November 6th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:

शुचित्वं त्यागिता शौर्यं समानसुखदुःखता ।

दाक्षिण्यं चानुरक्तिश्च सत्यता च सुहृद्गुणाः ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

Transliteration:

śucitvaṃ tyāgitā śauryaṃ samānasukhaduḥkhatā ।

dākṣiṇyaṃ cānuraktiśca satyatā ca suhṛdguṇāḥ ॥

- hitopadeśa, mitralābha

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Purity, generosity, courage, equanimity in pleasure and pain, kindness, affection, and honesty—these are the characteristics of a friend. 

Commentary:

In this world, there are friends and there is family. Then there are friends who transcend both to become family in their own right.  They are characterized by their purity, generosity, courage, equanimity in pleasure and pain, kindness, affection, and honesty.  

Friendship is perhaps the most difficult of bonds to define. Unlike the formal ties of other relationships, it has no official seal and no prescribed structure. It is not something we are born with or born into—it is something that blossoms from our own choosing!

A friend is one who not only accepts us as we are but gives us the space to truly be free. Through that freedom, they help shape us into who we are meant to become. A true friend is the one who walks in when the world has walked out.

They are a mirror, reflecting our truest selves, yet they also gently point out our flaws with love, kindness, and honesty. A friend is someone whose intentions are pure, whose generosity is boundless, and whose courage is unwavering.

A true friend is not there only in the joy of bright days, but especially in the darkest of times. For, no friend is perfect and those who seek perfection in friendship will find themselves alone. True friendship is when two souls can walk in opposite directions and still remain side by side.

It is these friends we meet along the way who help us understand the value of the journey. They may not always walk beside us, but they will always be there for us. In moments of joy, they make the good times richer; in moments of hardship, they make the burdens lighter. 

Birds of a feather flock together. True friendship is not merely found but nurtured through the very traits we embody.  The poet's aim is not only to guide us toward good friends but also to call upon us to cultivate the qualities in ourselves that make us worthy of such friendships.  

pada vigrahaH:

शुचित्वं त्यागिता शौर्यं समान-सुख-दुःखता ।

śucitvaṃ tyāgitā śauryaṃ samāna-sukha-duḥkhatā ।

दाक्षिण्यं च-अनुरक्तिः च सत्यता च सुहृत्-गुणाः ॥

dākṣiṇyaṃ ca-anuraktiḥ ca satyatā ca suhṛt-guṇāḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:

shucitvaM tyaagitaa shauryaM samaanasukhaduHkhataa |

daakShiNyaM chaanuraktishcha satyataa ca suhRudguNaaH ||

- hitopadesha, mitralaabha

shucitvaM tyaagitaa shauryaM samaana-sukha-duHkhataa |

daakShiNyaM cha-anuraktiH cha satyataa ca suhRut-guNaaH ||

July 3rd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
कर्पूर इव दग्धोऽपि शक्तिमान् यो दिने दिने ।
नमोऽस्त्ववार्यवीर्याय तस्मै कुसुमधन्वने ॥
- लोचन

Transliteration:
karpūra iva dagdho'pi śaktimān yo dine dine ।
namo'stvavāryavīryāya tasmai kusumadhanvane ॥
- locana

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Salutations to him who holds the flowery bow, the cupid; that unsuppressible hero who even after being burnt like camphor gets stronger day by day.

Commentary:

Camphor sublimates even without leaving behind ashes. Similarly, the legend says that Lord Shiva's third eye burnt Cupid with no remnants left behind. However, this non-personification of Cupid has not reduced his influence in any which way! 

Whether Cupid himself has a body or not, doesn't matter. When one is struck by his arrows, his influence grows stronger, day by day. The poet opines that it is not even in one's own hands to ward off Cupid. Love is that powerful!

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind. Isn't that why Cupid is called 'manoja' (one who is born in the mind)?! The power of love is the strongest force in the universe! 

pada vigrahaH:
कर्पूरः इव दग्धः अपि शक्तिमान् यः दिने दिने ।
karpūraḥ iva dagdhaḥ api śaktimān yaḥ dine dine ।

नमः अस्तु अवार्य-वीर्याय तस्मै कुसुम-धन्वने ॥
namaḥ astu avārya-vīryāya tasmai kusuma-dhanvane ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
karpUra iva dagdho.pi shaktimaan yo dine dine ।
namo.stvavaaryavIryaaya tasmai kusumadhanvane ॥
- lochana

karpUraH iva dagdho.pi shaktimaan yo dine dine ।

namo.stvavaaryavIryaaya tasmai kusuma-dhanvane ॥

May 31st

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
दूरस्थोऽपि समीपस्थः यो यस्य हृदि वर्तते ।
यो यस्य हृदये नास्ति समीपस्थोऽपि दूरगः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार


Transliteration:
dūrastho'pi samīpasthaḥ yo yasya hṛdi vartate ।
yo yasya hṛdaye nāsti samīpastho'pi dūragaḥ ॥
- subhāṣitaratnabhāṇḍāgāra

Meaning of the subhAShita:

In whose heart one is, he is considered as 'near' even if he is far away. If (he is) not in the heart, even being close by (physically), he is distant.

Commentary:

One may sit with the same person, work with the same person, or even live with the same person all the time. If the well-being of the other is not in your heart, what is the purpose of that proximity?! If his company is not enjoyed and you are not looking forward to seeing the person again, then the closeness of distance is of no use.

On the contrary, a person may live on the other side of the planet but constantly be thinking of someone else and his welfare. He is always itching to see and talk to this other person. He has a certain level of comfort with the other person that he feels like sharing everything with him. In such a case, the physical distance is no factor at all! They are held together tightly by the bond they carry in their hearts. That carries more value than anything else.

The greatest distance between two people is—misunderstanding.  Geographical distance never separates people who care for one another. It is not physical proximity, but the emotional proximity that truly matters!

pada vigrahaH:
दूरस्थः अपि समीपस्थः यः यस्य हृदि वर्तते ।
dūrasthaḥ api samīpasthaḥ yaḥ yasya hṛdi vartate ।

यः यस्य हृदये न अस्ति समीपस्थः अपि दूरगः ॥
yaḥ yasya hṛdaye na asti samīpasthaḥ api dūragaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
dUrastho.pi samIpasthaH yo yasya hRudi vartate ।
yo yasya hRudaye naasti samIpastho.pi dUragaH ॥
- subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara

dUrasthaH api samIpasthaH yaH yasya hRudi vartate ।

yaH yasya hRudaye na asti samIpasthaH api dUragaH ॥

May 22nd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
दूरादतिथयो यस्य गृहमायान्ति निर्वृताः ।
गृहस्थः स तु विज्ञेयः शेषास्तु गृहरक्षिणाः ॥
- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

Transliteration:
dūrādatithayo yasya gṛhamāyānti nirvṛtāḥ ।
gṛhasthaḥ sa tu vijñeyaḥ śeṣāstu gṛharakṣiṇāḥ ॥
- subhāṣitasudhānidhi

Meaning of the subhAShita:

He, to whose house guests come from near and far happily, should be considered a householder; the rest are just guards to their houses.

Commentary:
In Sanskrit, the word for guest is—अतिथि, atithi (अ-तिथि, a-tithi)—which means, one who doesn't have an appointment. In essence, he does not have a set तिथि (tithi - date and time) as to when he arrives. That means—he is welcome to come to the house at any given time without any prior notice.

The guest's comfort level depends on the way the host treats his guests. Someone can drop into another person's house and feel at ease, only if his relationship is a pleasant one. This depends on whether the host is being a good host or hostile! 

The poet says a householder is one to whose residence guests come and go cheerfully. If not, the owner of that house is as good as a guard to the house. There is no heart or emotions invested in running such a household. It is a sad situation if one is deemed as the front door guard of his own house!

Guests are considered as divine - 'अतिथि देवो भव' (atithi devo bhava). No one treats deities indifferently. The same applies to guests as well.

Someone said, 'If it were not for guests, all houses would be graves'. They make the mundane routine of the house a little different and more lively. Guests are the ornaments of the house. Be a householder, not a guard to your own house!

pada vigrahaH:
दूरात् अतिथयः यस्य गृहम् आयान्ति निर्वृताः ।
dūrāt atithayaḥ yasya gṛham āyānti nirvṛtāḥ ।

गृहस्थः स तु विज्ञेयः शेषाः तु गृहरक्षिणाः ॥
gṛhasthaḥ sa tu vijñeyaḥ śeṣāḥ tu gṛharakṣiṇāḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
dUraadatithayo yasya gRuhamaayaanti nirvRutaaH ।
gRuhasthaH sa tu vij~neyaH sheShaastu gRuharakShiNaaH ॥
- subhaaShitasudhaanidhi

dUraat atithayaH yasya gRuham aayaanti nirvRutaaH ।

gRuhasthaH sa tu vij~neyaH sheShaaH tu gRuharakShiNaaH ॥

February 14th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
न किञ्चिदपि कुर्वाणः सौख्यैर्दुःखान्यपोहति ।
तत्तस्य किमपि द्रव्यं यो हि यस्य प्रियो जनः ॥
- उत्तररामचरित


Transliteration:
na kiñcidapi kurvāṇaḥ saukhyairduḥkhānyapohati ।
tattasya kimapi dravyaṃ yo hi yasya priyo janaḥ ॥
- uttararāmacarita

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Loved ones — without even doing anything, just by their proximity — drive away sorrows. Such is the substance (wealth) of love!

Commentary:

Love is patient, love is kind. Love is the beauty of the soul. All beings are born with a natural ability to love. Above all, love is in offering oneself!

It can be a husband and a wife; a lover with a lover; a friend with a friend; a parent and a child; a grandparent and a grandchild, or vice versa! Whatever be the name of the relationship, the cornerstone of each one is love!

We tend to be our true selves with our loved ones.  Just their presence makes all the difference.  A comforting word or a soothing hug from them can melt away our sorrows and suffering, and make all our troubles look trivial and baseless.  Such is the power of love.  It is such an empowering entity; it brings serenity and calmness to the mind.

The one thing that frees us all from the weight and pain of life is love!  Let's not forget to express our love for our loved ones. Not just once, but every single day. Let's acknowledge their impact on our lives and what they mean to us always. Let's not take them for granted. Without their presence, life wouldn't be the same! 

pada vigrahaH:

न किञ्चित् अपि कुर्वाणः सौख्यैः दुःखानि अपोहति ।
na kiñcit api kurvāṇaḥ saukhyaiḥ duḥkhāni apohati ।

तत् तस्य किम् अपि द्रव्यं यः हि यस्य प्रियः जनः ॥
tat tasya kim api dravyaṃ yaḥ hi yasya priyaḥ janaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
na ki~nchidapi kurvaaNaH saukhyairduHkhaanyapohati ।
tattasya kimapi dravyaM yo hi yasya priyo janaH ॥
- uttararaamacharita

na ki~nchit api kurvaaNaH saukhyaiH duHkhaani apohati ।

tat tasya kim api dravyaM yaH hi yasya priyaH janaH ॥

December 6th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यस्मिन् देशे न सम्मानो न प्रीतिर्न च बान्धवाः । 

न च विद्यागमः कश्चिन्न तत्र दिवसं वसेत् ॥
- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ


Transliteration:
yasmin deśe na sammāno na prītirna ca bāndhavāḥ ।

na ca vidyāgamaḥ kaścinna tatra divasaṃ vaset ॥
- hitopadeśa, mitralābha

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Do not live in such a place even for a day where there is—no respect, no affection, no relatives, nor an avenue for learning.

Commentary:

The place we call home should have something more than just material comforts. One can live in a palatial building, sleep on the softest bed, eat from golden plates and spoons, and still be unhappy. For happiness to be present in a home, there needs to be respect and love for one another. There also needs to be dear ones around. (Family doesn't necessarily mean related by blood. It is all the kin who one considers close to their heart.)

Wherever we are, we need to learn and grow, each and every day. If there is no avenue for learning and growing as individuals, then such a place will not be suitable as a home, either. The poet vehemently advises not to live in such a place even for a single day.

The lesson to be learnt here is: don't run away from home if these things are not available, rather work towards making conditions better! It is a reminder to make sure that a home is a happy place where everyone respects, loves, understands, and allows each other to grow as individuals.

Create a nurturing environment for those around you. Growing and allowing everyone to flourish is the key to happiness!  

pada vigrahaH:

यस्मिन् देशे न सम्मानः न प्रीतिः न च बान्धवाः ।
yasmin deśe na sammānaḥ na prītiḥ na ca bāndhavāḥ ।

न च विद्यागमः कश्चित् न तत्र दिवसं वसेत् ॥
na ca vidyāgamaḥ kaścit na tatra divasaṃ vaset ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yasmin deshe na sammaano na preetirna cha baandhavaaH ।
na cha vidyaagamaH kashchinna tatra divasaM vaset ॥
- hitopadesha, mitralaabha

yasmin deshe na sammaanaH na preetiH na cha baandhavaaH ।

na cha vidyaagamaH kashchit na tatra divasaM vaset ॥