March 23rd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अणुमात्रं मनस्तस्मात् आशा नाम लतोद्गता ।
तस्या नालमुपघ्नाय भुवनानि चतुर्दश ॥
- आश्चर्यचूडामणि व्याख्या


Transliteration:
aṇumātraṃ manastasmāt āśā nāma latodgatā ।
tasyā nālamupaghnāya bhuvanāni caturdaśa ॥
- āścaryacūḍāmaṇi vyākhyā

Meaning of the subhAShita:

The mind is merely the size of an atom (and) in it a creeper named 'desire' sprouts. For its tendrils to spread, the fourteen worlds (fall short).

Commentary:

As per common knowledge, a pint-sized jug holds a pint of water; a quart-sized mug, a quart of juice; a gallon-sized pail, a gallon of liquid. Yet, man can turn this common sense rule upside down in a jiffy!

The mind is barely the size of an atom. It is imaginary and doesn't even take physical space. But when 'seeds of wants' are sown, a creeper named 'desire' sprouts. Very quickly, it encompasses everything that comes its way, obscuring the true value of the people around. Also, it keeps growing at such a monstrous pace that as much room is given, its potential to grow keeps increasing exponentially! The poet says that even the 14 worlds seem small under the radius of desire!! It encompasses anything and everything, without even considering its authenticity or validity.

All desire seeks only the end of desire! The best way to stop the weed of desire from spreading to destructive proportions is—by nipping it in the bud.

As soon as desire knocks on the door, hold up a sign: 'Desire, beware!' It prevents us from cognizing the true value of what we already possess! 

pada vigrahaH:

अणु-मात्रं मनः तस्मात् आशा नाम लता उद्गता ।
aṇu-mātraṃ manaḥ tasmāt āśā nāma latā udgatā ।

तस्याः नालम् उपघ्नाय भुवनानि चतुर्दश ॥
tasyāḥ nālam upaghnāya bhuvanāni caturdaśa ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
aNumaatraM manastasmaat aashaa naama latodgataa ।
tasyaa naalamupaghnaaya bhuvanaani chaturdasha ॥
- aashcharyachUDaamaNi vyaakhyaa

aNu-maatraM manaH tasmaat aashaa naama lataa udgataa ।

tasyaaH naalam upaghnaaya bhuvanaani chaturdasha ॥

October 5th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
दीनगोचरदयापरिहीनं यस्य मानसमतीव कठोरम् ।
तेन भूमिरतिभारवतीयं न द्रुमैर्न गिरिभिर्न समुद्रैः ॥
- आश्चर्यचूडामणि व्याख्या


Transliteration:
dīnagocaradayāparihīnaṃ yasya mānasamatīva kaṭhoram ।
tena bhūmiratibhāravatīyaṃ na drumairna giribhirna samudraiḥ ॥
- āścaryacūḍāmaṇi vyākhyā

Meaning of the subhAShita:

The trees, mountains, or the oceans are not the load on Earth. Those who are—oblivious to the helpless, merciless, and hard-hearted—are (truly the burden).

Commentary:

One might think, that huge mountains, deep oceans, or large trees are heavy and hence a burden on the earth. In reality, they aren't!  Mother Earth can easily bear their weight.

But people who are merciless, vindictive, and cruel at heart are the true burdens on earth. Such is the weight of cruelty and unkindness!  Cruelty is probably the worst kind of sin and unkindness is like a serial killer.  They keep brutally eliminating anyone or anything that comes their way.  The poet calls such people a burden on the planet.  

Don't become a dead weight on earth.

pada vigrahaH:

दीन-गोचर-दया-परिहीनं यस्य मानसम् अतीव कठोरम् ।
dīna-gocara-dayā-parihīnaṃ yasya mānasam atīva kaṭhoram ।

तेन भूमिः अति भारवती इयं न द्रुमैः न गिरिभिः न समुद्रैः ॥
tena bhūmiḥ ati bhāravatī iyaṃ na drumaiḥ na giribhiḥ na samudraiḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
dInagocharadayaaparihInaM yasya maanasamatIva kaThoram ।
tena bhUmiratibhaaravatIyaM na drumairna giribhirna samudraiH ॥
- aashcharyachUDaamaNi vyaakhyaa

dIna-gochara-dayaa-parihInaM yasya maanasam atIva kaThoram ।

tena bhUmiH ati bhaaravatI iyaM na drumaiH na giribhiH na samudraiH ॥