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 ॥