October 19th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:

अर्थातुराणां न सखा न बन्धुः 

कामातुराणां न भयं न लज्जा ।

क्षुधातुराणां न रुचिर्न वेला 

विद्यातुराणां न सुखं न निद्रा ॥

Transliteration:

arthāturāṇāṃ na sakhā na bandhuḥ 

kāmāturāṇāṃ na bhayaṃ na lajjā ।

kṣudhāturāṇāṃ na rucirna velā 

vidyāturāṇāṃ na sukhaṃ na nidrā ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

For those ambitious of wealth, there are no friends or relatives.  For those afflicted with excessive sexual urges, there is no fear nor shame. Those who are desperately hungry,  do not care for taste or time.  For those who have an intense thirst for knowledge, there are no comforts or sleep.  

Commentary:

The spirit of this verse is about priorities and what people are ready to compromise for specific desires.

By nature, opposites cannot coexist. Where light resides, darkness fades; where cold prevails, warmth withdraws; where water flows, dryness vanishes.

In human nature too, certain opposites cannot find harmony within the same being. A person entirely driven to accumulate wealth sees all people as mere business transactions. In his view, friends and family have no importance—only profit margins hold value, while relationships become insignificant.

Similarly, someone deeply indulged in physical pleasures loses all sense of shame or restraint. Like an animal led by instinct, he pursues his cravings, caring only to satisfy his body’s demands.

When hunger overwhelms, taste and nourishment lose meaning. Time and decency hold no place in his mind; he’ll eat anything, anywhere, just to silence the pangs of his stomach.

On the contrary, one who thirsts endlessly for knowledge forsakes sleep and comfort, tirelessly pursuing his ever-expanding horizon of goals. His mind, driven by an insatiable desire to learn, knows no rest.  He compromises his sleep and comforts to gain what his heart desires—knowledge.  

Importantly, the heart of all pursuits should be human dignity. No goal is worth a trade of self-respect. Dignity does not stem from how others regard us but from how steadfastly we honor ourselves, even in the most trying of times.

pada vigrahaH:

अर्थ आतुराणां न सखा न बन्धुः

artha āturāṇāṃ na sakhā na bandhuḥ

काम आतुराणां न भयं न लज्जा ।

kāma āturāṇāṃ na bhayaṃ na lajjā ।

क्षुधा अतुराणां न रुचिः न वेला

kṣudhā aturāṇāṃ na ruciḥ na velā

विद्या आतुराणां न सुखं न निद्रा ॥

vidyā āturāṇāṃ na sukhaṃ na nidrā ॥

Alternate Transliteration:

arthaaturaaNaaM na sakhaa na bandhuH

kaamaaturaaNaaM na bhayaM na lajjaa |

kShudhaaturaaNaaM na rucirna velaa

vidyaaturaaNaaM na sukhaM na nidraa ||

artha aaturaaNaaM na sakhaa na bandhuH

kaama aaturaaNaaM na bhayaM na lajjaa |

kShudhaa aturaaNaaM na ruciH na velaa

vidyaa aaturaaNaaM na sukhaM na nidraa ||

January 1st

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
आदानस्य प्रदानस्य कर्तव्यस्य च कर्मणः ।
क्षिप्रमक्रियमाणस्य कालः पिबति तद्रसम् ॥

Transliteration:
ādānasya pradānasya kartavyasya ca karmaṇaḥ ।
kṣipramakriyamāṇasya kālaḥ pibati tadrasam ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

In executing (deeds like) receiving, giving, and responsibilities—if not executed instantaneously, time shall ingest the essence/sweetness (of the deed).

Commentary:

Time and tide wait for none. 

It's all in the timing!  Every deed has its own worth, based on the timing.  What is appropriate today, may not necessarily hold good tomorrow—especially in deeds like giving, receiving, or discharging one's duties.

When the need for these deeds arises, if not done instantly, their essence dissipates with time-lapse. A little help at the right time is better than a lot of help at the wrong time.  The amount of aid is not as important as the time of the aid being offered. 

Time is of the essence in performing our duties as well. When one has an upcoming exam, obviously, he must study before and not after!

The scenarios of giving and doing duties seem obvious.  But how about the aspect of receiving!  Why is the timing of any importance there?  Receiving humbly is the best thanks for a good action.  When one is at the receiving end of someone's good deed, he shows his gratitude by receiving it at the right time.  For example: education.  It must be acquired with the right spirit and at the right time or one may lose crucial life lessons that it brings along!

Time is a river and no one can touch the same water twice.  May we be blessed to not procrastinate these deeds or dilute their sweetness.  May we enjoy the bliss of these endeavors to the fullest extent now and always!

pada vigrahaH:
आदानस्य प्रदानस्य कर्तव्यस्य च कर्मणः ।
ādānasya pradānasya kartavyasya ca karmaṇaḥ ।

क्षिप्रम् अक्रियमाणस्य कालः पिबति तत् रसम् ॥

kṣipram akriyamāṇasya kālaḥ pibati tat rasam ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
aadaanasya pradaanasya kartavyasya cha karmaNaH ।
kShipramakriyamaaNasya kaalaH pibati tadrasam ॥

aadaanasya pradaanasya kartavyasya cha karmaNaH ।
kShipram akriyamaaNasya kaalaH pibati tat rasam ॥

July 22nd

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
रात्रिर्गमिष्यति भविष्यति सुप्रभातम्
भास्वानुदेष्यति हसिष्यति पङ्कजश्रीः ।
इत्थं विचिन्तयति कोशगते द्विरेफे
हा हन्त हन्त नलिनीं गज उज्जहार ॥
- कुवलयानन्द

Transliteration:
rātrirgamiṣyati bhaviṣyati suprabhātam
bhāsvānudeṣyati hasiṣyati paṅkajaśrīḥ ।
itthaṃ vicintayati kośagate dvirephe
hā hanta hanta nalinīṃ gaja ujjahāra ॥
- kuvalayānanda

Meaning of the subhAShita:

"The night shall pass, dawn shall arrive, the sun shall rise, and the lotus shall bloom"—even as the bee stuck in the lotus bud was thinking; Alas, alas, an elephant uprooted the lotus!!

Commentary:
Timing is everything or destiny has the final say?!

This verse is the height of poetic fiction!  Here, he narrates the story of a busy little bee anxious to get the last sip of nectar before the fall of the day.  He hovered over a lotus and settled down for a drink.  But since it was almost dusk, the lotus closed its petals to rest for the day and the bee got stuck inside the petals.  There was no way it could get out from the tight grasp of the tender petals of the closed lotus bud!  So, the bee consoled itself thus, "The night shall pass, daybreak shall come, the sun shall rise, and the lotus shall bloom..."—so that when the flower opened the petals, it could fly away.  But alas, what luck!  Even as the bee was thinking thus, a rutting elephant uprooted the closed lotus bud!!  Now that the lotus wasn't rooted anymore, neither the rise of the sun nor the midday scorch could bring a difference in the petals.  The bud will never ever open again, thus trapping the bee inside to draw its last breath! 

Like they say, 'it is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped'!  Perhaps, the outcome would have been different if the bee had judged the time of the day better.  Perhaps, the bee would have been spared if he wasn't greedy for that one last sip.  Perhaps, the consequence would have been different if the bee was swift enough to fly out just as the bud was closing up.  Perhaps..., perhaps... These can only be speculations.

Many times, one would never know what would have happened differently if he made different choices.  Perhaps, it is the choices, and not chances, that determine one's destiny!  It is probably for oneself to decide...

pada vigrahaH:
रात्रिः गमिष्यति भविष्यति सुप्रभातम्
rātriḥ gamiṣyati bhaviṣyati suprabhātam

भास्वान् उदेष्यति हसिष्यति पङ्कजश्रीः ।
bhāsvān udeṣyati hasiṣyati paṅkajaśrīḥ ।

इत्थं विचिन्तयति कोश-गते द्विरेफे
itthaṃ vicintayati kośa-gate dvirephe

हा हन्त हन्त नलिनीं गज उज्जहार ॥
hā hanta hanta nalinīṃ gaja ujjahāra ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
raatrirgamiShyati bhaviShyati suprabhaatam
bhaaswaanudeShyati hasiShyati pa~nkajashrIH ।
itthaM vichintayati koshagate dvirephe
haa hanta hanta nalinIM gaja ujjahaara ॥
- kuvalayaananda

raatriH gamiShyati bhaviShyati suprabhaatam

bhaaswaan udeShyati hasiShyati pa~nkajashrIH ।

itthaM vichintayati kosha-gate dvirephe

haa hanta hanta nalinIM gaja ujjahaara ॥

August 14th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
कालः पचति भूतानि कालः संहरते प्रजाः ।
कालः सुप्‍तेषु जागर्ति कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
kālaḥ pacati bhūtāni kālaḥ saṃharate prajāḥ ।
kālaḥ sup‍teṣu jāgarti kālo hi duratikramaḥ ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Time digests all elements, time wipes out all beings, time is awake even among those who are asleep, (and) time is the only thing that cannot be transgressed (by anyone).

Commentary:

One may have everything at the tip of his finger or have control of the entire world in his fist! But there is one thing that is beyond the ability of even such a person—slowing down time! It keeps going at its constant monotonous pace. 

Don't we all wish we could 'freeze' time, especially when children were younger?! Time doesn't wait for anyone for any reason. It has the power to sweep everything under its influence. It can digest all elements of the universe, and it can raze all beings. Time is the most precious thing that is steady and moving at all times, no matter what any being is doing.

Time is the one thing we want most, but what we use worst.  Lost time will never be found again. Time is ever-changing and change is the only constant thing!   

Accept the fact that time is never stagnant and go with the flow. Adapt accordingly!

pada vigrahaH:
कालः पचति भूतानि कालः संहरते प्रजाः ।
kālaḥ pacati bhūtāni kālaḥ saṃharate prajāḥ ।

कालः सुप्‍तेषु जागर्ति कालो हि दुर्-अतिक्रमः ॥
kālaḥ sup‍teṣu jāgarti kālo hi dur-atikramaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
kaalaH pachati bhUtaani kaalaH saMharate prajaaH ।
kaalaH supteShu jaagarti kaalo hi duratikramaH ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

kaalaH pachati bhUtaani kaalaH samharate prajaaH ।

kaalaH supteShu jaagarti kaalo hi dur-atikramaH ॥

August 8th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
इन्द्रियाणि च संयम्य बकवत् पण्डितो नरः ।
देशकालबलं ज्ञात्वा सर्वकार्याणि साधयेत् ॥
- चाणक्य नीति


Transliteration:
indriyāṇi ca saṃyamya bakavat paṇḍito naraḥ ।
deśakālabalaṃ jñātvā sarvakāryāṇi sādhayet ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Through restraining his senses like a stork, a learned person, aware of his space, time, and strengths, succeeds in all his tasks.

Commentary:

A stork stands still on one foot, without moving an inch, waiting patiently for its catch. Clearly, it is aware of the happenings around itself, yet restrains its senses. Its patience gets paid off eventually!

The same is done by an intelligent person. He is very aware of his surroundings but doesn't yield to the pleasures of his senses. He will not let his desires or weaknesses overpower his reasoning. He is flexible to changes, yet firm in his conviction. His awareness of his strengths and weaknesses, time and space—together contribute to his wisdom. His patience and perseverance pay off eventually!

Patience is waiting, not sitting still passively (that is laziness). To keep going when the going is slow and tedious, is patience. Patience is the companion of wisdom!

pada vigrahaH:
इन्द्रियाणि च संयम्य बकवत् पण्डितः नरः ।
indriyāṇi ca saṃyamya bakavat paṇḍitaḥ naraḥ ।

देश-काल-बलं ज्ञात्वा सर्व-कार्याणि साधयेत् ॥
deśa-kāla-balaṃ jñātvā sarva-kāryāṇi sādhayet ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
indriyaaNi cha saMyamya bakavat paNDito naraH ।
deshakaalabalaM j~naatvaa sarvakaaryaaNi saadhayet ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

indriyaaNi cha saMyamya bakavat paNDitaH naraH ।

desha-kaala-balaM j~naatvaa sarva-kaaryaaNi saadhayet ॥

June 18th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
यो ध्रुवाणि परित्यज्य अध्रुवं परिसेवते ।
ध्रुवाणि तस्य नश्यन्ति अध्रुवं नष्टमेव च ॥
- चाणक्य नीति

Transliteration:
yo dhruvāṇi parityajya adhruvaṃ parisevate ।
dhruvāṇi tasya naśyanti adhruvaṃ naṣṭameva ca ॥
- cāṇakya nīti

Meaning of the subhAShita:

He who gives up the 'certain' and pursues the 'temporary' (attributes), his stable (attributes) shall perish, and his impermanent ones will certainly be lost.

Commentary:

It is like trying to catch a shadow! Enticed by the shape of an object, what if one puts his best efforts and works hard to capture its shadow? Would he ever be able to fulfill his desire?  With sunlight, an object naturally casts a shadow.  Instead of retrieving the object, if one were to put effort into catching its shadow, he would not only fail in his endeavor, but he would lose precious time! Meanwhile, time will pass and the sun will set. The shadow will certainly be gone and in the process, the true object of desire is lost too, because he would have run out of time to even try to obtain the object. In the end, he neither gets the shadow nor the object! 

This verse reflects a much deeper issue! It is said, 'Life is a mirage; it comes from no visible rain and falls into no recognizable sea.' Winning over the mirage of māyā is no easy task! If one digresses and chases the material world, the focus will be lost, and life's purpose forgotten. In pursuing fleeting material pleasures, he becomes entangled in māyā (illusion) and loses his goal. All the while, life is slipping away!

The purpose of life is to attain eternal knowledge about our true nature.  Each of us has to go on our own quest to realize the Supreme. 

By going on a quest to catch the shadow (material pleasures), do not lose the object (purpose of life)!

pada vigrahaH:
यो धुर्वाणि परित्यज्य अ-ध्रुवं परिसेवते ।
yo dhurvāṇi parityajya a-dhruvaṃ parisevate ।

ध्रुवाणि तस्य नश्यन्ति अ-ध्रुवं नष्टम् एव च ॥
dhruvāṇi tasya naśyanti a-dhruvaṃ naṣṭam eva ca ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
yo dhruvaaNi parityajya adhruvaM parisevate ।
dhruvaaNi tasya nashyanti adhruvaM naShTameva cha ॥
- chaaNakya nIti

yo dhurvaaNi parityajya a-dhruvaM parisevate ।

dhruvaaNi tasya nashyanti a-dhruvaM naShTam eva cha ॥

June 4th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
नाकाले म्रियते जन्तुः विद्धः शरशतैरपि ।
कुशकण्टकविद्धोऽपि प्राप्‍तकालो न जीवति ॥
- महाभारत

Transliteration:
nākāle mriyate jantuḥ viddhaḥ śaraśatairapi ।
kuśakaṇṭakaviddho'pi prāp‍takālo na jīvati ॥
- mahābhārata

Meaning of the subhAShita:

A living being, even when pierced by a hundred arrows, will not die if it is not its time. Come its time, it will not survive even the touch of a straw thorn.

Commentary:

It's all in good time! Each and every being comes to this world with his very own baggage. One has to run out of all the deeds and actions that are meant to be exhausted in that life. When the purpose of his life has not been achieved, no matter what happens, he is going to live. 

Time and again, we have heard or seen that some people survived the deadliest crash or came out of the worst epidemic, etc. These are examples of the very fact that their life's purpose has not been attained yet. The verse says that if the time is not ripe, he will live through to see another sunrise even if pierced by a hundred arrows.

On the contrary, if his assignment here is done, nothing or nobody has the ability to hold him back. When his time is up, no reason is necessary. A healthy person could drop dead in an instant. Sometimes, a person who has survived the most impossible circumstances could pass on due to most trivial of reasons. He could trip on a pebble and die. Or, as the verse says, he could be pricked by a strand of hay which becomes the reason for his death. These become only 'nimitta-mātra' (mere causes)—means to an end, so to speak—figuratively and literally!

Hence, there is no point in living life in perpetual fear of death. It is inevitable and there is nothing one can do about it! Shouldn't we live life to the fullest when we are alive?! That's why someone once said, “If you can't change your fate, change your attitude”. Think about it...

pada vigrahaH:
न अकाले म्रियते जन्तुः विद्धः शर-शतैः अपि ।
na akāle mriyate jantuḥ viddhaḥ śara-śataiḥ api ।

कुश-कण्टक-विद्धः अपि प्राप्‍त-कालः न जीवति ॥
kuśa-kaṇṭaka-viddhaḥ api prāp‍ta-kālaḥ na jīvati ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
naakaale mriyate jantuH viddhaH sharashatairapi ।
kushakaNTakaviddho.pi praaptakaalo na jIvati ॥
- mahaabhaarata

na akaale mriyate jantuH viddhaH shara-shataiH api ।

kusha-kaNTaka-viddhaH api praapta-kaalah na jIvati ॥

May 30th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
न कश्चिदपि जानाति किं कस्य श्वो भविष्यति ।
अतः श्वः करणीयानि कुर्यादद्यैव बुद्धिमान् ॥

Transliteration:
na kaścidapi jānāti kiṃ kasya śvo bhaviṣyati ।
ataḥ śvaḥ karaṇīyāni kuryādadyaiva buddhimān ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

No one knows what happens to whom tomorrow. Hence, the intelligent do tomorrow's task right now!

Commentary:

How many times has one said, "This job should be done 'now', but, I will do it later". When that 'later' comes, there will be a job assigned for that 'later', while the 'now' job is still pending. So, he will start working on the 'now' job. Something will come up in between, that needs immediate attention. The 'later' job is pushed 'further later' because the 'now' job needs more time as well. Then something else interesting comes up. When that 'further later comes', the 'now' job is still not done, the 'later' job is still pending and now the 'further later' job is added to the clutter! So on and so forth... What a mess this is! 

This will turn into a vicious cycle and become a constant battle against the clock! There is no peace of mind, then what to speak of the lack of productivity, and poor quality of work to top all these.

The wise understand this basic concept and never get themselves entrapped in such a situation. We can encounter numerous, unforeseen circumstances in our day-to-day lives. No one can predict what is in store for tomorrow. Hence, the wise keep themselves ahead. They do tomorrow's job today and today's job right now!

Be wise. Do not procrastinate! It is just a lazy man's apology which makes easy things difficult and difficult things even more difficult. 

pada vigrahaH:
न कश्चित् अपि जानाति किं कस्य श्वः भविष्यति ।
na kaścit api jānāti kiṃ kasya śvaḥ bhaviṣyati ।

अतः श्वः करणीयानि कुर्यात् अद्य एव बुद्धिमान् ॥
ataḥ śvaḥ karaṇīyāni kuryāt adya eva buddhimān ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
na kashchidapi jaanaati kiM kasya shvo bhaviShyati ।
ataH shvaH karaNIyaani kuryaadadyaiva buddhimaan ॥

na kashchit api jaanaati kiM kasya shvaH bhaviShyati ।

ataH shvaH karaNIyaani kuryaat adya eva buddhimaan ॥

May 21st

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
कालक्रमेण जगतः परिवर्तमानाः ।
चक्रारपङ्क्तिरिव गच्छति भाग्यपङ्क्तिः ॥
- स्वप्नवासवदत्त

Transliteration:
kālakrameṇa jagataḥ parivartamānāḥ ।
cakrārapaṅktiriva gacchati bhāgyapaṅktiḥ ॥
- svapnavāsavadatta

Meaning of the subhAShita:

Just as the rows of spokes of a wheel rise up and come down, so do the spokes of the wheel of fortune with changing times. 

Commentary:

When bogged down by hardships, do not lose heart. These bad times are not permanent. They are not here to stay. They have their own lifespan and at the end of it, they have to move out of one's life. When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Tough times never last, but tough people do!

At the same time, do not be overly proud during good times either. When all is well and life is good, be reminded that it will not stay either! It has its own lifespan and will pass on as well!! If one soars too high during good times, he can only fall harder. One who is grounded even in pleasant times is truly admirable. When the tide of change comes along, his feet are very much on the ground and he rides the tide easily. Why make the good times of today sad thoughts of tomorrow?

Tough times are interspersed so that one can truly appreciate the good times better!

If pain was simply pain, pleasure was simply pleasure—for him, they were no longer part of the cycle of suffering.

Like the spokes of a wheel, what goes up must come down. And, what has gone down must rise up! Take life in a stride. 

pada vigrahaH:
कालक्रमेण जगतः परिवर्तमानाः ।
kālakrameṇa jagataḥ parivartamānāḥ ।

चक्र-आर-पङ्क्तिः इव गच्छति भाग्य-पङ्क्तिः ॥
cakra-āra-paṅktiḥ iva gacchati bhāgya-paṅktiḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
kaalakrameNa jagataH parivartamaanaaH ।
chakraarapa~nktiriva gachChati bhaagyapa~nktiH ॥
- svapnavaasavadatta

kaalakrameNa jagataH parivartamaanaaH ।

chakra-aarapa~nktiH iva gachChati bhaagya-pa~nktiH ॥