May 26th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
देहदण्डनमात्रेण का मुक्तिरविवेकिनाम् ।
वल्मीकताडनादेव मृतः कुत्र महोरगः ॥
- गरुडपुराण


Transliteration:
dehadaṇḍanamātreṇa kā muktiravivekinām ।
valmīkatāḍanādeva mṛtaḥ kutra mahoragaḥ ॥
- garuḍapurāṇa

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Only the imprudent think that they can achieve salvation by penalizing the body. How will patting the anthill kill the great snake?

Commentary:

Amongst many people, there is a practice of putting their bodies through rigorous rituals or actions. For example: fasting wherein the body is starved for a long time, or rigorous exercises to keep the body fit, etc. 

The poet says that only the imprudent people think those practices will liberate them and lead them to salvation. Those practices only help in purifying the body. But liberation is not attained by the body! It is the jīva (soul) that attains nirvāṇa (salvation). In that case, isn't it the jīva that should be cleansed?

The metaphor used by the poet is that of an anthill and a snake. A snake overtakes the anthill and makes it its home. If the intention is to kill the great serpent residing inside, it is not sufficient to tap and pat the outside of the anthill. The body is just like the anthill where the monstrous serpent (ego) resides. Enduring hardships of the body will not put a dent in the resolve of the ego. It is the ego that has to be eliminated to attain mukti (salvation).

Uproot the problem by digging up the roots rather than hacking at the leaves! 

pada vigrahaH:
देह-दण्डन मात्रेण का मुक्तिः अविवेकिनाम् ।
deha-daṇḍana mātreṇa kā muktiḥ avivekinām ।

वल्मीक-ताडनात् एव मृतः कुत्र महा उरगः ॥
valmīka-tāḍanāt eva mṛtaḥ kutra mahā uragaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
dehadaNDanamaatreNa kaa muktiravivekinaam ।
valmIkataaDanaadeva mRutaH kutra mahoragaH ॥
- garuDapuraaNa

deha-daNDana maatreNa kaa muktiH avivekinaam ।

valmIka-taaDanaat eva mRutaH kutra mahaa uragaH ॥

April 29th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अनेकानि च शास्त्राणि स्वल्पायुर्विघ्नकोटयः ।
तस्मात्सारं विजानीयात् क्षीरं हंस इवाम्भसि ॥
- गरुडपुराण

Transliteration:
anekāni ca śāstrāṇi svalpāyurvighnakoṭayaḥ ।
tasmātsāraṃ vijānīyāt kṣīraṃ haṃsa ivāmbhasi ॥
- garuḍapurāṇa

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Many a scripture, minuscule of a lifespan, (and) ten million hurdles! Hence, understand the quintessence, like a swan (takes) milk from water.

Commentary:

There are multitudes of scriptures and books of knowledge. It is very difficult for one person to know and learn all of them in one lifetime. There is no point in learning that way, either. It is not sufficient to simply learn and study any knowledge or scripture.  Knowledge needs to be applied and put to use.  With the limited lifespan one is bestowed with, and the innumerous hurdles that life throws at him, it is practically impossible to know everything that there is to know. Especially in today's world, where we are bombarded with various modes of information, it is extremely hard to keep up!  Knowing everything will only cause an information overload, but will aid in no way to improving living. 

Allegorically, a swan can separate milk from water and take just the milk! Similarly, the poet encourages people to get the gist of what is being said rather than trying to dig into all the arenas and end up with nothing much in any field.

Consolidate your knowledge. Be selective about what and how many things you want to do in your given amount of time. Both the time and effort will prove to be productive.

pada vigrahaH:
अनेकानि च शास्त्राणि स्वल्प-आयुः विघ्न-कोटयः ।
anekāni ca śāstrāṇi svalpa-āyuḥ vighna-koṭayaḥ ।

तस्मात् सारं विजानीयात् क्षीरं हंसः इव आम्भसि ॥
tasmāt sāraṃ vijānīyāt kṣīraṃ haṃsaḥ iva āmbhasi ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
anekaani cha shaastraaNi svalpaayurvighnakoTayaH ।
tasmaatsaaraM vijaanIyaat kShIraM haMsa ivaambhasi ॥
- garuDapuraaNa

anekaani cha shaastraaNi svalpa-aayuH vighna-koTayaH ।

tasmaat saaraM vijaanIyaat kShIraM haMsaH iva aambhasi ॥

February 15th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
गर्भे व्याधौ श्मशाने च पुराणे या मतिर्भवेत् ।
सा यदि स्थिरतां याति को न मुच्येत बन्धनात् ॥
- गरुडपुराण


Transliteration:
garbhe vyādhau śmaśāne ca purāṇe yā matirbhavet ।
sā yadi sthiratāṃ yāti ko na mucyeta bandhanāt ॥
- garuḍapurāṇa

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Who will not be freed from bondage if the attitude/disposition pertinent - when in the womb, during sickness, at a funeral, and while (listening to) spiritual teachings—remains undeterred?!

Commentary:

Moods and temperaments are like monkeys, jumping from one branch to another. It is very difficult to predict how they will change or what they land on next. But apathy is inherently ingrained in every being. It surfaces occasionally—

1. When in the womb, it is said that the जीव (jīva, soul) is filled with detachment. After spending months in the womb, the jīva feels like it never wants to come back into the world and go through all that pain ever again. This is प्रसूति-वैराग्य (prasūti-vairāgya).  It could also mean—during labor pains, it is so painful that a woman thinks she will never again give birth to another child!  But then, the pain is soon forgotten. Life moves on and family grows again. 
2. In sickness, we automatically pray to the Lord and feel dispassionate towards worldly comforts and pleasures. No one wants to deck themselves up and be pompous when unwell. No indulgence with favorite foods either.  During these times, all vanities and delicacies look meaningless. This is आपद्-वैराग्य (āpad-vairāgya).
3. At a funeral, everyone sees the momentariness of life when a loved one is being taken away. They see that when a person passes away, he doesn't take any of his worldly possessions with him. Although this is common knowledge, it will aid as a reality check and induce the feeling of detachment in the onlookers. This is श्मशान-वैराग्य (śmaśāna-vairāgya).
4. While listening to mythological teachings or spiritual scriptures, there is a sudden stir in the mind and the mind then simulates an aversion to materialistic indulgences. There is instantaneous dispassion towards mundane possessions. This is पुराण-वैराग्य (purāṇa-vairāgya).

Although tentatively, these situations go beyond the mundane level and break all bondages.  When there are no bondages, there is a sense of dispassion.  All these situations bring out what is already in us - a feeling of apathy (this word is not as effective as - वैराग्य 'vairāgya'). The verse says, that if only this detachment/dispassion attains firm rooting and remains unwavering, then there is no stopping from achieving mokṣa (salvation).

We already have in us, what is needed to attain nirvāṇa, but if we desire it, we need to be consistent!

pada vigrahaH:

गर्भे व्याधौ श्मशाने च पुराणे या मतिः भवेत् ।
garbhe vyādhau śmaśāne ca purāṇe yā matiḥ bhavet ।

सा यदि स्थिरतां याति कः न मुच्येत बन्धनात् ॥
sā yadi sthiratāṃ yāti kaḥ na mucyeta bandhanāt ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
garbhe vyaadhau shmashaane cha puraaNe yaa matirbhavet ।
saa yadi sthirataaM yaati ko na muchyeta bandhanaat ॥
- garuDapuraaNa

garbhe vyaadhau shmashaane cha puraaNe yaa matiH bhavet ।

saa yadi sthirataaM yaati kaH na muchyeta bandhanaat ॥

January 27th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
सत्सङ्गश्च विवेकश्च निर्मलं नयनद्वयम् ।
यस्य नास्ति नरः सोऽन्धः कथं न स्यादमार्गगः ॥
- गरुडपुराण


Transliteration:
satsaṅgaśca vivekaśca nirmalaṃ nayanadvayam ।
yasya nāsti naraḥ so'ndhaḥ kathaṃ na syādamārgagaḥ ॥
- garuḍapurāṇa

Meaning of the subhAShita:

One who doesn't have two pure eyes (namely)—the company of the wise and (intellectual) prudence—is blind. How can he not tread on the wrong paths?!

Commentary:

No one is born intelligent. Our knowledge base grows as we grow. The kind of stimulus and exposure that surrounds us, greatly influences who we become. The measure of intelligence truly is the ability to change. 

Being around the virtuous makes one want to be virtuous, too. The company of the wise and knowledgeable comes only by God's grace. If we make the best of it, their company will make us wise and prudent, as well. One with wisdom rarely treads on the wrong paths.

Hence the poet opines that wisdom and the company of the wise should act as two eyes, giving a person clarity of vision. One with a clear vision stays on his path. A person who can't see is termed as—blind. Therefore, anyone who doesn't possess these two essential eyes is deemed blind.  It is no wonder he can't see straight!

It is not what you look at that matters, it is what you see! Keep good company and wisdom for your clarity of vision.  

pada vigrahaH:

सत्सङ्गः च विवेकः च निर्मलं नयन-द्वयम् ।
satsaṅgaḥ ca vivekaḥ ca nirmalaṃ nayana-dvayam ।

यस्य न अस्ति नरः सः अन्धः कथं न स्यात् अमार्गगः ॥
yasya na asti naraḥ saḥ andhaḥ kathaṃ na syāt amārgagaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
satsa~ngashcha vivekashcha nirmalaM nayanadwayam ।
yasya naasti naraH so.ndhaH kathaM na syaadamaargagaH ॥
- garuDapuraaNa

satsa~ngaH cha vivekaH cha nirmalaM nayana-dwayam ।

yasya na asti naraH saH andhaH kathaM na syaat amaargagaH ॥