October 31

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अपूर्वः कोऽपि कोशोऽयं विद्यते तव भारति ।
व्ययतो वृद्धिमायाति क्षयमायाति सञ्चयात् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार

Transliteration:
apūrvaḥ ko'pi kośo'yaṃ vidyate tava bhārati ।
vyayato vṛddhimāyāti kṣayamāyāti sañcayāt ॥
- subhāṣitaratnabhāṇḍāgāra

Meaning of the subhAShita:

O, Devi Saraswati (Bhārati),  your repository is like no other!  Upon spending, it grows; upon gathering, it shrinks!!

Commentary:

In a transactional world, what do we see?  If we spend something, what we retain decreases; upon collecting, what we possess increases.  But in Goddess Saraswati's arena, the rules are completely opposite, says the author.

When one expends his knowledge, as in - teaching or sharing with others, his horizons broaden. While teaching, a new outlook may dawn on him, which he never saw before.  His memory gets refreshed every time he shares his knowledge.  It gives him clarity of thought and a better understanding of the material.  His value for what he is teaching intensifies in himself.  It will be reinforced in his mind and his faith in it shall get stronger!  It is a complete win-win situation!!

For example, if one collects shells, his collection stays intact if he keeps it to himself.  On the contrary, keeping knowledge to oneself (or confined in the books), only aids in the dissipation of that knowledge.  This is because he is not allowing himself to reflect upon that knowledge.  Knowledge that is not put into practice is of no use anyways.  Over time, he may even forget what he learnt.  Worse, upon the passing away of that person, that particular knowledge may die with him!  The best way to repay our gurus and teachers is by passing on the knowledge that they imparted to us.  If one stagnates that knowledge in himself, he is curtailing the growth of the coming generations.  If our ancestors did the same to us, every generation would have to start over, all the way from inventing fire from the fire-stones!!

Knowledge is like water.  It is sparkling and crystal clear when flowing.  If it stagnates, it becomes a swamp!  Anyone would readily drink water from a running stream rather than a stagnant swamp.  So, why not let knowledge flow like a river and drench in its refreshing waters!  Being born as humans, each of us has an undying thirst for learning.  Let's satiate our thirst by learning from others, as well as quell the strife in others by sharing what we know!!

pada vigrahaH:
अपूर्वः कः अपि कोशः अयं विद्यते तव भारति ।
apūrvaḥ kaḥ api kośaḥ ayaṃ vidyate tava bhārati ।

व्ययतः वृद्धिम् आयाति क्षयम् आयाति सञ्चयात् ॥
vyayataḥ vṛddhim āyāti kṣayam āyāti sañcayāt ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
apUrvaH ko.pi kosho.yaM vidyate tava bhaarati ।
vyayato vRuddhimaayaati kShayamaayaati sa~nchayaat ॥
- subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara

apUrvaH kaH api koshaH ayaM vidyate tava bhaarati ।

vyayataH vRuddhim aayaati kShayam aayaati sa~nchayaat ॥