November 12th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यस्तु सञ्चरते देशान् यस्तु सेवेत पण्डितान् ।
तस्य विस्तरिता बुद्धिः तैलबिन्दुरिवाम्भसि ॥ 
- समयोचितपद्यमालिका

Transliteration:
yastu sañcarate deśān yastu seveta paṇḍitān ।
tasya vistaritā buddhiḥ tailabindurivāmbhasi ॥
- samayocitapadyamālikā

Meaning of the subhAShita:

He who travels the world; he who serves the erudite - his acumen shall expand, just as a drop of oil on water!

Commentary:

It is said that the world is a book and those who do not travel, read only one page!  Travelling exposes a person to many varieties of cultures and many different perspectives as well.  Life is a journey in itself.  Travel gives a unique character of experience to one's knowledge.  He who resists travel holds off his own personal growth.

He who is in the company of the learned is always posed with an opportunity to learn.  Just by sheer proximity to the scholars, he gets a chance to see how they think.  Even the subtlest action of the wise teaches a thing or two. When interwoven into daily life, acquiring of wisdom never ceases and progress never freezes.

The very apt example given in the verse is of a drop of oil on water.  A tiny drop of oil placed on water just keeps spreading (till it reaches the edge of the water itself). Such would be the vastness of the wisdom of a person who has these two attributes - traveling and keeping company with the learned.  These two aspects broaden one's horizon and deepen his understanding of the world.

Read, travel, learn with the learned!

pada vigrahaH:
यः तु सञ्चरते देशान् यः तु सेवेत पण्डितान् ।
yaḥ tu sañcarate deśān yaḥ tu seveta paṇḍitān ।

तस्य विस्तरिता बुद्धिः तैल-बिन्दुः इव अम्भसि ॥ 
tasya vistaritā buddhiḥ taila-binduḥ iva ambhasi ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yastu sa~ncharate deshaan yastu seveta paNDitaan ।
tasya vistaritaa buddhiH tailabindurivaambhasi ॥
- samayochitapadyamaalikaa

yaH tu sa~ncharate deshaan yaH tu seveta paNDitaan ।
tasya vistaritaa buddhiH taila-binduH iva ambhasi ॥

September 25th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
स्थानेषु शिष्यनिवहैर्विनियुज्यमाना
विद्या गुरुं हि गुणवत्तरमातनोति ।
आदाय शुक्तिषु बलाहकविप्रकीर्णैः
रत्नाकरो भवति वारिभिरम्बुराशिः ॥
- अनर्घराघव

Transliteration:
sthāneṣu śiṣyanivahairviniyujyamānā
vidyā guruṃ hi guṇavattaramātanoti ।
ādāya śuktiṣu balāhakaviprakīrṇaiḥ
ratnākaro bhavati vāribhiramburāśiḥ ॥
- anargharāghava

Meaning of the subhAShita:

(When) a student employs (appropriate) knowledge at the right place, it certainly is a manifestation of his guru's knowledge.  (After all) it is the ocean who is called as 'ratnākara' (maker of precious jewels) as he brings the scattered raindrops from the clouds to the pearl-shells (to make pearls)!

Commentary:

One may be very skilled and efficient at performing an assigned task.  But the truth is, the skill is just a manifestation of the knowledge given to him by his guru!  It is the guru who identifies the potential in a student and gives him the knowledge that he is able to carry.  The guru shapes such a student with all the tools essential.  He makes the student capable enough to pull out the right tool at the right time and employ it for the right purpose.  The outcome of the student's act is truly the greatness of the teacher himself!

The beautiful example that establishes this is the 'ocean', popularly referred to as ratnākara (gem-maker).  The clouds can shower all the rain they want and oysters in the pearl-shells can keep their shells open for as long as they want. But if the ocean does not deliver the scattered raindrops from the clouds to the oysters, they cannot make beautiful pearls!  Although the oyster physically makes the pearl, the credit goes to the ocean by naming him as 'ratnākara'!  The guru is the channel through whom vidyā is transmitted from generation to generation and is hence upheld always.

Prostrations to the guru who is himself an embodiment of knowledge and the authority for transcending that knowledge through the generations!  Veneration to the gurus for all that we are today!!

pada vigrahaH:
स्थानेषु शिष्य-निवहैः विनियुज्यमाना
sthāneṣu śiṣya-nivahaiḥ viniyujyamānā

विद्या गुरुं हि गुणवत्तरम् आतनोति ।
vidyā guruṃ hi guṇavattaram ātanoti ।

आदाय शुक्तिषु बलाहक-विप्रकीर्णैः
ādāya śuktiṣu balāhaka-viprakīrṇaiḥ

रत्नाकरः भवति वारिभिः अम्बु-राशिः ॥
ratnākaraḥ bhavati vāribhiḥ ambu-rāśiḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
sthaaneShu shiShyanivahairviniyujyamaanaa
vidyaa guruM hi guNavattaramaatanoti ।
aadaaya shuktiShu balaahakaviprakIrNaiH
ratnaakaro bhavati vaaribhiramburaashiH ॥
- anargharaaghava

sthaaneShu shiShya-nivahaiH viniyujyamaanaa
vidyaa guruM hi guNavattaram aatanoti ।
aadaaya shuktiShu balaahaka-viprakIrNaiH
ratnaakaraH bhavati vaaribhiH ambu-raashiH ॥

June 17th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
कन्यादाताऽन्नदाता च ज्ञानदाताऽभयप्रदः ।
जन्मदो मन्त्रदो ज्येष्ठभ्राता च पितरः स्मृतः ॥

Transliteration:
kanyādātā'nnadātā ca jñānadātā'bhayapradaḥ ।
janmado mantrado jyeṣṭhabhrātā ca pitaraḥ smṛtaḥ ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

One who gives his daughter in marriage; one who provides food; one who bestows knowledge; one who guards against fear; one who gives birth; one who bestows counsel; one (brother) who is born ahead of you - all these (luminaries) are deemed as fathers.

Commentary:

It is said that there is no other need in childhood as strong as the need for protection from a father! Fathers are the revered for their many contributions along the various facets of life, starting with giving life, caring and nurturing.  He propitiates the child into new beginnings time and again. He is the one who invigorates his young ones to explore life and then helps formulate their future.  The greatest gift any father can give his child is - believing in him!  He instils that trust in the child.

The poet says that one comes across many such fatherly figures during his lifetime. They are

• the one who gives his daughter's hand in marriage. The father-in-law trusts and bequeaths his daughter.  She bears progeny for her husband, making him a father.  Veneration for that.
• the one who provides food and tends to one's hunger.  This is a fatherly gesture for sure. Respect to him.
• the one who bestows knowledge gives birth to a new perspective in the intellect of the person.  He contributes to the person's growth and is therefore exalted to the stature of a father.
• the one who guards against fear and reassures the faith that all will be well! Admiration to him.
• the one who gives birth is certainly revered.  If not for him, one wouldn't be here speaking about who to revere!! The care and nurture given by him are irreplaceable. Love and respect to him.
• the one who bestows counsel and guides in the right direction like a father. Honor to him.
• the one who is born ahead of us (an elder brother), is nothing less than a father as he steps up to be a father figure! If one is afraid to approach his father for anything, it is easier to approach the elder brother. Cherish him.

A father is someone you look up to, no matter how tall you grow! These aforementioned magnanimous personalities shape a person from childhood on.  

Fathers are honored always for their roles and contributions in our lives!  Obeisance to them.

pada vigrahaH:
कन्यादाता अन्नदाता च ज्ञानदाता अभयप्रदः ।
kanyādātā annadātā ca jñānadātā abhayapradaḥ ।

जन्मदः मन्त्रदः ज्येष्ठ-भ्राता च पितरः स्मृतः ॥
janmadaḥ mantradaḥ jyeṣṭha-bhrātā ca pitaraḥ smṛtaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
kanyaadaataa.nnadaataa cha j~naanadaataa.bhayapradaH ।
janmado mantrado jyeShThabhraataa cha pitaraH smRutaH ॥

kanyaadaataa annadaataa cha j~naanadaataa abhayapradaH ।

janmadaH mantradaH jyeShTha-bhraataa cha pitaraH smRutaH ॥

May 13th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
मातृवत्परदारेषु परद्रव्येषु लोष्टवत् ।
आत्मवत्सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्यति स पण्डितः ॥

- चाणक्य नीति

Transliteration:
mātṛvatparadāreṣu paradravyeṣu loṣṭavat ।
ātmavatsarvabhūteṣu yaḥ paśyati sa paṇḍitaḥ ॥

- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Other's wives as one's own mother; other's wealth as a lump of clay; other beings like one's own self - he who sees it (this way) is a learned person.

Commentary:

The utmost reverence one can give is to his mother.  A cultured person sees other women as equal to his mother as well. Passion is felt only for one's own wife.  All other women are to be revered as the divine mother herself.  Ogling at other women or having lustful feelings isn't cultured behavior and a learned man knows this very well.

Wealth is the slave of a wise man and the master of a fool.  One should know how to put his wealth to use.  But at the same time, he should know not to be greedy and take other's wealth, wheter by cheating or any other unethical means.  One should know that the wealth belonging to others is as useless as a lump of clay for him.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!  It is not just a statement for saying.  No one wants to be treated badly.  If he remembers that at all times, he will not treat anyone badly.   When one understands that ultimately everyone is him and he is everyone, he will not do any misdeeds towards others.

A wise man knows these 3 essential traits of being wise!  May the tribe of such wise people increase and make the world a better place to live in.

pada vigrahaH:
मातृवत् पर-दारेषु पर-द्रव्येषु लोष्टवत् ।
mātṛvat para-dāreṣu para-dravyeṣu loṣṭavat ।

आत्मवत् सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्यति सः पण्डितः ॥
ātmavat sarvabhūteṣu yaḥ paśyati saḥ paṇḍitaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
maatRuvatparadaareShu paradravyeShu loShTavat ।
aatmavatsarvabhUteShu yaH pashyati sa paNDitaH ॥
- chaaNakya neeti

maatRuvat para-daareShu para-dravyeShu loShTavat ।
aatmavat sarvabhUteShu yaH pashyati saH paNDitaH ॥