October 23rd


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
स्त्रियो हि नाम खल्वेता निसर्गादेव पण्डिताः ।  
पुरुषाणां तु पाण्डित्यं शास्त्रैरेवोपदिश्यते ॥
- मृच्छकटिक

Transliteration:
striyo hi nāma khalvetā nisargādeva paṇḍitāḥ ।
puruṣāṇāṃ tu pāṇḍityaṃ śāstrairevopadiśyate ।।
- mṛcchakaṭika

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Women indeed, are certainly intelligent by nature itself.  On the other hand, men attain their intellect through the study of scriptures alone. 

Commentary:
Women are NOT equal to men!!  This may sound shocking, but consider the words that follow: "Men are not nearly as evolved as women, nor as intelligent, evidently." A woman who thinks she is intelligent will demand equal rights with men. But a woman who IS intelligent does not.  She just is!

As this verse says, it is written in the fabric of nature itself: women are born intelligent. This intelligence is not of the mind alone, but of the soul, the body, and the heart. A woman is graced with the singular gift of bringing new life into this world, holding that fragile life within her body, protecting it, and nurturing it through the most formative years. To do this, she requires a sharp intuition, a deep knowing that surpasses logic. Even in the animal kingdom, it is often the female who protects, nurtures, and tends to the young. She is instinctively attuned to the needs of her offspring, often with greater sensitivity and care than her male counterpart.

Intuition, then, is the most natural of feminine qualities. With inimitable certainty, a woman knows what is best for herself and her family. Even the simplest, most uneducated woman possesses the innate wisdom to care for her loved ones, to manage her household, to make decisions that protect and provide. This wisdom does not stem from formal learning but from the deep well of her intuition.  She uses her intelligence to find reasons to support her intuition. It is her superpower and it flows effortlessly.  

In contrast, the path of the man is a different journey. A man’s intellect must be earned, not inherited. As the saying goes, "I’d rather trust a woman’s instinct than a man’s reason." This doesn’t mean a man can’t be intelligent—he can—but his intellect requires conscious effort, not the natural ease of a woman’s intuition. The true measure of intelligence is the ability to change, to learn, to grow. As the poet suggests, man must acquire knowledge through study, honing his intellect through wisdom.  He must work tirelessly to sharpen his mind, hone his reasoning, and cultivate his own instincts through study and discipline. A man’s intellect must be built—through learning, reflection, and striving. With effort, he too, can gain what is not inherently his.   

A woman's greatness is revealed not by the lights that shine upon her but by the light that shines from within.  This inner brilliance, her natural, intuitive power, is what truly elevates her. In a world that recognizes this inherent wisdom in women, harmony will reign.

pada vigrahaH:
स्त्रियो हि नाम खलु एताः निसर्गात् एव पण्डिताः ।
striyo hi nāma khalu etāḥ nisargāt eva paṇḍitāḥ । 

पुरुषाणां तु पाण्डित्यं शास्त्रैः एव उपदिश्यते ॥
puruṣāṇāṃ tu pāṇḍityaṃ śāstraiḥ eva upadiśyate ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
striyo hi naama khalvetaa nisargaadeva paNDitaaH |
puruShaaNaaM tu paaNDityaM shaastrairevopadishyate ||
- mRucCakaTika

striyo hi naama khalu etaaH nisargaat eva paNDitaaH |
puruShaaNaaM tu paaNDityaM shaastraiH eva upadishyate ||


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