September 26th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:

ऋणानुबन्धरूपेण पशुपत्नीसुतालयाः ।

ऋणक्षये क्षयं यान्ति तत्र का परिदेवना ॥

- महासुभाषितसङ्ग्रह

Transliteration:

ṛṇānubandharūpeṇa paśupatnīsutālayāḥ । 

ṛṇakṣaye kṣayaṃ yānti kā tatra paridevanā ॥

- mahāsubhāṣitasaṅgraha

Meaning of the subhAShita:

As per his ṛṇā (indebtedness), he gets his cattle, spouse, children, and home.  As the ṛṇā diminishes, they get razed too.  Then what is there to lament about?! 

Commentary:

It is often said that "marriages are made in heaven," yet the celestial realm orchestrates far more than mere unions. The children we cherish, the homes we build, and the animals that grace our lives—are all intertwined in a tapestry of predestined connections. Each relationship, each jīva  (loosely translated as soul) that crosses our path, arrives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

This reflection speaks to the enduring nature of lifetime relationships, the bonds for which we owe a debt that transcends our current existence. These connections, woven through the fabric of previous lives, create a mutual indebtedness between souls—what the ancients referred to as ṛṇā.

Unlike financial debt, which can be quantified and settled with precision, ṛṇā represents a complex web of ties that cannot be easily measured or understood. It encompasses a multitude of parameters, extending beyond the grasp of human intellect. The notion that our relationships are forged in the heavens speaks of the profound interconnectedness of our souls and the intricate accounts of our pasts.

As a soul navigates life, it is born carrying these ṛṇā-s, and as time passes, it begins to exhaust them. When these debts are fully settled, the jīva will exit, a cycle ordained by the universe itself. In light of this divine order, the poet muses: what is there to lament over the loss of a spouse, a child, or a beloved pet?! For that matter, even the place we live in and for how long is also predestined.  While this truth offers comfort, it is essential to acknowledge that grief is an undeniable part of our human experience.

Letting go of what is lost is, perhaps, the greatest challenge one faces. One must learn to release attachment to physical existence while preserving the love that binds him to those who have departed. Time, the greatest healer, gently guides us through this process, allowing understanding to pave the way for healing.

However, the irony lies in our assumption that we have abundant time. We never know how many moments remain. This uncertainty serves as a touching reminder to cherish every day and to never take anything or anyone for granted.  After all, life is not merely a destination but a journey in itself.  We must honor the bonds we share and cherish a wholesome life.

Live well, love well, and laugh much!

pada vigrahaH:

ऋण-अनुबन्ध-रूपेण पशु-पत्नी-सुत-आलयाः ।

ṛṇa-anubandha-rūpeṇa paśu-patnī-suta-ālayāḥ।

ऋण-क्षये क्षयं यान्ति तत्र का परिदेवना ॥

ṛṇa-kṣaye kṣayaṃ yānti tatra kā paridevanā॥

Alternate Transliteration:

RuNaanubandharUpeNa pashupatnIsutaalayaaH । 

RuNakShaye kShayaM yaanti tatra kaa paridevanaa ॥

- mahaasubhaaShitasa~ngraha

RuNa-anubandha-rUpeNa pashu-patnI-suta-aalayaaH । 

RuNa-kShaye kShayaM yaanti tatra kaa paridevanaa ॥

October 27th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
ऋणश्शेषोऽग्निशेषश्च शतृशेषस्तथैव च ।
पुनः पुनः प्रवर्धन्ते तस्मात् शेषं न रक्षयेत् ॥


Transliteration:
ṛṇaśśeṣo'gniśeṣaśca śatṛśeṣastathaiva ca ।
punaḥ punaḥ pravardhante tasmāt śeṣaṃ na rakṣayet ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

A balance of debt, remainder of fire, (and) residue of enemies too—keep growing again and again; hence do not protect these leftovers.

Commentary:

Successful people do not do extraordinary things; they do ordinary things extraordinarily well! 

1. When a debt is not repaid, it just keeps growing. The interest incurred on it keeps accruing and turns out to be more than the principle itself! The debt mentioned here is not only monetary debt. If not repaid, any kind of debt will carry on to another life too.
2. If the last sparks of fire are ignored, in an instant, they can turn into a whole new raging flame, causing havoc.
3. Enemies left untreated bring misery as well.  They might come back to avenge with more vengeance.  

The advice here is—do not leave a trace of the remnants mentioned above. But the question is: How?

Any and all debt needs to be repaid in its appropriate manner. Flames should be put out in their entirety. But what about enemies? Does it mean 'destroy them'? Not necessarily! It means that the 'enmity' should be destroyed from its roots. Once the feeling of bitterness is thrown out, the person will no longer be called an enemy! So, it's definitely not a call for the destruction of the person who is an enemy, but more for the destruction of the cause (the emotion) of the enmity.  Once the source of enmity is uprooted, the person won't be termed an enemy anymore.  

Never try to destroy an enemy.  Destroy the enmity. 

pada vigrahaH:

ऋणः शेषः अग्नि-शेषः च शतृ-शेषः तथ एव च ।
ṛṇaḥ śeṣaḥ agni-śeṣaḥ ca śatṛ-śeṣaḥ tatha eva ca ।

पुनः पुनः प्रवर्धन्ते तस्मात् शेषं न रक्षयेत् ॥
punaḥ punaḥ pravardhante tasmāt śeṣaṃ na rakṣayet ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
RuNashsheShao.gnisheShashcha shatRusheShastathaiva cha ।
punaH punaH pravardhante tasmaat sheShaM na rakShayet ॥

RuNaH sheShaH agni-sheShaH cha shatRu-sheShaH tatha eva cha ।

punaH punaH pravardhante tasmaat sheShaM na rakShayet ॥