Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
नास्ति विद्यासमं चक्षुः नास्ति सत्यसमं तपः ।
नास्ति रागसमं दुःखं नास्ति त्यागसमं सुखम् ॥
-महाभारत, शान्ति
Transliteration:
nāsti vidyāsamaṃ cakṣuḥ nāsti satyasamaṃ tapaḥ ।
nāsti rāgasamaṃ duḥkhaṃ nāsti tyāgasamaṃ sukham ॥
-mahābhārata, śānti
Meaning of the subhAShita:
There is no eye equal to knowledge; there is no penance parallel to truth; there is no pain akin to desire; there is no happiness synonymous with renunciation/sacrifice.
Commentary:
When one reads or acquires a new piece of knowledge, he says, that was an 'eye-opener'! Rightfully so! If one has to know something, the best way is to see it. For, seeing is believing! To get a full understanding of anything, one has to use a faculty of vision—either the physical vision or the vision of the mind. Without that, the cognition stays incomplete. Hence, the author says that knowledge is the best tool for perception as it gives the best vision.
To do penance, one doesn't have to go to a remote cave on an abandoned hill. Penance, basically is a task that must be carried out constantly; something that takes effort and willpower to keep up with. To achieve this, if one resolves to always speak the truth and never utter a lie, that would qualify for penance. To undergo such a vow and keep up with it might be the toughest task on a day-to-day basis. Yet if one keeps it up, he does not have to do any other penance!! Then, what to speak about one's quest for the ultimate truth!! That would be the ultimate kind of penance.
Vehement desire is the root cause of all sorrows. Who can deny that! As soon as a desire arises in the mind, it constantly conspires towards making it a reality. Just as one begins to entertain the thought, it holds a firm grip on all his thoughts and actions from there onwards. Burning with the desire to satisfy his desires, one may undergo many hardships or compromise many ideals. This road can only lead to distress, disappointment, and destruction. Hence, desire is the sole cause of despair.
The best and easiest way to happiness is renunciation. Renunciation, not in terms of duties, but in terms of expectations and hopes; not in terms of life, but in terms of attachments and bindings. As soon as one gives up these restrictions, there is only unbound happiness! Hence surrender/relinquishment is the best way to happiness.
Making oneself happy, is certainly in his own hands. Only he can keep his own troubles at bay!
pada vigrahaH:
न अस्ति विद्या-समं चक्षुः न अस्ति सत्य-समं तपः ।
na asti vidyā-samaṃ cakṣuḥ na asti satya-samaṃ tapaḥ ।
न अस्ति राग-समं दुःखं न अस्ति त्याग-समं सुखम् ॥
na asti rāga-samaṃ duḥkhaṃ na asti tyāga-samaṃ sukham ॥
To do penance, one doesn't have to go to a remote cave on an abandoned hill. Penance, basically is a task that must be carried out constantly; something that takes effort and willpower to keep up with. To achieve this, if one resolves to always speak the truth and never utter a lie, that would qualify for penance. To undergo such a vow and keep up with it might be the toughest task on a day-to-day basis. Yet if one keeps it up, he does not have to do any other penance!! Then, what to speak about one's quest for the ultimate truth!! That would be the ultimate kind of penance.
Vehement desire is the root cause of all sorrows. Who can deny that! As soon as a desire arises in the mind, it constantly conspires towards making it a reality. Just as one begins to entertain the thought, it holds a firm grip on all his thoughts and actions from there onwards. Burning with the desire to satisfy his desires, one may undergo many hardships or compromise many ideals. This road can only lead to distress, disappointment, and destruction. Hence, desire is the sole cause of despair.
The best and easiest way to happiness is renunciation. Renunciation, not in terms of duties, but in terms of expectations and hopes; not in terms of life, but in terms of attachments and bindings. As soon as one gives up these restrictions, there is only unbound happiness! Hence surrender/relinquishment is the best way to happiness.
Making oneself happy, is certainly in his own hands. Only he can keep his own troubles at bay!
pada vigrahaH:
न अस्ति विद्या-समं चक्षुः न अस्ति सत्य-समं तपः ।
na asti vidyā-samaṃ cakṣuḥ na asti satya-samaṃ tapaḥ ।
न अस्ति राग-समं दुःखं न अस्ति त्याग-समं सुखम् ॥
na asti rāga-samaṃ duḥkhaṃ na asti tyāga-samaṃ sukham ॥
naasti vidyaasamaM chakShuH naasti satyasamaM tapaH ।
naasti raagasamaM duHkhaM naasti tyaagasamaM sukham ॥
-mahaabhaarata, shaanti
na asti vidyaa-samaM chakShuH na asti satya-samaM tapaH ।
na asti raaga-samaM duHkhaM na asti tyaaga-samaM sukham ॥
