April 10th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अज्ञानादथवा ज्ञानात् उत्तमश्लोकनाम यत् ।
सङ्कीर्तितमघं पुंसः दहेदेधो यथानलः ॥
- भागवत

Transliteration:
ajñānādathavā jñānāt uttamaślokanāma yat ।
saṅkīrtitamaghaṃ puṃsaḥ dahededho yathānalaḥ ॥
- bhāgavata

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Whether consciously or unawares, uttering the (Lord's) most elevated name shall burn the sins of the person, just as fuel (when it comes in contact with) fire.

Commentary:

When there is a pile of wood (fuel), whether one strikes a match at it with the intent to light a fire, or an innocent child unaware of the consequence strikes a match..., the end result is the same!  The wood would be set ablaze!!  Similarly is taking the name of the Lord.  Whether one intentionally prays to Him or accidentally takes His name, that person's baggage of sins will get burnt.

There are multitudes of ways to show devotion to Him.  Whether one remembers Him as the Supreme Lord, a friend, a well-wisher, a beloved, a parent, or even as an enemy, just by remembering the Lord, the sins of a being (person) are burnt to ashes; just as fire would burn the firewood!

In such a case, what if one is intentionally and intensely remembering Him?!  There are no words to describe the amount of bliss he would be attaining!  This bliss would surpass everything else in this world.

Now, it is entirely up to us whether we let the Lord keep us from sin or let sin keep us from the Lord!

pada vigrahaH:
अज्ञानात् अथवा ज्ञानात् उत्तम-श्लोक-नाम यत् ।
ajñānāt athavā jñānāt uttama-śloka-nāma yat ।

सङ्कीर्तितम् अघं पुंसः दहेत् एधः यथा अनलः ॥
saṅkīrtitam aghaṃ puṃsaḥ dahet edhaḥ yathā analaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
aj~naanaadathavaa j~naanaat uttamashlokanaama yat ।
sa~nkIrtitamaghaM puMsaH dahededho yathaanalaH ॥
- bhaagavata

aj~naanaat athavaa j~naanaat uttama-shloka-naama yat ।

sa~nkIrtitam aghaM puMsaH dahet edhaH yathaa analaH ॥

February 12th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
न त्वहं कामये राज्यं न स्वर्गं नापुनर्भवम् ।
कामये दुःखतप्तानां प्राणिनाम् आर्तिनाशनम् ॥
- भागवत

Transliteration:
na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājyaṃ na svargaṃ nāpunarbhavam ।
kāmaye duḥkhataptānāṃ prāṇinām ārtināśanam ॥
- bhāgavata

Meaning of the subhAShita:

I certainly am desirous of neither sovereignty nor (want to attain) heaven nor mokṣa (salvation).  I yearn for the relinquishment of grief, of all beings afflicted with pain.  

Commentary:

Everyone aspires to acquire land, reach heaven after passing, or, even better, attain mokṣa. Yet, the author declares that none of these are his desires! While these goals may hold primary importance for most beings, the ultimate reason behind them is the same—to attain happiness. Whether it is acquiring property, accumulating wealth, or seeking mokṣa to escape the burdens of life, the underlying aspiration is to find relief from suffering.

But there is something even more essential and universally desirable for any living creature: freedom from pain. Pain is a peculiar and relentless force—it grips the mind tightly. From a newborn to the elderly, everyone instinctively avoids pain. If fear of death is considered the greatest fear, it is not the event of death itself but the anticipated pain accompanying it that is most dreaded. As someone humorously remarked, "I am not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens!"

The fear of pain—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—drives many of the choices and actions people make in life. Yet, pain can often be alleviated or diminished simply by transforming our thoughts. Positive thinking has the power to banish half the pain we endure. Perhaps it’s time to energize and focus our thoughts in the right direction!

Now imagine a world where we are assured of a life without pain, no matter the circumstances. How wonderful that world would be! This is precisely what the author prays for: the universal and essential gift of painlessness for all beings. Such a prayer transcends all creatures that ever took a breath. If there were no pain, who would crave power or possessions? Who would fear being born again and again?

A world without pain would truly be heaven on Earth!

pada vigrahaH:
न तु अहं कामये राज्यं न स्वर्गं न अपुनः भवम् ।
na tu ahaṃ kāmaye rājyaṃ na svargaṃ na apunaḥ bhavam ।

कामये दुःख-तप्तानां प्राणिनाम् आर्ति-नाशनम् ॥
kāmaye duḥkha-taptānāṃ prāṇinām ārti-nāśanam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
na tvahaM kaamaye raajyaM na swargaM naapunarbhavam ।
kaamaye duHkhataptaanaaM praaNinaam aartinaashanam ॥
- bhaagavata

na tu ahaM kaamaye raajyaM na swargaM na apunaH bhavam ।

kaamaye duHkha-taptaanaaM praaNinaam aarti-naashanam ॥

October 15th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अणुभ्यश्च महद्भ्यश्च शास्त्रेभ्यः कुशलो नरः ।
सर्वतः सारमादद्यात् पुष्पेभ्य इव षट्पदः ॥
-भागवत

Transliteration:
aṇubhyaśca mahadbhyaśca śāstrebhyaḥ kuśalo naraḥ ।
sarvataḥ sāramādadyāt puṣpebhya iva ṣaṭpadaḥ ॥
-bhāgavata

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Whether the indoctrination is infinitesimal or ginormous, a skilled person learns the essence of everything, just as the bees collect nectar.

Commentary:

Bees do not discriminate.  Whether it is a huge sunflower or a tiny little jasmine, they suck the nectar from it with the same eagerness and alertness!  For the bee, each drop of nectar is precious irrespective of its origin.  In the end, each drop collectively makes the hive complete!

Such should be the interest, attentiveness, and curiosity while learning any kind of knowledge.  Be it a profound text or a small law of nature, each doctrine has its own special place and need.  Certainly, one must extract the essence of all knowledge with all eagerness.

Being conscious of one's own ignorance is the greatest step towards knowledge. Knowledge is power.  Get powerful!

pada vigrahaH:
अणुभ्यः च महद्भ्यः च शास्त्रेभ्यः कुशलः नरः ।
aṇubhyaḥ ca mahadbhyaḥ ca śāstrebhyaḥ kuśalaḥ naraḥ ।

सर्वतः सारम् आदद्यात् पुष्पेभ्यः इव षट्पदः ॥
sarvataḥ sāram ādadyāt puṣpebhyaḥ iva ṣaṭpadaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
aNubhyashcha mahadbhyashcha shaastrebhyaH kushalo naraH ।
sarvataH saaramaadadyaat puShpebhya iva ShaTpadaH ॥
- bhaagavata

aNubhyaH cha mahadbhyaH cha shaastrebhyaH kushalaH naraH ।

sarvataH saaram aadadyaat puShpebhyaH iva ShaTpadaH ॥

June 28th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
एकः प्रसूयते जन्तुः एक एव प्रलीयते ।
एकोऽनुभुङ्क्ते सुकृतम् एक एव च दुष्कृतम् ॥
- भागवत


Transliteration:
ekaḥ prasūyate jantuḥ eka eva pralīyate ।
eko'nubhuṅkte sukṛtam eka eva ca duṣkṛtam ॥
- bhāgavata

Meaning of the subhAShita:

A being is born alone (and) will perish alone. He enjoys the fruit of his good deeds alone, and also (suffers the fruit) of the bad deeds alone.

Commentary:

A being is alone at birth and he dies alone as well. In between, during his life, he tries all possible tricks and trades to beat the loneliness, to no avail. One might have numerous friends and family around him, but then, when he passes on, he goes alone. None can keep him company on the onward journey, except, his vices and virtues.

If one performs good deeds in his lifetime, he alone gets to reap the benefit of those virtues. He cannot say, 'I think I have enough virtues in my share, maybe I'll share some with my spouse', or, 'I have collected ample merits, I would love to leave it for my children as an inheritance'!!

Likewise with vices too. One has to bear the brunt of his misdeeds all on his own as well. By simply saying that he was corrupt because he wanted to provide for his family, his family would not be able to shoulder accountability for his actions. He has to take it upon himself! He has no choice, actually. It comes with him automatically and he has to suffer the brunt—alone.

Life is even more lonely when one doesn't know himself. Be prudent.  Find comfort in your own company!  Because happiness is—being able to enjoy one's own company!  

pada vigrahaH:
एकः प्रसूयते जन्तुः एकः एव प्रलीयते ।
ekaḥ prasūyate jantuḥ ekaḥ eva pralīyate ।

एकः अनुभुङ्क्ते सुकृतम् एकः एव च दुष्कृतम् ॥
ekaḥ anubhuṅkte sukṛtam ekaḥ eva ca duṣkṛtam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
ekaH prasUyate jantuH eka eva pralIyate ।
eko.nubhu~nkte sukRutam eka eva cha duShkRutam ॥
- bhaagavata

ekaH prasUyate jantuH ekaH eva pralIyate ।

ekaH anubhu~nkte sukRutam ekaH eva cha duShkRutam ॥

March 9th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अहंममाभिमानोत्थैः कामलोभादिभिर्मलैः ।
वीतं यदा मनः शुद्धम् अदुःखमसुखं समम् ॥
- भागवत


Transliteration:
ahaṃmamābhimānotthaiḥ kāmalobhādibhirmalaiḥ ।
vītaṃ yadā manaḥ śuddham aduḥkhamasukhaṃ samam ॥
- bhāgavata

Meaning of the subhAShita:

When the mind is purified of impurities like desire, avarice, etc., rising from the arrogant feelings of 'me' and 'mine', (then) the absence of pain and the absence of pleasure feels equal.

Commentary:

The minute ego enters one's mind, it wreaks havoc. It brings along a hoard of other unwanted faculties—desire, anger, greed, affliction, arrogance, and jealousy. Each one of these is capable of causing tremendous pain, so when all these come together as a package, it is just a disaster waiting to happen!  Due to these negative emotions, one would only be tending to the hurts of his own ego and stirring up unrest within himself, unnecessarily.  In reality, there is no conflict at all!

When the mind is purified of such impurities, the real picture and purpose of life become crystal clear. In that perspective, one doesn't feel any difference in the absence of pleasure or in the absence of pain. 

It is interesting how the poet says the 'absence of pain' is equal to the 'absence of pleasure'. The poet could have easily said 'pleasure and pain' are equal. Isn't the absence of pain: pleasure? And an absence of pleasure: pain? Not really! 

A pure mind doesn't get excited in the absence of pain, nor does it feel depressed in the absence of pleasure. But pain and pleasure by themselves would bring these emotions. Hence the poet has used such an expression to portray a composed person. 

An equanimous person will take all situations with the same approach and live life like a lotus leaf in water. Although a lotus leaf is born and thrives in water, it does not get attached.  The water does not affect or tarnish it either. Such is the approach of a pure mind towards life and its nature.

pada vigrahaH:

अहं मम अभिमान-उत्थैः काम-लोभ-आदिभिः मलैः ।
ahaṃ mama abhimāna-utthaiḥ kāma-lobha-ādibhiḥ malaiḥ ।

वीतं यदा मनः शुद्धम् अदुःखम् असुखं समम् ॥
vītaṃ yadā manaḥ śuddham aduḥkham asukhaṃ samam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
ahaMmamaabhimaanotthaiH kaamalobhaadibhirmalaiH ।
vItaM yadaa manaH shuddham aduHkhamasukhaM samam ॥
- bhaagavata

ahaM mama abhimaana-utthaiH kaama-lobha-aadibhiH malaiH ।

vItaM yadaa manaH shuddham aduHkham asukhaM samam ॥