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:

It may be possible to 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 one may obtain a rabbit horn; but can never ever appease the mind of a perverse fool!

Commentary:

Is there even a drop of oil in an entire heap of sand? Is there real water in a mirage? Does a hare have a horn that one could find? The answer to all these questions is, quite obviously, a resounding NO!

Yet, the poet suggests that even these virtual impossibilities might somehow be achieved. With relentless effort, one might squeeze a drop of oil from a heap of sand. An exceedingly parched traveler might imagine quenching their thirst from a mirage. And while hares don’t grow horns, an exhaustive search might just "find" one. However, all these feats—unlikely as they are—pale in comparison to the impossibility of pleasing the mind of an obstinate fool. Now, that is a task beyond impossible—an exceptional impossibility of the highest order! Any attempt to reason with or placate a fool is utterly futile.

As the saying goes, a wise man may change his mind, but a fool never will. Once a fool has decided on something, even Lord Brahma himself would fail to change their mind. A fool clings stubbornly to his stance, unmoved by reason or persuasion, no matter the cost. So why waste time trying to convince someone determined to remain unconvinced? If one chooses to be irrational without cause, why squander effort on a fruitless endeavor?

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 ॥