Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
वलीभिर्मुखमाक्रान्तं पलितैरङ्कितं शिरः ।
गात्राणि शिथिलायन्ते तृष्णैका तरुणायते ॥
- वैराग्यशतक
Transliteration:
valībhirmukhamākrāntaṃ palitairaṅkitaṃ śiraḥ ।
gātrāṇi śithilāyante tṛṣṇaikā taruṇāyate ॥
- vairāgyaśataka
Meaning of the subhAShita:
Face encroached by wrinkles; head marked by grays; limbs frail/feeble; appetence alone is young!
Commentary:
Human beings possess body, mind and intellect. Mind and intellect comprise of nothing but thoughts. The deteriorating attributes of the body like graying hair, wrinkles on the face and feeble limbs are all signs of impending old age. All organs lax and become fragile and incoherent because they have grown, matured, enjoyed being their best during youth and then ripened due to time and usage. While the body shows signs of old age, there is one very powerful trait of the mind that doesn't undergo this cycle of growing, maturing, enjoying and ripening! It definitely undergoes the first three stages. But upon reaching its pinnacle, it remains there and keeps growing wider and deeper! It is insatiable and infinitely expanding as well!! 'Appetence', 'thirst', 'intense craving', 'strong desire'... Many are its names, but its effects are just the same! It is insatiable at any age! A new craving, a new thirst, a new desire.... once satisfied, there is some other craving, thirst or desire ready to take over. This seems to have no end at any stage of life. The poet observes that thirst is the only attribute of a person that gets stuck in its youth and never outgrows that stage. The attributes of the body show clear signs of dilapidation, but not the mind's desire!
The thirst of 'desire' can never be fulfilled nor fully quenched. When drinking salty water, the thirst only increases after drinking. Desire is just the same. The more it is fed, the more it wants! Nipping it in the bud is the easiest way of conquering it.
pada vigrahaH:
वलीभिः मुखम् आक्रान्तं पलितैः अङ्कितं शिरः ।
valībhiḥ mukham ākrāntaṃ palitaiḥ aṅkitaṃ śiraḥ ।
गात्राणि शिथिलायन्ते तृष्णा एका तरुणायते ॥
gātrāṇi śithilāyante tṛṣṇā ekā taruṇāyate ॥
The thirst of 'desire' can never be fulfilled nor fully quenched. When drinking salty water, the thirst only increases after drinking. Desire is just the same. The more it is fed, the more it wants! Nipping it in the bud is the easiest way of conquering it.
pada vigrahaH:
वलीभिः मुखम् आक्रान्तं पलितैः अङ्कितं शिरः ।
valībhiḥ mukham ākrāntaṃ palitaiḥ aṅkitaṃ śiraḥ ।
गात्राणि शिथिलायन्ते तृष्णा एका तरुणायते ॥
gātrāṇi śithilāyante tṛṣṇā ekā taruṇāyate ॥
valIbhirmukhamaakraantaM palitaira~nkitaM shiraH ।
gaatraaNi shithilaayante tRuShNaikaa taruNaayate ॥
- vairaagyashataka
valIbhiH mukham aakraantaM palitaiH a~nkitaM shiraH ।
gaatraaNi shithilaayante tRuShNaa ekaa taruNaayate ॥
