June 17th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
माधुर्यमक्षरव्यक्तिः पदच्छेदस्तु सुस्वरः ।
धैर्यं लयसमर्थं च षडेते पाठकागुणाः ॥
- पाणिनीयशिक्षा


Transliteration:
mādhuryamakṣaravyaktiḥ padacchedastu susvaraḥ ।
dhairyaṃ layasamarthaṃ ca ṣaḍete pāṭhakāguṇāḥ ॥
- pāṇinīyaśikṣā

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Sweetness in tone, clarity of syllables, isolation of words, proper intonation, confidence, accompanied with rhythm—these are the 6 attributes of a (good) reader.

Commentary:

Six traits make one a good reader—Tenderness in tone, accuracy in pronouncing each individual syllable, the breakup of words in the right places, an appropriate tone of voice, poise and certainty in reading, and proper rhythm.

These traits make one's reading clear, conveying the message accurately, and making the content appealing.

This inherently means one must also keep in mind—not to read with a harsh, hoarse voice; not swallow up the syllables in a hurry; not fuse words together, making sure to give just enough pause between words; raise and drop the voice appropriately depending on the bhāva (feeling) being expressed; the stride, the voice and the hold of the reader should reflect confidence every step of the way; the reading should be paced aptly too. 

A good reader makes a good speaker.  Today a reader, tomorrow a leader! Acquire the right skills from the get-go.

pada vigrahaH:
माधुर्यम् अक्षर-व्यक्तिः पदच्छेदः तु सुस्वरः ।
mādhuryam akṣara-vyaktiḥ padacchedaḥ tu susvaraḥ ।

धैर्यं लय-समर्थं च षट् एते पाठका-गुणाः ॥
dhairyaṃ laya-samarthaṃ ca ṣaṭ ete pāṭhakā-guṇāḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
maadhuryamakSharavyaktiH padachChedastu susvaraH ।
dhairyaM layasamarthaM cha ShaDete paaThakaaguNaaH ॥
- paaNinIyashikShaa

maadhuryam akShara-vyaktiH padachChedaH tu susvaraH ।

dhairyaM laya-samarthaM cha ShaT ete paaThakaa-guNaaH ॥

October 23rd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
गीती शीघ्री शिरःकम्पी यथालिखितपाठकः ।
अनर्थज्ञोऽल्पकण्ठश्च षडेते पाठकाधमाः ॥
- पाणिनीयशिक्षा


Transliteration:
gītī śīghrī śiraḥkampī yathālikhitapāṭhakaḥ ।
anarthajño'lpakaṇṭhaśca ṣaḍete pāṭhakādhamāḥ ॥
- pāṇinīyaśikṣā

Meaning of the subhAShita:

These are the six qualities of a bad reader—reading: like a song, in a hurry, shaking the head, just as it is written, without knowing the meaning,  and in a low tone.

Commentary:

Having the below 6 qualities do not give one the title of a 'Good Reader'.

1.  Reading with a tune, as if the text were a song
2.  Reading in a hurry and swallowing up the syllables
3.  Nodding the head or shaking some part of the body while reading
4.  Reading just as is written, even if there were errors
5.  Reading without understanding the meaning of the text
6.  Reading with a tone so low that even the person sitting in front has to perk up his ears

Obviously, to be a good reader, one should do exactly the opposite of the above qualities.

A good reader should read—with proper intonation, at a pace that others can understand, keep an alert and upright posture, correct errors if any, have a good grasp of the subject, and have a clear/crisp tone of voice with precision in pronunciation.

When a person is reading, the listener should be able to grasp the meaning instantly.  The reader should pay attention to the words and read them like he means them.

Reading is always a good idea.  Becoming a good reader is a greater one!

pada vigrahaH: 
गीती शीघ्री शिरः-कम्पी यथा लिखित पाठकः ।
gītī śīghrī śiraḥ-kampī yathā likhita pāṭhakaḥ ।

अनर्थज्ञः अल्प-कण्ठः च षट् एते पाठक अधमाः ॥
anarthajñaḥ alpa-kaṇṭhaḥ ca ṣaṭ ete pāṭhaka adhamāḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
gItI shIghrI shiraHkampI yathaalikhitapaaThakaH ।
anarthajno.lpakaNThashcha ShaDete paaThakaadhamaaH ॥
- paaNineeyashikShaa

gItI shIghrI shiraH-kampI yathaa likhita paaThakaH ।

anarthaj~naH alpa-kaNThaH cha ShaT ete paaThaka adhamaaH ॥

October 12th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
व्याघ्री यथा हरेत् पुत्रान् दंष्ट्राभ्यां न च पीडयेत् ।
भीता पतनभेदाभ्यां तद्वद्वर्णान् प्रयोजयेत् ॥
- पाणिनीयशिक्षा

Transliteration:
vyāghrī yathā haret putrān daṃṣṭrābhyāṃ na ca pīḍayet ।
bhītā patanabhedābhyāṃ tadvadvarṇān prayojayet ॥
- pāṇinīyaśikṣā

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Just as a tigress carries its young with its teeth while not hurting or dropping it, so should be one's pronunciation of the syllables (alphabet).

Commentary:

Clarity of speech!

When one speaks, the pronunciation of every syllable should be absolutely precise and clear. The simile given in the verse is—just as a tigress carries her young in her mouth from place to place. Although she carries her young with her sharp teeth, she does not hurt her child one bit. Her grip is strong and cautious enough not to drop her cub, yet, gentle and nimble enough not to hurt her cub!

Such should be our speech: crystal clear and precise, while at the same time not too harsh or feeble!  That is what makes one's speech appealing to the listener!!  

Speak clearly, if you speak at all. Carve every word before you let it fall. 

pada vigrahaH:
व्याघ्री यथा हरेत् पुत्रान् दंष्ट्राभ्यां न च पीडयेत् ।
vyāghrī yathā haret putrān daṃṣṭrābhyāṃ na ca pīḍayet ।

भीता पतन-भेदाभ्यां तद्वत् वर्णान् प्रयोजयेत् ॥
bhītā patana-bhedābhyāṃ tadvat varṇān prayojayet ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
vyaaghrI yathaa haret putraan daMShTraabhyaaM na cha pIDayet ।
bhItaa patanabhedaabhyaaM tadvadvarNaan prayojayet ॥
- paaNineeyashikShaa

vyaaghrI yathaa haret putraan daMShTraabhyaaM na cha pIDayet ।

bhItaa patana-bhedaabhyaaM tadvat varNaan prayojayet ॥