February 12th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
सन्तुष्टो भार्यया भर्ता भर्त्रा भार्या तथैव च ।
यस्मिन्नेव कुले नित्यं कल्याणं तत्र वै ध्रुवम् ॥
- मनुस्मृति

Transliteration:
santuṣṭo bhāryayā bhartā bhartrā bhāryā tathaiva ca ।
yasminneva kule nityaṃ kalyāṇaṃ tatra vai dhruvam ॥
- manusmṛti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

In a family where the wife delights in her husband and the husband is also elated with his wife, only there (resides) prosperity—(this) is irrefutable! 

Commentary:

True prosperity is an abundance of happiness and a peaceful existence, not wealth.

When the ambiance is conducive to a calm mind each person in the family will have the mindset to reach their fullest potential!  Instead, if the energies of the husband and wife are consumed and drained by mundane indifferences, they would lack the time and stamina to pursue their passions.  In the meantime, the rest of the family will lose motivation to explore their own interests too.

How is a happy ambiance created? Who plays a key role in embedding this atmosphere into the daily lives of everyone in the family? It is the husband and wife, the two main pillars of the household. When they are at peace with each other, when they take joy in each other’s company, and when they cherish their bond, the entire household thrives. This doesn’t mean there are no small disagreements or moments of tension along the way. In fact, it is these minor struggles that add flavor to the journey. Yet, they have learned to find joy in one another despite these hurdles!  

The poet says, that in such a household where conflicts are minimal, there is: peace and prosperity, laughter and love, joy and jubilation!  May this joy be bestowed generously and showered abundantly on all.

pada vigrahaH:
सन्तुष्टो भार्यया भर्ता भर्त्रा भार्या तथ एव च ।

santuṣṭo bhāryayā bhartā bhartrā bhāryā tatha eva ca ।

यस्मिन् एव कुले नित्यं कल्याणं तत्र वै ध्रुवम् ॥
yasmin eva kule nityaṃ kalyāṇaṃ tatra vai dhruvam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
santuShTo bhaaryayaa bhartaa bhartraa bhaaryaa tathaiva cha ।
yasminneva kule nityaM kalyaaNaM tatra vai dhruvam ॥
- manusmRuti

santuShTo bhaaryayaa bhartaa bhartraa bhaaryaa tatha eva cha ।

yasmin eva kule nityaM kalyaaNaM tatra vai dhruvam ॥

August 3rd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
सुश्रान्तोऽपि वहेद्भारं शीतोष्णं न च पश्यति ।
सन्तुष्टश्चरते नित्यं त्रीणि शिक्षेच्च गर्दभात् ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
suśrānto'pi vahedbhāraṃ śītoṣṇaṃ na ca paśyati ।
santuṣṭaścarate nityaṃ trīṇi śikṣecca gardabhāt ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Carries weight even when tired; doesn't mind heat or cold (weather); wanders in contentment always—learn these 3 (attitudes) from a donkey.

Commentary:

There are lessons to be learnt even from a donkey!

• A donkey is used for carrying excessive amounts of weight and is even called the 'beast of burden'. Yet, it never complains!
• Be it a sunny, windy, rainy, or dusty day, it carries on with its chores. It doesn't discriminate or react to its surroundings!
• It grazes on dry grass or some leaves—whatever is available. Yet, it is content in itself. It doesn't expect a fancy meal and is in no rush to win any race. It wanders happily going about his chores.

These 3 traits are praiseworthy in any being. Who doesn't want to be content, level-headed, and industrious?! When the brighter side of things is seen, even a donkey has insights to share. We can learn from anyone, anywhere! 

pada vigrahaH:
सु-श्रान्तः अपि वहेत् भारं शीत-उष्णं न च पश्यति ।
su-śrāntaḥ api vahet bhāraṃ śīta-uṣṇaṃ na ca paśyati ।

सन्तुष्टः चरते नित्यं त्रीणि शिक्षेत् च गर्दभात् ॥
santuṣṭaḥ carate nityaṃ trīṇi śikṣet ca gardabhāt ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
sushraanto.pi vahedbhaaraM shItoShNaM na cha pashyati ।
santuShTashcharate nityaM trINi shikShechcha gardabhaat ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

su-shraantaH api vahet bhaaraM shIta-uShNaM na cha pashyati ।

santuShTaH charate nityaM trINi shikShet cha gardabhaat ॥

July 14th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
सन्तोषस्त्रिषु कर्तव्यः कलत्रे भोजने धने ।
त्रिषु चैव न कर्तव्यः अध्ययने जपदानयोः ॥
- समयोचितपद्यरत्नमालिका


Transliteration:
santoṣastriṣu kartavyaḥ kalatre bhojane dhane ।
triṣu caiva na kartavyaḥ adhyayane japadānayoḥ ॥
- samayocitapadyaratnamālikā

Meaning of the subhAShita:

There should be satisfaction in 3 (aspects): wife, food, money. There should be no satisfaction in 3 (others): learning, meditating, giving.

Commentary:

The same rule doesn't apply to all issues! 'Satisfaction' is a strange thing. Experiencing it in some aspects gives peace, but experiencing it in others may hinder progress.

One should be happy and contented with: his spouse, the food he eats, and the wealth he possesses. Dissatisfaction with these will lead to unrest and constant agitation towards acquiring something more or someone better! Moreover, these pursuits are NOT something that will lead one toward the purpose of life. So, it is better to be happy with what there is while working on the true quest of life.

However, complacency and contentment should have no place when it comes to: learning, meditating, or giving. One can never say that he has learnt everything and is very satisfied with his knowledge base. Knowing everything good that there is to know cannot happen until one is a jīvanmukta-puruṣa (a liberated soul)! Therefore, never be satisfied with learning.

Saying, 'I've put in this many hours, so I'm done for the week' works only at the office. There is no end to meditation. Prayer is talking to God, but meditation is listening to Him! Meditation is not just chanting the name of the Lord with closed eyes. Having Him in your thoughts every step of the way, through every action, every minute, is constant open-eyed meditation. There is no upper ceiling on how much meditation one can do. Keep His thoughts going!

Giving is the most selfless action which reiterates that material possessions are temporary. To give, one has to be selfless and unattached. Both are beneficial for raising the jīva (soul) to a platform closer to Him. Give heartily. There are always people who can use help.

Be satisfied with your fortune, but dissatisfied with your intellect.  Keep learning!

pada vigrahaH:
सन्तोषः त्रिषु कर्तव्यः कलत्रे भोजने धने ।
santoṣaḥ triṣu kartavyaḥ kalatre bhojane dhane ।

त्रिषु च एव न कर्तव्यः अध्ययने जप-दानयोः ॥

triṣu ca eva na kartavyaḥ adhyayane japa-dānayoḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
santoShastriShu kartavyaH kalatre bhojane dhane ।
triShu chaiva na kartavyaH adhyayane japadaanayoH ॥
- samayochitapadyaratnamaalikaa

santoShaH triShu kartavyaH kalatre bhojane dhane ।

triShu cha eva na kartavyaH adhyayane japa-daanayoH ॥

March 19th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
ईप्सितं मनसः सर्वं कस्य सम्पद्यते सुखम् ।
दैवाऽयुक्तं यतः सर्वं तस्मात्सन्तोषमाश्रयेत् ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
īpsitaṃ manasaḥ sarvaṃ kasya sampadyate sukham ।
daivā'yuktaṃ yataḥ sarvaṃ tasmātsantoṣamāśrayet ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

How many (people) procure all the pleasures that are desired by the mind? Everything is as God appointed it to be. Hence, practice happiness (contentment).

Commentary:

Not everyone in this world gets all their desires fulfilled.  Or, must we say, NO ONE in this world fulfills all their desires! We wouldn't be called humans if every wish of ours would be a command and would be fruitful at every turn of life! Every outcome will be exactly as He, the Supreme Lord, desires it to be. His law is unquestionable as we are unaware of all the variables that go into an equation. A wish is either granted or rejected as per our efforts, our dedication, the lessons we need to learn, and also, per our deeds from previous births.

When an outcome can't be changed, one should learn to be happy with any result he gets. Because, no matter how much he frets, it won't change the end result. So, why not take it in stride and be happy always! That is why the poet says, 'practice happiness', 'take shelter in happiness'. Whether the result is desirable or not, happiness should remain unaltered.

Be Happy, no matter the outcome! Success is not the key to happiness; happiness is the key to success.   

pada vigrahaH:
ईप्सितं मनसः सर्वं कस्य सम्पद्यते सुखम् ।
īpsitaṃ manasaḥ sarvaṃ kasya sampadyate sukham ।

दैव-आयुक्तं यतः सर्वं तस्मात् सन्तोषम् आश्रयेत् ॥
daiva-āyuktaṃ yataḥ sarvaṃ tasmāt santoṣam āśrayet ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
IpsitaM manasaH sarvaM kasya sampadyate sukham ।
daivaa.yuktaM yataH sarvaM tasmaatsantoShamaashrayet ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

IpsitaM manasaH sarvaM kasya sampadyate sukham ।

daiva-aayuktaM yataH sarvaM tasmaat santoSham aashrayet ॥

March 10th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
ईर्ष्यी घृणी त्वसन्तुष्टः क्रोधनो नित्यशङ्कितः ।
परभाग्योपजीवी च षडेते दुःखभागिनः ॥
- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ


Transliteration:
īrṣyī ghṛṇī tvasantuṣṭaḥ krodhano nityaśaṅkitaḥ ।
parabhāgyopajīvī ca ṣaḍete duḥkhabhāginaḥ ॥
- hitopadeśa, mitralābha

Meaning of the subhAShita:

The jealous, the repugnant, the un-contented, the resentful, the ever-doubting, and those living off of other people's wealth—these six are eligible for sorrow.

Commentary:

Some people want to see everything go wrong for others because, in their heads, nothing is going right for them! 

1. Jealousy towards others yields no good. A jealous person is plotting constantly against his perceived enemy. Hence he can never be peaceful.
2. Repugnance, distaste, or aversion towards anyone or anything can breed no beautiful thoughts along with them. Such a person is always miserable.
3. One with no contentment is constantly working his mind towards acquiring something more to satisfy him. There is no calmness in such a mind.
4. A resentful and angry person is never happy with anything or anyone. He expresses displeasure every step of the way. How can pleasure even come near such a person?
5. A doubting Thomas, a skeptic, has no trust in any aspect of life. He needs constant assurance and physical evidence to make him believe every single dimension of his own life. Such an individual probably can't even sleep in peace.
6. A person living off of someone else's wealth has to constantly think of that someone literally! If the other person loses his source of income, so does he... The parasitic guilt that accompanies the scenario is a whole different issue to deal with. How can such a person be happy!

Any person who is—not at peace, always miserable, not calm, not happy, not pleasant nor satisfied—how can delight come near such an individual! The verse even says, such a person almost deserves to be sorrowful, meaning he can't escape sorrow.

Don't worry, be happy!

pada vigrahaH:
ईर्ष्यी घृणी तु असन्तुष्टः क्रोधनः नित्य-शङ्कितः ।
īrṣyī ghṛṇī tu asantuṣṭaḥ krodhanaḥ nitya-śaṅkitaḥ ।

पर-भाग्य-उपजीवी च षट् एते दुःख-भागिनः ॥
para-bhāgya-upajīvī ca ṣaṭ ete duḥkha-bhāginaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
IrShyI ghRuNI tvasantuShTaH krodhano nityasha~nkitaH ।
parabhaagyopajIvI cha ShaDete duHkhabhaaginaH ॥
- hitopadesha, mitralaabha

IrShyI ghRuNI tu asantuShTaH krodhanaH nitya-sha~nkitaH ।

para-bhaagya-upajIvI cha ShaT ete duHkha-bhaaginaH ॥

October 21st

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
दानेन पाणिर्न तु कङ्कणेन स्नानेन शुद्धिर्न तु चन्दनेन ।
मानेन तृप्‍तिर्न तु भोजनेन ज्ञानेन मुक्तिर्न तु पूजनेन ॥

Transliteration:
dānena pāṇirna tu kaṅkaṇena snānena śuddhirna tu candanena ।
mānena tṛp‍tirna tu bhojanena jñānena muktirna tu pūjanena ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Bestowal makes a hand (graceful), not bracelets; ablution purifies, not sandalwood paste; contentment comes from character, not food; absolution comes from knowledge, not (merely) worshipping.

Commentary:

Giving charity is a better adornment to a hand than beautiful shiny bangles. Nice perfumes or smearing sandalwood paste won't do a good job in cleansing, a bath is essential for that. Food won't satiate the soul, but integrity will. Mere chanting of mantras and worshipping will not bring salvation. True knowledge that removes ignorance (about our worldly existence vs. our true nature) is required to liberate the आत्मा (ātmā), soul.

Adornment is never anything except the true reflection of the heart!  The misnomers about adornments are thus put to rest.

pada vigrahaH:

दानेन पाणिः न तु कङ्कणेन स्नानेन शुद्धिः न तु चन्दनेन ।
dānena pāṇiḥ na tu kaṅkaṇena snānena śuddhiḥ na tu candanena ।

मानेन तृप्‍तिः न तु भोजनेन ज्ञानेन मुक्तिः न तु पूजनेन ॥
mānena tṛp‍tiḥ na tu bhojanena jñānena muktiḥ na tu pūjanena ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
daanena paaNirna tu ka~nkaNena snaanena shuddhirna tu chandanena ।
maanena tRuptirna tu bhojanena jnaanena muktirna tu pUjanena ॥

daanena paaNiH na tu ka~nkaNena snaanena shuddhiH na tu chandanena ।

maanena tRuptiH na tu bhojanena jnaanena muktiH na tu pUjanena ॥