March 30th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
सदयं हृदयं यस्य भाषितं सत्यभूषितम् ।
कायः परहिते यस्य कलिस्तस्य करोति किम् ॥
- सुभाषितावलि

Transliteration:
sadayaṃ hṛdayaṃ yasya bhāṣitaṃ satyabhūṣitam ।
kāyaḥ parahite yasya kalistasya karoti kim ॥
- subhāṣitāvali

Meaning of the subhAShita:

(He) whose heart is filled with compassion, (whose) speech is adorned with truth, (and) whose constitution (form) is for the benefaction of others—what can Kali (puruṣa) do to him?!

Commentary:

The current era, Kaliyuga, is deemed the most corrupt and atrocious of all the 4 eras.  It is said that the reigning master of the era, Kalipuruṣa, causes havoc in the world.  But the poet states that if one's heart is brimming with compassion, speech is adorned with honesty and he is readily available for the welfare of others—what can Kalipuruṣa do to such an individual?!  Even the most atrocious of the masters, Kali, can do nothing to shake the resolve or cause havoc in the life of such a person.  The tenacity of these attributes in one's character is so strong that he can ward off the worst effects brought about by the yuga-dharma (nature of the era).

• If one is compassionate to his fellow beings, the happiness that both the giver and the receiver get is immense.

• If there is honesty in one's words, he has nothing to hide or defend.

• If one is readily available to do welfare for others, then there is no ounce of selfish motive in him.  

How can such a person not be happy?  When one is happy internally, what can anyone do to deter his well-being or contentment?!!

May we all win over Kalipuruṣa's atrocities, develop these traits, and make the world a happier place!

pada vigrahaH:
सदयं हृदयं यस्य भाषितं सत्य-भूषितम् ।
sadayaṃ hṛdayaṃ yasya bhāṣitaṃ satya-bhūṣitam ।

कायः परहिते यस्य कलिः तस्य करोति किम् ॥
kāyaḥ parahite yasya kaliḥ tasya karoti kim ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
sadayaM hRudayaM yasya bhaaShitaM satyabhUShitam ।
kaayaH parahite yasya kalistasya karoti kim ॥
- subhaaShitaavali

sadayaM hRudayaM yasya bhaaShitaM satya-bhUShitam ।
kaayaH parahite yasya kaliH tasya karoti kim ॥

December 10th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
क्षणशः कणशश्चैव विद्यामर्थं च साधयेत् ।
क्षणत्यागे कुतो विद्या कणत्यागे कुतो धनम् ॥
- सुभाषितावलि

Transliteration:
kṣaṇaśaḥ kaṇaśaścaiva vidyāmarthaṃ ca sādhayet ।
kṣaṇatyāge kuto vidyā kaṇatyāge kuto dhanam ॥
- subhāṣitāvali

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Knowledge and wealth are procured with every moment and grain (respectively). (If) a moment is wasted, how can knowledge (be accrued)? (If a) grain is wasted, how can wealth (be accumulated)?

Commentary:

There is no limit to learning. If one is willing to further his quest for knowledge, he has to work incessantly towards achieving that goal. Every moment lost is equivalent to vidyā (knowledge) lost. The message for a student, (vidyārthī - literally, one yearning for vidyā) is: He has to strive continuously and focus on learning more each day, each hour, each moment.

If a farmer is willing to harvest more, he has to value every grain that he has grown. He cannot be negligent and scatter his harvest around. The advocacy here is not for becoming stingy, but to be mindful of the value of the grains and the toil that went into growing the grains. Only then can he be prosperous!

Just as every drop of water adds to become the mighty ocean, every moment of learning accounts for one's knowledge.  Every ounce of grain contributes to making one prosperous!

pada vigrahaH:
क्षणशः कणशः च एव विद्याम् अर्थं च साधयेत् ।
kṣaṇaśaḥ kaṇaśaḥ ca eva vidyām arthaṃ ca sādhayet ।

क्षण-त्यागे कुतः विद्या कण-त्यागे कुतः धनम् ॥
kṣaṇa-tyāge kutaḥ vidyā kaṇa-tyāge kutaḥ dhanam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
kShaNashaH kaNashashchaiva vidyaamarthaM cha saadhayet
kShaNatyaage kuto vidyaa kaNatyaage kuto dhanam
- subhaaShitaavali

kShaNashaH kaNashaH cha eva vidyaam arthaM cha saadhayet ।

kShaNa tyaage kutaH vidyaa kaNa tyaage kutaH dhanam ॥