September 25th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
दशकूपसमा वापी दशवापीसमो ह्रदः  ।
दशह्रदसमः पुत्रः दशपुत्रसमो द्रुमः ॥  
- मत्स्यपुराण

Transliteration:
daśakūpasamā vāpī daśavāpīsamo hradaḥ ।
daśahradasamaḥ putraḥ daśaputrasamo drumaḥ ॥
- matsyapurāṇa

Meaning of the subhAShita:
A pond is equal to ten wells.  A dansk of water (reservoir) is worth ten (such) ponds.  (Then again) ten (such) reservoirs are the same as a son (offspring).  (But) a tree is equal to ten (such) sons.

Commentary:
Water is an integral part of life's existence.  In fact, we have known mankind to send spaceships out to different spatial objects just to detect the existence of water.  Existence of water leads to the presence of life.  When such is the case, a well obviously is an invaluable asset to living beings.  A well, after all, is a small body of water.  Without a doubt, a pond can easily be equated to ten such wells.

The water in ten ponds can be easily contained in a reservoir.  But then, a son (a good, cultured, educated one especially) is no match to even ten such reservoirs!   This is because, a child quenches the thirst of the parents in a similar way!!  However, there is something that can equal even ten such sons!!  That is none other than a 'tree'.

Why is that?  How can 1 tree equal 10 sons, a 100 reservoirs, a 1000 ponds or 10,000 wells?!!!  Well, here's the deal.  In its lifetime, brings clouds that can equal all of the above bodies of water.

How about a son?  How can a tree be better than him?  It sure is!  A son can only make his own family ecstatic.  He can prosper only his family's lineage.  But, a person who plants a plant today will never know how many people will benefit from it when it grows into a tree.  In reality, the true meaning of life is said to be 'to plant trees, under whose shade one does not expect to sit!'  Planting a sapling, not knowing whether one will be around to enjoy the fruit and shade from it is a selfless act.  The fruits the tree bears will satiate the hunger of birds/animal/people in the future.  It will bring many rain clouds and quench the thirst of those around it.  It will provide shade to the wary.  When one plants the sapling, he is actually doing service to many beings without realizing.  Moreover, the tree may live there for generations beyond the planter or his son and still keep serving, giving water, shade and fruit.

Hence, a tree is equated to so many things.  So what is the impact of felling a tree?  Theoretically, with our own bare hands, we are slaying so many sons and drying up so many water bodies and sources!

It is said that trees are the best antiques and the groves were God's first temples.  Strive to save those antique temples now and always!

pada vigrahaH:
दश-कूप-समा वापी दश-वापी-समो ह्रदः  ।
daśa-kūpa-samā vāpī daśa-vāpī-samo hradaḥ ।

दश-ह्रद-समः पुत्रः दश-पुत्र-समो द्रुमः ॥
daśa-hrada-samaḥ putraḥ daśa-putra-samo drumaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
dashakUpasamaa vaapI dashavaapIsamo hradaH  ।
dashahradasamaH putraH dashaputrasamo drumaH ॥
- matsyapuraaNa

dasha-kUpa-samaa vaapI dasha-vaapI-samo hradaH ।
dasha-hrada-samaH putraH dasha-putra-samo drumaH ॥