August 24th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
भारते संस्कृता भाषा कामधेनुः प्रकीर्तिता ।
जननी विश्वभाषाणां विज्ञानस्योपकारिणी ॥

Transliteration:
bhārate saṃskṛtā bhāṣā kāmadhenuḥ prakīrtitā ।
jananī viśvabhāṣāṇāṃ vijñānasyopakāriṇī ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

In Bhārata (India), the Sanskrit language is reputed as 'kāmadhenu' (the celestial cow that bestows all desires). Being the mother of world languages, it is the benefactor of wisdom.

Commentary:

Sanskrit is rightfully revered as the devabhāṣā, the language of the divine.

In India, it is also hailed as kāmadhenu, the celestial cow that fulfills all desires, catering to the needs of all. This sacred language and its vast literature can quench the thirst of anyone seeking knowledge, no matter the field. Sanskrit is not only a treasure trove of spiritual wisdom but encompasses an extraordinary range of topics— from nyāya śāstra (the study of logic) to nīti śāstra (moral and ethical education); from architecture to science; from medicine to astronomy. Its breadth is limitless and so is its depth.

Sanskrit is also considered the mother of many world languages. Numerous languages trace their roots to it, and its influence can be seen across the globe. It is a natural wellspring of wisdom, and the richness of its literature makes it an invaluable resource.

Let us celebrate Sanskrit and make an effort to partake, even if just a little, from the vast ocean of knowledge that this magnificent language offers.

P.S.: World Sanskrit Day is celebrated on the full moon day of the Śrāvaṇa month according to the Hindu calendar.

pada vigrahaH:
भारते संस्कृता भाषा कामधेनुः प्रकीर्तिता ।
bhārate saṃskṛtā bhāṣā kāmadhenuḥ prakīrtitā ।

जननी विश्व-भाषाणां विज्ञानस्य उपकारिणी ॥
jananī viśva-bhāṣāṇāṃ vijñānasya upakāriṇī ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
bhaarate saMskRutaa bhaaShaa kaamadhenuH prakIrtitaa ।
jananI vishvabhaaShaaNaaM vij~naanasyopakaariNI ॥

bhaarate saMskRutaa bhaaShaa kaamadhenuH prakIrtitaa ।

jananI vishva-bhaaShaaNaaM vij~naanasya upakaariNI ॥

January 18th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
संस्कृतं देवभाषास्ति वेदभाषास्ति संस्कृतम् ।
प्राचीनज्ञानभाषा च संस्कृतं भद्रमण्डनम् ॥
Transliteration:
saṃskṛtaṃ devabhāṣāsti vedabhāṣāsti saṃskṛtam ।
prācīnajñānabhāṣā ca saṃskṛtaṃ bhadramaṇḍanam ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Sanskrit is the language of the Gods. Sanskrit is the language of the Vedas. It is also the language (which gives) our ancient knowledge. Sanskrit adorns prosperity.

Commentary:

Sanskrit is not just an ancient language, it is also a unique one. It is the language of the Gods, which means that it is not just spoken by Gods but also given to us by the Gods themselves. Gods are considered as the cream of the crop (Gods, humans, demons). Similarly, Sanskrit is the 'cream of the crop' of all languages, so to speak. 

It is the language in which our ancient scriptures and Vedas have been given. Today, science is conducting research in so many arenas and aspects of life. But so many of these conclusions were already given to us by our ancestors, eons ago, in the divine language—Sanskrit!

The word संस्कृत (Saṃskṛtaṃ) is derived as सम्यक् कृतम् इति संस्कृतम् (samyak kṛtam iti saṃskṛtam). It literally means—'well done', 'refined', 'perfected'! The basics of the language are so well defined that it has been declared as the most unambiguous language ever; even the best suited for modern inventions like computers. 

Sanskrit propagates prosperity of all kinds—material and spiritual. 

जयतु संस्कृतम् (jayatu saṃskṛtam) - Salute to Sanskrit! May it live forever. May we all learn it and prosper. 

pada vigrahaH:

संस्कृतं देव-भाषा अस्ति वेद-भाषा अस्ति संस्कृतम् ।
saṃskṛtaṃ deva-bhāṣā asti veda-bhāṣā asti saṃskṛtam ।

प्राचीन-ज्ञान-भाषा च संस्कृतं भद्र-मण्डनम् ॥
prācīna-jñāna-bhāṣā ca saṃskṛtaṃ bhadra-maṇḍanam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
saMskRutaM devabhaaShaasti vedabhaaShaasti saMskRutam ।
praachInaj~naanabhaaShaa cha saMskRutaM bhadramaNDanam ॥

saMskRutaM deva-bhaaShaa asti veda-bhaaShaa asti saMskRutam ।

praachIna-j~naana-bhaaShaa cha saMskRutaM bhadra-maNDanam ॥

November 10th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
भाषासु मुख्या मधुरा दिव्या गीर्वाणभारती ।
तस्यां हि काव्यं मधुरं तस्मादपि सुभाषितम् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार

Transliteration:
bhāṣāsu mukhyā madhurā divyā gīrvāṇabhāratī ।
tasyāṃ hi kāvyaṃ madhuraṃ tasmādapi subhāṣitam ॥
- subhāṣitaratnabhāṇḍāgāra

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Among all languages, Saṃskṛtam (Sanskrit) is the most important, pleasant, and divine. In that (Sanskrit), poetry is the sweetest. And in that (poetry), subhāṣita is most charming.

Commentary:

Among all the languages, only Saṃskṛtam came to be defined as the 'devabhāṣā'. Not just because it is the language spoken by the Gods, but because it is as divine as the Gods themselves. It is the origin and mother of many other languages. Our scriptures, which are like a manual to the very existence of life, are written in Sanskrit. (The Vedas tell how life came about, what the purpose of life is, and our true nature.)

In such a charming language, the flavor of poetry is the absolute sweetest.  And among all the sweet poetry, the essence of subhāṣita-s is like honey! Therefore, subhāṣitas are the sweetest among the sweetest of the sweetest! :)

Now, one can only imagine the richness of a subhāṣita! Such is the value of a 'pearl of wisdom'. These pearls are relevant for any generation, of any era.

This is the beauty of Sanskrit! There are even subhāṣita-s about subhāṣita-s themselves.

We must start applying them in our daily lives.  Let's get learning! 

pada vigrahaH:
भाषासु मुख्या मधुरा दिव्या गीर्वाणभारती ।
bhāṣāsu mukhyā madhurā divyā gīrvāṇabhāratī ।

तस्यां हि काव्यं मधुरं तस्मात् अपि सुभाषितम् ॥
tasyāṃ hi kāvyaṃ madhuraṃ tasmāt api subhāṣitam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
bhaaShaasu mukhyaa madhuraa divyaa gIrvaaNabhaaratI ।
tasyaaM hi kaavyaM madhuraM tasmaadapi subhaaShitam ॥
- subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara

bhaaShaasu mukhyaa madhuraa divyaa gIrvaaNabhaaratI ।

tasyaaM hi kaavyaM madhuraM tasmaat api subhAShitam ॥