October 22nd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:

अनादरो विलंबश्च वैमुख्यं चाप्रियं वचः ।

पश्चाद्भवति संतापो दानदूषणपञ्चकम् ॥

Transliteration:

anādaro vilaṃbaśca vaimukhyaṃ cāpriyaṃ vacaḥ ।

paścādbhavati saṃtāpo dānadūṣaṇapañcakam ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

5 pollutants of charity (giving) are - (giving with) contempt, (giving) too late, (giving by) turning the face away (looking down upon), (giving) with distasteful words, and lamenting after (giving).  

Commentary:

The smallest act of kindness holds more value than the grandest of intentions. It is said that the deeds of giving form the very foundation of the world, and there is an etiquette to benevolence as well. A gift, no matter how generous, can lose its essence if accompanied by the wrong attitude or actions.

Here are five ways in which the spirit of giving can be tarnished:

• Contempt towards the receiver - Giving should not carry an air of superiority. Instead, it is a privilege to be in a position to help. We must be grateful that we have been blessed with abundance, which allows us to extend support to others.
• Untimely assistance - Charity loses its impact when given after the moment of need has passed. True giving is timely and responsive. It lines up with the receiver's circumstances, bringing relief when it matters most.
• Belittling or disregarding the receiver - When offering aid, showing indifference or treating the recipient as inferior only devalues the act of kindness. Giving must be done with love and empathy, acknowledging the dignity of the person receiving it.
• Offering laced with harsh words - If help is offered with unkind words, it becomes a burden rather than a blessing. It is like salting a wound, worsening the receiver's pain instead of healing it. Generosity should carry warmth, not sting.
• Regret or Complaint After Giving - When we lament or regret what we have given, the act becomes meaningless. True charity leaves no room for sorrow over what has been shared, it is a joyful expression of abundance and care.

Acts of giving should be carried out with quiet dignity, not as a performance for recognition or publicity. True charity lies not in the size of the gift but in the purity of the heart with which it is offered. Give joyfully, give abundantly. 

pada vigrahaH:

अनादरः विलंबः च वैमुख्यं च अप्रियं वचः ।

anādaraḥ vilaṃbaḥ ca vaimukhyaṃ ca apriyaṃ vacaḥ ।

पश्चात् भवति संतापः दान-दूषण-पञ्चकम् ॥

paścāt bhavati saṃtāpaḥ dāna-dūṣaṇa-pañcakam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:

anaadaro vilaMbashcha vaimukhyaM chaapriyaM vacaH ।

pashchaadbhavati saMtaapo daanadUShaNapa~nchakam ॥

anaadaraH vilaMbaH cha vaimukhyaM cha apriyaM vacaH ।

pashchaat bhavati saMtaapaH daana-dUShaNa-pa~nchakam ॥