April 8th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
श्रीमानजननिन्द्यश्च शूरश्चाप्यविकत्थनः ।
समदृष्टिः प्रभुश्चैव दुर्लभाः पुरुषास्त्रयः ॥
- योगवासिष्ठ, वैराग्य

Transliteration:
śrīmānajananindyaśca śūraścāpyavikatthanaḥ ।
samadṛṣṭiḥ prabhuścaiva durlabhāḥ puruṣāstrayaḥ ॥
- yogavāsiṣṭha, vairāgya

Meaning of the subhAShita:

A wealthy man who is not blamed, a valiant man who is not pompous, a leader who is not prejudiced—these 3 people are rare to find!

Commentary:

A wealthy man, irrespective of whether he gained his wealth by just or unjust means gets rebuked.  He gets blamed for one reason or another—earning unjustly, not doing enough good with his affluence, or being overly lucky!  Rare is a man who gets applauded for his abundance and also his attitude towards his fortune.

If one is courageous, chances are, he is proud of his valiance and recounts his valor every chance he gets to anyone who will listen!  Humility in conjunction with heroism is a rare commodity.  How often do we come across a Rāma or a Hanumān?!

When one has power in his hands, arrogance goes to the head!  Misuse of power, prejudice towards kith and kin, and bias towards the lowly and helpless—these become his main attributes.  It is said, 'a politician thinks of the next election, whereas a statesman thinks of the next generation!'  It is rare to see someone with power in his hands and a level head on his shoulders.  A true leader is one who views all his subjects equally!  This is a virtue of rarity in itself.  He who possesses this is a true statesman. 

Inculcate the right traits when blessed with opportunities and privileges.

pada vigrahaH:
श्रीमान् अ-जन-निन्द्यः च शूरः च अपि अ-विकत्थनः ।
śrīmān a-jana-nindyaḥ ca śūraḥ ca api a-vikatthanaḥ ।

सम-दृष्टिः प्रभुः च एव दुर्लभाः पुरुषाः त्रयः ॥
sama-dṛṣṭiḥ prabhuḥ ca eva durlabhāḥ puruṣāḥ trayaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
shrImaanajananindyashcha shUrashchaapyavikatthanaH ।
samadRuShTiH prabhushchaiva durlabhaaH puruShaastrayaH ॥
- yogavaasiShTha, vairaagya

shrImaan a-jana-nindyaH cha shUraH cha api a-vikatthanaH ।

sama-dRuShTiH prabhuH cha eva durlabhaaH puruShaaH trayaH ॥

January 21st

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यदेव तीव्रसंवेगात् दृढं कर्म कृतं पुरा ।
तदेव दैवशब्देन पर्यायेणेह कथ्यते ॥

- योगवासिष्ठ 

Transliteration:
yadeva tīvrasaṃvegāt dṛḍhaṃ karma kṛtaṃ purā ।
tadeva daivaśabdena paryāyeṇeha kathyate ॥
- yogavāsiṣṭha

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Whatever actions were performed with steadfast effort before, the same ones perhaps are alternatively referred to as 'destiny' today.

Commentary:

Someone once said, "I seldom end up where I wanted to go, but almost always where I need to be!" This holds true for everyone, but recognizing and accepting it is key. Does this mean one should resign to fate, believing they have no control over their path? Not at all. While the circumstances of today are largely a result of past actions—something one cannot change—how one responds to these circumstances determines the trajectory of their future.

Acceptance is crucial, but it’s only the starting point. Once a situation is acknowledged, the focus should shift to making the most of it and planting seeds for a better tomorrow. To those who ask, "If I’m destined to be rich, why should I work hard now?" the answer is simple: "What if your destiny to become rich depends on your hard work? By doing nothing, you may lose that very opportunity!"

Actions are the seeds of destiny, and their fruits are determined by the care and effort invested today. It is not chance but choice that shapes one's future. Destiny is not a distant, uncontrollable force—it is forged in the moments when decisions are made.

So, embrace today’s challenges, make wise choices, and take purposeful actions. What you do today holds the power to create a brighter and more fulfilling tomorrow.

pada vigrahaH:
यत् एव तीव्र-संवेगात् दृढं कर्म कृतं पुरा ।
yat eva tīvra-saṃvegāt dṛḍhaṃ karma kṛtaṃ purā ।

तत् एव दैव-शब्देन पर्यायेण इह कथ्यते ॥
tat eva daiva-śabdena paryāyeṇa iha kathyate ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yadeva tIvrasaMvegaat dRuDhaM karma kRutaM puraa ।
tadeva daivashabdena paryaayeNeha kathyate ॥
- yogavaasiShTha

yat eva tIvra-saMvegaat dRuDhaM karma kRutaM puraa ।

tat eva daiva-shabdena paryaayeNa iha kathyate ॥