November 2nd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:

कृते प्रतिकृतं कुर्याद् हिंसेन प्रतिहिंसनम् ।

तत्र दोषो न पतति दुष्टे दुष्टं समाचरेत् ॥

- चाणक्य नीति

Transliteration:

kṛte pratikṛtaṃ kuryād hiṃsena pratihiṃsanam ।

tatra doṣo na patati duṣṭe duṣṭaṃ samācaret ॥

- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

When wronged, show resistance; when harmed, retaliate.  Blame won't befall (you) when wickedness is used against the vile.  

Commentary:

A thorn must be removed with a thorn!

We must tread carefully with what we entertain, for, we teach others how to treat us by what we permit, prevent, or reinforce. These actions establish boundaries not just for us, but for everyone around us. Often, people resist hearing the truth because they fear it will shatter their illusions. But the truth is this: when wrong is tolerated, the wrongdoer is empowered to continue his behavior. Unchecked, the downward spiral of situations becomes inevitable.

Problems must be addressed at their root, not just snipped at their branches. One may prune the branches of a thorny bush to avoid a few scrapes in the short term, but eventually, those branches will grow back. The only lasting solution is to uproot the bush entirely, to ensure the thorns never return.

The poet wisely asserts that wrong must be met with resistance and that harm must be countered with force. A defender’s right to protect himself from evil-doers is indisputable. Injustice should never be allowed to persist under the guise of tolerance.

There is a delicate balance between tolerance and permissiveness. One must give but never allow oneself to be used. One must love but never let their heart be abused. One must trust but never be naive. One must listen to others but never lose their own voice.

Injustice must never be tolerated.  

pada vigrahaH:

कृते प्रतिकृतं कुर्यात् हिंसेन प्रतिहिंसनम् ।

kṛte pratikṛtaṃ kuryāt hiṃsena pratihiṃsanam ।

तत्र दोषः न पतति दुष्टे दुष्टं समाचरेत् ॥

tatra doṣaḥ na patati duṣṭe duṣṭaṃ samācaret ॥

Alternate Transliteration:

kRute pratikRutaM kuryaad hiMsena pratihiMsanam ।

tatra doSho na patati duShTe duShTaM samaacharet ॥

- chaaNakya neeti

kRute pratikRutaM kuryaat hiMsena pratihiMsanam ।

tatra doShaH na patati duShTe duShTaM samaacharet ॥