of oil in the whole heap of sand?  Is there any real water in a mirage?  Does a hare even have a horn, for one to be able to find it?  The answer to all these three scenarios is obviously a big NO!  But the poet says, all these virtual impossibilities may still be a possibility!!  After exerting oneself to the extreme, one may finally be able to squeeze out a drop of oil from a heap of sand!  An exceedingly parched person might get a drink of water from a mirage even!  Although a hare doesn't ever grow a horn, after an extensive hunt, one might be able to procure one!  None of these is deemed impossible in comparison to pleasing the mind of an obstinate fool.  Now, that is a whole different ballgame.  That is not just impossible, it is an exceptional impossibility to the Nth degree!!  Anyone even trying to mitigate the mind of a fool would be making a futile effort.

They say, a wise man may change his mind but a fool, never!  Once the mind of a dunce is set on something, a poet of another verse says that it is not possible even for Lord Brahma to change it.  A fool would be adamantly hung up on his stance and not be perturbed by anyone at any cost.  Then, what is the point in trying to convince him who has decided to never be convinced?!  If one has decided to be implausible for no reason, why waste efforts on something fruitless?

pada vigrahaH:
लभेत सिकतासु तैलम् अपि यत्नतः पीडयन्
labheta sikatāsu tailam api yatnataḥ pīḍayan

पिबेत् च मृगतृष्णिकासु सलिलं पिपास-अर्दितः ।
pibet ca mṛgatṛṣṇikāsu salilaṃ pipāsa-arditaḥ ।

कदाचित् अपि पर्यटन् शश-विषाणम् आसादयेत् 
kadācit api paryaṭan śaśa-viṣāṇam āsādayet

न तु प्रतिनिविष्ट-मूर्ख-जन-चित्तम् आराधयेत् ॥
na tu pratiniviṣṭa-mūrkha-jana-cittam ārādhayet ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
labheta sikataasu tailamapi yatnataH pIDayan
pibechcha mRugatRuShNikaasu salilaM pipaasaarditaH ।
kadaachidapi paryaTan shashaviShaaNamaasaadayet
na tu pratiniviShTamUrkhajanachittamaaraadhayet ॥
- nItishataka

labheta sikataasu tailam api yatnataH pIDayan

pibet cha mRugatRuShNikaasu salilaM pipaasa-arditaH ।

kadaachit api paryaTan shasha-viShaaNam aasaadayet

na tu pratiniviShTa-mUrkha-jana-chittam aaraadhayet ॥

July 1st

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
प्रामाण्यबुद्धिः स्तोत्रेषु देवताबुद्धिरात्मनि ।
कीटबुद्धिर्मनुष्येषु नूतनायाः श्रियः फलम् ॥
- कलिविडम्बन

Transliteration:
prāmāṇyabuddhiḥ stotreṣu devatābuddhirātmani ।
kīṭabuddhirmanuṣyeṣu nūtanāyāḥ śriyaḥ phalam ॥
- kaliviḍambana

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Authoritativeness in one's own praises; perceiving oneself as the Almighty; discerning other humans as insects - these are the results of newfound wealth. 

Commentary:

Generally, people value material wealth and desire lots of it to gain a sense of accomplishment. If that wealth came overnight, what to ask of such a person!  He would be constantly boasting of his possessions.  Rejoicing upon one's own praises isn't a very pleasant trait.  It is easy for him to think of himself as superior to the rest.  This is followed by even more bragging and thinking of himself as God!  As a counter effect, he regards the rest of the human species as 'insignificant insects'!!

There is a saying from another language, which can be closely translated to this - 'when a mediocre person gets wealth suddenly out of nowhere, he wakes up in the middle of the night and holds out an umbrella'!  The reason is, he suddenly remembers that he is wealthy and wants to show off.  While being inside the home, there is no requirement for an umbrella even if there is torrential rain outside! But he will still hold it out just to show that he owns an umbrella now!

Someone even said 'self-praise is almost slander!'  Why demean oneself when one can use his newfound resources for the betterment of society?  It takes a lot of humility to do this!  But nothing else can lead a person on the right path.

Someone born into wealth may be able to deal with affluence. But for someone who suddenly experiences prosperity out of nowhere, it takes very strong morals to keep him from becoming arrogant!  Keep your head on your shoulders at all times!  Everything else shall follow.

pada vigrahaH:
प्रामाण्य-बुद्धिः स्तोत्रेषु देवता-बुद्धिः आत्मनि ।
prāmāṇya-buddhiḥ stotreṣu devatā-buddhiḥ ātmani ।

कीट-बुद्धिः मनुष्येषु नूतन-आयाः श्रियः फलम् ॥
kīṭa-buddhiḥ manuṣyeṣu nūtana-āyāḥ śriyaḥ phalam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
praamaaNyabuddhiH stotreShu devataabuddhiraatmani ।
kITabuddhirmanuShyeShu nUtanaayaaH shriyaH phalam ॥
- kaliviDambana

praamaaNya-buddhiH stotreShu devataa-buddhiH aatmani ।

kITa-buddhiH manuShyeShu nUtana-aayaaH shriyaH phalam ॥