Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
विद्यार्थी सेवकः पान्थः क्षुधाऽर्तो भयकातर ।
भाण्डारी प्रतिहारी च सप्त सुप्तान् प्रबोधयेत् ॥
- चाणक्य नीतिTransliteration:
vidyārthī sevakaḥ pānthaḥ kṣudhā'rto bhayakātara ।
bhāṇḍārī pratihārī ca sapta suptān prabodhayet ॥
- cāṇakya nītiMeaning of the subhAShita:
A student, a servant, a traveler, one famished with hunger, one who is scared, one who is the safe-keeper of the storehouse, and a watchman—if sleeping, these 7 must be woken up.
Commentary:
Sleeping on the job doesn't suit anyone. However, sleepers in certain roles are required to be awakened without any delay. The wisdom embedded in this verse highlights the essential nature of responsibility and the urgency of these roles in the greater scheme of life.
The Student: A student in slumber is akin to a mind lying dormant, missing the opportunity to absorb and cultivate wisdom. Awakening the student means stirring the intellect and ensuring his learning does not stop.
The Servant: When a servant sleeps, the work that needs to be done goes unattended. A servant’s role is vital to maintaining balance and harmony, and his slumber is a lapse in the steady rhythm of life.
The Traveler: Life is a journey, and every traveler has a destination. When he is supposed to be traveling, a traveler who is sleepy is not progressing on his path. This reminds us that being alert on the journey is just as significant as the destination itself.
The Famished One: Hunger is a primal force that demands immediate attention; it cannot be left unattended. Awakening the famished person is a call to acknowledge our needs—whether for food, love, care, or connection—and to address them with urgency.
The Scared One: The fearful one is caught in the paralyzing grip of anxiety, hesitation, or uncertainty. To awaken the scared one means to awaken courage—the ability to face the unknown, step into discomfort, and act despite fear.
The Safe-Keeper of the Storehouse: This individual has the responsibility to ensure that valuable resources are protected, preserved, and distributed as needed. If he falls asleep, everything he is safeguarding is at risk. Sleep, in this case, represents neglect or apathy toward his role and hence he needs to be awakened.
The Watchman: The watchman stands as the first line of defense, and must be ever alert and aware of potential dangers. A sleeping watchman exposes the vulnerable to harm. He has to be watchful of what may threaten society and hence needs to be awakened.
In essence, these seven figures represent different facets of human temperaments: intellect, duty, purpose, need, courage, protection, and vigilance. When any of these aspects fall into a state of dormancy, life becomes disordered. We must awaken them from slumber, not just to survive, but to thrive.
विद्यार्थी सेवकः पान्थः क्षुधा-आर्तः भय-कातर ।
vidyārthī sevakaḥ pānthaḥ kṣudhā-ārtaḥ bhaya-kātara ।
भाण्डारी प्रतिहारी च सप्त सुप्तान् प्रबोधयेत् ॥
bhāṇḍārī pratihārī ca sapta suptān prabodhayet ॥
vidyaarthI sevakaH paanthaH kShudhaa'rto bhayakaatara ।
bhANDaarI pratihaarI ca sapta suptaan prabodhayet ॥
- chaaNakya neeti
vidyaarthI sevakaH paanthaH kShudhaa-aartaH bhaya-kaatara ।
bhANDaarI pratihaarI ca sapta suptaan prabodhayet ॥
