October 17th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:

गणयन्ति न ये सूर्यं वृष्टिं शीतञ्च कर्षकाः ।

यतन्ते सस्यलाभाय तैः साकं हि वसाम्यहम् ॥

Transliteration:

gaṇayanti na ye sūryaṃ vṛṣṭiṃ śītañca karṣakāḥ ।

yatante sasyalābhāya taiḥ sākaṃ hi vasāmyaham ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Regardless of heat, rain, or cold, the farmers strive solely for their crops. I live among them.

Commentary:

Farming is a profession of hope!

Farmers nurture the entire world, embodying optimism with every seed they plant. In spring, they sow; in autumn, they await the rewards of their labor. Through incessant rain, relentless heat, or biting cold, they forge forward, facing nature’s whims with resilience and faith. There can be many reasons along the way for the benefits of their efforts to not be realized.  Yet, they hope that as their hoes meet the soil Mother Earth will respond with a harvest. They pray that natural calamities or stray cattle will not erase the fruits of their toil.

Day and night, they protect and cultivate their crops to ensure that others are fed. Farmers are our annadātā-s—givers of food. Without them no other profession could survive, for food sustains us all. Their dedication, hard work, and grit allow us to thrive, and no amount of gratitude is great enough to repay them.

It is said annam na nindyāt (do not disgrace food) because annam parabrahma swaroopam—food is the form of the divine. In this verse, God Himself declares, “I live among those who sweat and labor for the well-being of others.” What greater praise or reward could there be?!  God Himself dwells among them!

The best way to honor farmers is to respect their produce—never throw it. Food is one of the greatest gifts, and it deserves to be cherished, taken as needed, and valued to the last bite. Do not 

waste food. 

In winter's chill or summer's heat farmers toil so the world can eat.  Thank God for farmers—remember, He dwells among them!

pada vigrahaH:

गणयन्ति न ये सूर्यं वृष्टिं शीतं च कर्षकाः ।

gaṇayanti na ye sūryaṃ vṛṣṭiṃ śītaṃ ca karṣakāḥ ।

यतन्ते सस्य-लाभाय तैः साकं हि वसामि अहम् ॥

yatante sasya-lābhāya taiḥ sākaṃ hi vasāmi aham ॥

Alternate Transliteration:

gaNayanti na ye sUryaM vRuShTiM shIta~ncha karShakaaH |

yatante sasyalaabhaaya taiH saakaM hi vasaamyaham ||

gaNayanti na ye sUryaM vRuShTiM shItaM cha karShakaaH |

yatante sasya-laabhaaya taiH saakaM hi vasaami aham ||

September 23rd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:

श्रद्धायत्नौ यदि स्यात्तां मेधया किं प्रयोजनम् ।

इत्युभौ यदि न स्यात्तां मेधया किं प्रयोजनम् ॥ 

Transliteration:

śraddhāyatnau yadi syāttāṃ medhayā kiṃ prayojanam ।

ityubhau yadi na syāttāṃ medhayā kiṃ prayojanam ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

For those who have faith and zeal to work, of what use is knowledge?!  Then again, if one doesn't have these two (faith and zeal), of what use is knowledge?!  

Commentary:

Does this mean knowledge is unnecessary?!  Not really! 

This verse emphasizes that knowledge can be gained over time with faith and effort. When one has a keen interest and combines it with dedication knowledge follows naturally. Thus, a person does not need to possess a complete understanding of the subject before embarking on a journey.

Conversely, for someone lacking the energy and confidence to initiate any venture, for what good is knowledge to such a person? Without these two essential qualities, knowledge becomes futile and meaningless, reduced to a mere word jargon in one’s mind.

This illustrates that though faith, effort, and knowledge are interconnected, faith and effort take precedence. One can acquire knowledge along the way, and it is unwise to wait until one has exhaustive knowledge before starting any undertaking.

Faith and hard work always pay off! Patience acts as the glue that binds these two together. This combination is the best approach to materialize any endeavor and acquire knowledge through experience in due time.

pada vigrahaH:

श्रद्धा-यत्नौ यदि स्यात् तां मेधया किं प्रयोजनम् ।

śraddhā-yatnau yadi syāt tāṃ medhayā kiṃ prayojanam । 

इति उभौ यदि न स्यात् तां मेधया किं प्रयोजनम् ॥

iti ubhau yadi na syāt tāṃ medhayā kiṃ prayojanam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:

shraddhaayatnau yadi syaattaaM medhayaa kiM prayojanam ।

ityubhau yadi na syaattaaM medhayaa kiM prayojanam ॥

shraddhaa-yatnau yadi syaat taaM medhayaa kiM prayojanam ।

iti ubhau yadi na syaat taaM medhayaa kiM prayojanam ॥

June 5th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
न माता शपते पुत्रं न दोषं लभते मही ।
न हिंसां कुरुते साधुः न देवः सृष्टिनाशकः ॥
-सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार


Transliteration:
na mātā śapate putraṃ na doṣaṃ labhate mahī ।
na hiṃsāṃ kurute sādhuḥ na devaḥ sṛṣṭināśakaḥ ॥
-subhāṣitaratnabhāṇḍāgāra

Meaning of the subhAShita:

A mother will never curse her child, no blemish will taint the earth, the noble do not harm others, God will not destroy His creation.

Commentary:

A mother does everything in her power and even beyond to make her children better than she ever was. She will work beyond her means, investing both her heart and effort. After all that, could she ever have the heart to curse her child? The best well-wisher a child could ever have is his mother!

Mother Earth is considered the most forgiving. No matter how much man exploits her, she has tolerance. In recent times, we hear slogans everywhere—save the earth! Truth is, in a few centuries from now, the earth will still be here. It is the human species that needs saving from making itself extinct by abusing the resources! No amount of extortion will blemish the earth.

Those who are truly noble from the bottom of their hearts will never inflict harm on others. They are ever-compassionate and work tirelessly towards the betterment of those around them. How can such people involve themselves in hurting others?!

Likewise, God never destroys his own creation! All the natural calamities, apocalypses, etc., might look like destruction but in reality, it is dissolution. He does everything with a higher good in mind. There is always something better to come one way or another. He will take care of everyone here and hereafter! Our ignorance about this fact doesn't mean that God is destroying His own creation. Just as a mother won't hurt her child, God, the creator of the whole universe, won't put a dent in his creation with destructive intent. Everything dissolves and when the right time comes, everything resolves too! 

Faith is trusting God even when you don't understand His plan. He is there to protect the smallest insect, to the largest of creatures. Keep the faith! 

pada vigrahaH:
न माता शपते पुत्रं न दोषं लभते मही ।
na mātā śapate putraṃ na doṣaṃ labhate mahī ।

न हिंसां कुरुते साधुः न देवः सृष्टि-नाशकः ॥
na hiṃsāṃ kurute sādhuḥ na devaḥ sṛṣṭi-nāśakaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
na maataa shapate putraM na doShaM labhate mahI ।
na hiMsaaM kurute saadhuH na devaH sRuShTinaashakaH ॥
-subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara

na maataa shapate putraM na doShaM labhate mahI ।

na hiMsaaM kurute saadhuH na devaH sRuShTi-naashakaH ॥

March 5th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अरे भज हरेर्नाम क्षेमधाम क्षणे क्षणे ।
बहिस्सरति निःश्वासे विश्वासः कः प्रवर्तते ॥
- गुरुकौमुदी

Transliteration:
are bhaja harernāma kṣemadhāma kṣaṇe kṣaṇe ।
bahissarati niḥśvāse viśvāsaḥ kaḥ pravartate ॥
- gurukaumudī

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Oh (self)! Chant the auspicious name of Śrīhari every second. Where is the faith that the breath that has gone out will come back in?!

Commentary:

One should be thinking of the Almighty (Nārāyaṇa) constantly. One can choose any deity, that is a personal choice. But connection and faith are common to all choices! The verse says, 'Do not procrastinate thinking of the Lord, even for one moment. What is the guarantee that the air that is breathed out will come back in?!' 

We breathe in and breathe out constantly which is proof enough that we are alive. But one thing that is certain for every being is—death. There is no saying who will breathe their last and at which moment. 

We cannot save good deeds for another day. Every single deed, action, and thought should always be accompanied by 'arpaṇa bhāva' (spirit of offering). It makes life worthwhile. There must be no selfishness.  This makes one live life without regrets because every action has already been executed with a higher perspective in mind.  One's life becomes satisfactory, significant, and meaningful.

Stay connected with the higher power always. Pray when you wake up, pray when you eat. Pray when you are sad, pray when you are happy. Pray when you laugh, pray when you go to sleep.

Remember, prayer is a powerful tool! 

pada vigrahaH:
अरे भज हरेः नाम क्षेम-धाम क्षणे क्षणे ।
are bhaja hareḥ nāma kṣema-dhāma kṣaṇe kṣaṇe ।

बहिः सरति निःश्वासे विश्वासः कः प्रवर्तते ॥
bahiḥ sarati niḥśvāse viśvāsaḥ kaḥ pravartate ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
are bhaja harernaama kShemadhaama kShaNe kShaNe ।
bahissarati niHshvaase vishvaasaH kaH pravartate ॥
- gurukaumudI

are bhaja hareH naama kShema-dhaama kShaNe kShaNe ।

bahiH sarati niHshvaase vishvaasaH kaH pravartate ॥

February 1st

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
न देवो विद्यते काष्ठे न पाषाणे न मृण्मये ।
भावे हि विद्यते देवः तस्माद्भावो हि कारणम् ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
na devo vidyate kāṣṭhe na pāṣāṇe na mṛṇmaye ।
bhāve hi vidyate devaḥ tasmādbhāvo hi kāraṇam ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

God is not in a stick, stone, or clay (statue). God is attained through attitude; hence, attitude is the instrument.

Commentary:

God is worshipped in different forms. Statues of deities come in all sizes, shapes, and forms. We worship the statues because we have a certain 'bhāva' (attitude/emotion) towards them. We see Godliness in a certain form and shape. The idol is a focal point for a belief we have in our hearts. It is the ideal behind the idol that is worshiped. 

Hence, the verse says, it is that faith, that belief, that emotion, that makes the statue God! Whatever shape, form, or size we worship God in, the 'sincerity of the devotion' behind it makes all the difference. Not the wood, or the stone, or the clay composition of the statue itself.

If we really think about it, everything is driven by our attitudes in this world! Although attitude is a hypothetical construct, it is the entity that shapes the world around us. It influences our lives so profoundly that just a small change of attitude can turn situations around completely! Whether it is a belief in the Supreme power or faith in a person dear to us, it's all a matter of attitude. 

Attitude sets your altitude!

pada vigrahaH:

न देवः विद्यते काष्ठे न पाषाणे न मृण्मये ।
na devaḥ vidyate kāṣṭhe na pāṣāṇe na mṛṇmaye ।

भावे हि विद्यते देवः तस्मात् भावः हि कारणम् ॥
bhāve hi vidyate devaḥ tasmāt bhāvaḥ hi kāraṇam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
na devo vidyate kaaShThe na paaShaaNe na mRuNmaye ।
bhaave hi vidyate devaH tasmaadbhaavo hi kaaraNam ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

na devaH vidyate kaaShThe na paaShaaNe na mRuNmaye ।

bhaave hi vidyate devaH tasmaat bhaavaH hi kaaraNam ॥

January 22nd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यथा खनन् खनित्रेण नरो वार्यधिगच्छति ।
तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति ॥
- मनुस्मृति


Transliteration:
yathā khanan khanitreṇa naro vāryadhigacchati ।
tathā gurugatāṃ vidyāṃ śuśrūṣuradhigacchati ॥
- manusmṛti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Just as a person gets to water by digging with a spade, similarly one attains vidyā (knowledge) from a guru (teacher) by serving him.

Commentary:

It is a known fact that to get to the water reserves on earth, one has to work tirelessly and dig with an axe/spade. To dig a well, one cannot just dig a few times here and there, then move from one place to another, and then again move to a different spot, etc. He has to choose the place he wants the well to be in and then keep digging deeper in the same location until he finds water. This process needs patience, perseverance, and dedication.  Only then, can he dig a well!

Similarly, if one is interested in learning vidyā, he needs to find the right guru for him, in whom he has total faith and trust. He needs to continuously serve this guru with utmost respect and dedication. Just as one can't make a well by digging in different spots, one cannot attain knowledge also by jumping from one guru to another, or by paying attention randomly and inconsistently. 

The attitude with which the guru is regarded makes a tremendous difference in the amount of learning. If two students go to the same guru—the one who is keen to learn will absorb more from the guru than the one who has barely paid attention. Just like blotting paper absorbs the liquid quicker than sandpaper, an eager and attentive student will absorb knowledge faster.  

Having the right attitude and perseverance are key to being good students.

आचार्य देवो भव (ācārya devo bhava)—(deem) the teacher as God himself!

pada vigrahaH:

यथा खनन् खनित्रेण नरः वारी अधिगच्छति ।
yathā khanan khanitreṇa naraḥ vārī adhigacchati ।

तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुः अधिगच्छति ॥
tathā gurugatāṃ vidyāṃ śuśrūṣuḥ adhigacchati ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yathaa khanan khanitreNa naro vaaryadhigachChati ।
tathaa gurugataaM vidyaaM shushrUShuradhigachChati ॥
- manusmRuti

yathaa khanan khanitreNa naraH vaarI adhigachChati ।

tathaa gurugataaM vidyaaM shushrUShuH adhigachChati ॥

October 24th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
मन्त्रे तीर्थे द्विजे दैवे दैवज्ञे भेषजे गुरौ ।
यादृशी भावना यत्र सिद्धिर्भवति तादृशी ॥
- समयोचितपद्यमालिका


Transliteration:
mantre tīrthe dvije daive daivajñe bheṣaje gurau ।
yādṛśī bhāvanā yatra siddhirbhavati tādṛśī ॥
- samayocitapadyamālikā

Meaning of the subhAShita:

The usefulness of mantras, pilgrimages, brāhmaṇas (knower of Brahman), deities, seekers/knowers of God, doctors, and teachers will be proportional to the faith we put in them.

Commentary:

Vedic chants, prayers, places of worship, brāhmaṇas (brāhmaṇa here is not a Brāhmin in the community, but a brāhmaṇa - one who knows Brahman) and their knowledge, Gods and Goddesses, ascetics, doctors, and teachers—all these groups contribute to society in their own special ways. How useful they are to us depends on how much faith we put in them!

There are lots of examples of this in real life where a particular treatment was fruitful to one person and not to another. In a Placebo effect, they are not even given a real medicine but they seem to get better just because they believe the medication will help them! 

A particular teacher might be thought of as a 'wonderful one' by one student, whereas a 'hopeless one' by another. The first student learns much more than the other one, from the same teacher.  

Miracles seem to happen to some people and not to others. The list goes on. 

The mysterious ingredient behind these differences in results is, probably, the faith with which they started off, in the first place. People who have more trust end up getting better results!

Trust is the highest form of human motivation. It brings out the very best in people. Begin with trust.  Even if the results end up being bad, accept it as God's will. He knows what's best for whom. He never lets anyone down, anywhere, anytime!

pada vigrahaH:
मन्त्रे तीर्थे द्विजे दैवे दैवज्ञे भेषजे गुरौ ।
mantre tīrthe dvije daive daivajñe bheṣaje gurau ।

यादृशी भावना यत्र सिद्धिः भवति तादृशी ॥
yādṛśī bhāvanā yatra siddhiḥ bhavati tādṛśī ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
mantre tIrthe dvije daive daivajne bheShaje gurou ।
yaadRushee bhaavanaa yatra siddhirbhavati taadRushee ॥
- samayochitapadyamaalikaa

mantre tIrthe dvije daive daivaj~je bheShaje gurou ।

yaadRushee bhaavanaa yatra siddhiH bhavati taadRushee ॥