August 26th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
वलीभिर्मुखमाक्रान्तं पलितैरङ्कितं शिरः ।
गात्राणि शिथिलायन्ते तृष्णैका तरुणायते ॥
- वैराग्यशतक

Transliteration:
valībhirmukhamākrāntaṃ palitairaṅkitaṃ śiraḥ ।
gātrāṇi śithilāyante tṛṣṇaikā taruṇāyate ॥
- vairāgyaśataka

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Face encroached by wrinkles; head marked by grays; limbs frail/feeble; appetence alone is young!

Commentary:

Human beings are composed of body, mind, and intellect. The mind and intellect are essentially a collection of thoughts. The signs of an aging body—graying hair, wrinkles, and weakening limbs—are clear indicators of approaching old age. Over time, the body’s organs grow fragile and lose coherence, having already gone through the stages of growth, maturity, peak performance in youth, and eventual decline due to time and use.

While the body shows inevitable signs of aging, there is one striking trait of the mind that does not follow this same cycle. It goes through the stages of growth, maturity, and enjoyment, but upon reaching its peak, it doesn’t decline. Instead, it remains insatiable, expanding ever wider and deeper. This trait is desire—known by many names: appetence, thirst, craving, longing. Regardless of the label, its effect is the same. Desire is insatiable at any stage of life.

A new craving, a fresh thirst, or an unexpected longing seems to arise endlessly. Once one desire is satiated, another takes its place, creating a perpetual cycle. Unlike the body, which visibly deteriorates with age, the mind’s thirst for more remains youthful and unrelenting. The poet insightfully observes that this unquenchable thirst is the one aspect of a person that remains frozen in its youth, defying the natural aging process that affects the body.

The yearning of desire is never fully quenched. Like drinking salty water, it only leaves one thirstier. The more desire is fed, the stronger it becomes. The easiest way to conquer it is to nip it in the bud—before it grows beyond control.

pada vigrahaH:
वलीभिः मुखम् आक्रान्तं पलितैः अङ्कितं शिरः ।
valībhiḥ mukham ākrāntaṃ palitaiḥ aṅkitaṃ śiraḥ ।

गात्राणि शिथिलायन्ते तृष्णा एका तरुणायते ॥
gātrāṇi śithilāyante tṛṣṇā ekā taruṇāyate ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
valIbhirmukhamaakraantaM palitaira~nkitaM shiraH ।
gaatraaNi shithilaayante tRuShNaikaa taruNaayate ॥
- vairaagyashataka

valIbhiH mukham aakraantaM palitaiH a~nkitaM shiraH ।

gaatraaNi shithilaayante tRuShNaa ekaa taruNaayate ॥

February 26th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
वयमिह परितुष्टा वल्कलैस्त्वं दुकूलैः
सम इह परितोषो निर्विशेषो विशेषः  ।
स तु भवति दरिद्रो यस्य तृष्णा विशाला
मनसि च परितुष्टे कोऽर्थवान् को दरिद्रः ॥
- वैराग्यशतक, भर्तृहरि


Transliteration:
vayamiha parituṣṭā valkalaistvaṃ dukūlaiḥ
sama iha paritoṣo nirviśeṣo viśeṣaḥ ।
sa tu bhavati daridro yasya tṛṣṇā viśālā
manasi ca parituṣṭe ko'rthavān ko daridraḥ ॥
- vairāgyaśataka, bhartṛhari

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Here, we (ascetics) are happy in our tree bark clothes (valkala) and you are happy in your silken robes. The contentment is equal, nothing special about that. He is poor whose thirst is endless. When there is contentment at heart—who is rich, who is poor?

Commentary:

Richness and poverty don't come from the number of possessions one has!

In this beautiful shloka, Bhartṛhari says, there is no big difference between the sages and the rich people. It doesn't matter if one lives in a huge bungalow or in the wilderness of the forests. It doesn't matter if one eats from plates of gold using silver cutlery, or just plucks fruit from the trees. It doesn't matter if one lives in rags or in riches. If they are satisfied and contented with what they have then they both are equally rich! 

One's wealth must be measured on the scale of his contentment rather than by his monetary possessions. He who is content with his possessions is the richest being. He who is discontented and tirelessly thirsts for more and more is really poor. Even if he is the king of the world, if he does not have तृप्ति (tṛpti, contentment), he is the poorest, neediest person on earth.

The richest man is not he who has the most but he who needs the least! Being satisfied and thankful for what we have is the best way to be.

pada vigrahaH:
वयम् इह परितुष्टाः वल्कलैः त्वं दुकूलैः
vayam iha parituṣṭāḥ valkalaiḥ tvaṃ dukūlaiḥ

समः इह परितोषः निर्विशेषः विशेषः ।
samaḥ iha paritoṣaḥ nirviśeṣaḥ viśeṣaḥ ।

स तु भवति दरिद्रः यस्य तृष्णा विशाला
sa tu bhavati daridraḥ yasya tṛṣṇā viśālā

मनसि च परितुष्टे कः अर्थवान् कः दरिद्रः ॥
manasi ca parituṣṭe kaḥ arthavān kaḥ daridraḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
vayamiha parituShTaa valkalaistvaM dukUlaiH
sama iha paritoSho nirvisheSho visheShaH ।
sa tu bhavati daridro yasya tRuShNaa vishaalaa
manasi cha parituShTe ko.rthavaan ko daridraH ॥
- vairaagyashataka, bhartRuhari

vayam iha parituShTaaH valkalaiH tvaM dukUlaiH

samaH iha paritoShaH nirvisheShaH visheShaH ।

sa tu bhavati daridraH yasya tRuShNaa vishaalaa

manasi cha parituShTe kaH arthavaan kaH daridraH ॥