October 12th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
जीवन्तु मे शत्रुगणाः सदैव  येषां प्रसादत्सुविचक्षणोऽहम्  ।
ये ये यथा मां प्रतिबाधयन्ति ते ते तथा मां प्रतिबोधयन्ति  ॥

Transliteration:
jīvantu me śatrugaṇāḥ sadaiva yeṣāṃ prasādatsuvicakṣaṇo'ham ।
ye ye yathā māṃ pratibādhayanti te te tathā māṃ pratibodhayanti ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:
May the tribe of my enemies prosper, due to whose grace I am wiser.  Whoever has troubled me, they all have only taught me! 

Commentary:
"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer!" While often quoted as a caution to watch enemies with greater vigilance, this verse gives a different dimension and a deeper meaning.

The poet, with a generous heart, offers blessings of prosperity even to his enemies. Rather than cursing them, he expresses gratitude—for it is through their hostility that he sharpened his mind and cultivated wisdom. Every insult, every challenge they threw his way only served to make him stronger. His growth was a direct result of their opposition.

It is, in fact, smart to pay attention to one’s enemies. They are the first to uncover faults, eager to expose every weakness. If a person aspires to improve himself every day, enemies are his most efficient critics. They point out what even friends might overlook, providing valuable lessons in disguise.

When a person takes a stand for something meaningful, making enemies is inevitable. The absence of enemies might as well mean that he never stood up for anything.   To fight for a cause is to invite opposition, and opposition often reveals the true strength of one’s convictions.

However, hatred toward enemies must be avoided, for hatred clouds judgment and weakens the spirit. Strangely, real enemies are better than false friends. An enemy reveals his true intentions without pretense, whereas a fake friend hides betrayal behind a smile. If one's merit is undeniable, even the enemy is compelled to acknowledge it—and such reluctant praise carries the highest value.

Do not hate your enemy. They give you strength and resilience.  Letting go of hate ends the enmity from your side and frees you to see things clearly. An enemy too, can be life’s most unexpected teacher.

pada vigrahaH:
जीवन्तु मे शत्रु-गणाः सदा एव  येषां प्रसादात् सुविचक्षणः अहम् ।
jīvantu me śatru-gaṇāḥ sadā eva yeṣāṃ prasādāt suvicakṣaṇaḥ aham ।

ये ये यथा मां प्रति-बाधयन्ति ते ते तथा मां प्रति-बोधयन्ति  ॥
ye ye yathā māṃ prati-bādhayanti te te tathā māṃ prati-bodhayanti ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
jeevantu me shatrugaNaaH sadaiva yeShaaM prasaadatsuvichakShaNo.ham ।
ye ye yathaa maaM pratibaadhayanti te te tathaa maaM pratibodhayanti ॥

jeevantu me shatru-gaNaaH sadaa eva yeShaaM prasaadaat suvichakShaNaH aham ।
ye ye yathaa maaM prati-baadhayanti te te tathaa maaM prati-bodhayanti ॥


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