February 2nd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
आरभन्तेऽल्पमेवाज्ञाः कार्यं व्यग्रा भवन्ति च ।
महारम्भाः कृतधियः तिष्ठन्ति च निराकुलाः ॥
- शिशुपालवध

Transliteration:
ārabhante'lpamevājñāḥ kāryaṃ vyagrā bhavanti ca ।
mahārambhāḥ kṛtadhiyaḥ tiṣṭhanti ca nirākulāḥ ॥
- śiśupālavadha

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Even when embarking upon a small job, the unwise get restless and anxious. (Whereas) the wise take up huge tasks and remain unperturbed!

Commentary:

Wisdom gives clarity and clarity gives serenity!

Wise people don't get shaken up even when they undertake huge challenges. They break it down to basics and work through the tasks gradually. Their calm approach to the job gives them more energy and courage towards becoming more productive. Nobody can pin down the enthusiasm of such people. Any task they undertake, they will emerge with flying colors. Such is the strength of wisdom.

However,  the unintelligent are shaken up with day-to-day chores. They find it tedious to go through their regular tasks. They end up being anxious and restless. That, in turn, makes them less productive. All the energy gets drained out in anxiety rather than on the actual chore itself!

Keeping a calm composure actually enhances the experience in many ways. It not only makes the end result better, but it actually makes the whole journey easier, happier, and more pleasant!  It's a win-win situation!! So, why not keep the sanity?! :)

Keep calm and carry on! 

pada vigrahaH:
आरभन्ते अल्पम् एव अज्ञाः कार्यं व्यग्राः भवन्ति च ।
ārabhante alpam eva ajñāḥ kāryaṃ vyagrāḥ bhavanti ca ।

महारम्भाः कृतधियः तिष्ठन्ति च निराकुलाः ॥
mahārambhāḥ kṛtadhiyaḥ tiṣṭhanti ca nirākulāḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
aarabhante.lpamevaaj~naaH kaaryaM vyagraa bhavanti cha ।
mahaarambhaaH kRutadhiyaH tiShThanti cha niraakulaaH ॥
- shishupaalavadha

aarabhante alpam eva aj~jaaH kaaryaM vyagraaH bhavanti cha ।

mahaarambhaaH kRutadhiyaH tiShThanti cha niraakulaaH ॥

September 30th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
चिन्तायाश्च चितायाश्च बिन्दुमात्रं विशेषता ।
सजीवं दहते चिंता निर्जीवं दहते चिता ॥
- समयोचितपद्यमालिका

Transliteration:
cintāyāśca citāyāśca bindumātraṃ viśeṣatā ।
sajīvaṃ dahate ciṃtā nirjīvaṃ dahate citā ॥
- samayocitapadyamālikā

Meaning of the subhAShita:
The difference between चिता 'citā' and चिंता 'ciṃtā' is just a dot. While 'citā' burns one dead, 'ciṃtā' burns one alive.

Commentary:
When written on paper (in Sanskrit), the words citā and ciṃtā differ just by a bindu (dot). (Grammatically speaking, the word 'ciṃtā' has to be written as चिन्ता.  But the poet has taken the liberty of writing it as चिंता.  Therefore, he has said that the only difference is the 'dot on the top'.)

But the essence of these two words is entirely different from each other. While citā (pyre) burns a person after death, ciṃtā (anxiety) burns a person alive. This clearly illustrates that anxiety is more harmful than even the burning pyre. 

There isn't much that can be achieved by being anxious. No solutions have ever been reached by anxiety, except a bunch of health hazards. So why bother with it?

Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, but will certainly take away today's peace.  Therefore, the motto should be, 'Don't worry, be happy'.

pada vigrahaH:
चिन्तायाः च चितायाः च बिन्दु-मात्रं विशेषता ।
cintāyāḥ ca citāyāḥ ca bindu-mātraṃ viśeṣatā ।

सजीवं दहते चिन्ता निर्जीवं दहते चिता ॥
sajīvaṃ dahate cintā nirjīvaṃ dahate citā ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
chintaayaashcha chitaayaashcha bindumaatraM visheShataa ।
sajeevaM dahate chintaa nirjeevaM dahate chitaa ॥
- samayochitapadyamaalikaa

chintaayaaH cha chitaayaaH cha bindu-maatraM visheShataa ।

sajeevaM dahate chintaa nirjeevaM dahate chitaa ॥