December 8th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
वागर्थाविव सम्पृक्तौ वागर्थप्रतिपत्तये  ।
जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ ॥ 
- रघुवंश (कालिदास)

Transliteration:
vāgarthāviva sampṛktau vāgarthapratipattaye ।
jagataḥ pitarau vande pārvatīparameśvarau ॥
- raghuvaṃśa (kālidāsa)

Meaning of the subhAShita:

I pray to the progenitors of the universe, Pārvatī and Parameśvara, who are themselves interspersed like speech and meaning, for the attainment of articulation and understanding.

Commentary:

There can be no meaning without speech and be no speech without meaning.  When someone speaks, there is a meaning that accompanies it.  One may talk meaninglessly, but his speech always carries a meaning, whether it makes sense or not!  That means, speech and it's meaning are inseparable!  There is no existence of one without the other.  Once milk and honey are stirred together, one cannot be separated from the other.  Such is the union/camaraderie of Lord Shiva and Pārvatī.

The author here (Kālidaasa) is praying to be bestowed such inseparable articulation and understanding in the compositions he is about to compose.  This is the opening verse he wrote before composing the famous kāvya, 'Raghuvaṃśa' (Rāma's dynasty).

Meaningful speech is essential at any place, time or era.  The art of communication with others, as well as ourselves, ultimately determines the quality of our lives!  So, who wouldn't want to be bestowed the best skills from the Gods who are the very embodiment of these skills?!

pada vigrahaH:
वाक्-अर्थौ इव सम्पृक्तौ वाक्-अर्थ-प्रतिपत्तये  ।
vāk-arthau iva sampṛktau vāk-artha-pratipattaye ।

जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वती-परमेश्वरौ ॥
jagataḥ pitarau vande pārvatī-parameśvarau ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
vaagarthaaviva sampRuktau vaagarthapratipattaye ।
jagataH pitarau vande paarvatIparameshvarau ॥
- raghuvaMsha (kaalidaasa)

vaak-arthau iva sampRuktau vaak-artha-pratipattaye  ।

jagataH pitarau vande paarvatI-parameshvarau ॥