To day's Subhashit.

      On the eve of the New Year 2013,  I convey  my greetings to all my friends and fellow citizens through the following Hymn of Rig-Veda, handed over to us by our ancestors through oral tradition thousands years back, when the other parts of the World were still in the Stone Age. It very beautifully outlines the vision and compassion of our ancestors towards not only the living beings but the environment and the whole universe. There are hundreds of such hymns in the Vedas,  epitomising the wisdom of our ancestors, which, unfortunately we are neglecting and running after petty material gains at the cost of the future of mankind..   (The script of Vedic hymns is a little different than the Sanskrit, but I have simplified the hymn a bit by paraphrasing the words)

Dyooh shaanti antarikshm shaantih prithivi shaanti, aapah shaanti aushadhayah shaanti,
Vanaspatayah shaanti-vishwedevaah shaantirbrahma shantih, sarvam shaantih, shaantireva shaanti
saamaa shaantiredhi.

द्द्योः शान्ति अन्तरिक्षं  शान्तिः पृथिवी शान्ति आपः शान्ति औषधय: शान्तिः
वनस्पतयः शान्तिर्विश्वेदेवाः शान्तिर्ब्रह्म शान्तिः सर्वं शान्तिः शान्तिरेव शान्तिः
सामा शान्तिरेधि  |  

Ddyoh = Heaven,      Shaanti = peace, tranquility     Antariksha = cosmos,atmosphere or sky.          Prithivee =  Earth.Aap = water.        Aushadhayah = medicinal herbs.      Vanaspatayh = plants,vegetation.
Vishwedevaah = various Gods.       Brahma = /supreme God.      Sarvam = every body.
Shaantireva=  real peace.    Saama = like this  Shantiredhi =  shaanti + edhi.    Edhi = spread, grow..

i.e.    Let there be peace in the Heaven, in the cosmos, on the Earth we live, let the medicinal herbs and all vegetation on the Earth be at peace (remain unharmed),  various lesser gods and Supreme God (Brahma) bestow peace upon us , and let this real peace grow and spread every where. 

To day's Subhashit.

वृथा वृष्टिः  समुद्रेषु वृथा तृप्तेषु भोजनम्  |
वृथा दाने धनाधनाढ्येषु वृथा दीपो दिवाSपि  च  ||

Vruthaa vrishtih samudreshu vruthaa trupteshu bhojanam.
vruthaa daane dhanaaDhyeshu vrruthaa deepo divaapi cha.

Vruthaa = futile,useless, producing no result.       Vrushti = rain.      Samudra = ocean.
Samudreshu = over the ocean.     Trupta = satiated.      Trupteshu = to a satiated person (whose stomach is already full).       Bhojanam = food.       Daane = donation, giving away as charity.
DhanaaDhyeshu = ro a rich person.       Deepo = a lamp.      Divaapi =   divaa + Api.
Divaa  = day time.    Api = even (to express emphasis), also.     Cha = and.

i.e.  Rain over the ocean is futile, so also providing food to a satiated person (whose stomach is already full) is useless.  Giving donation to a rich person and even lighting a lamp during day time is also of no use..

To day's Subhashit.

     Deeply saddened and ashamed by the course of events i n our Nation during the past fortnight, culminating into the very sad demise of the brave girl who fought against the atrocities committed against her in particular and women folk in general , I am tempted to re-post this Subhashit, which is a warning to all of us and our Rulers that it is still not too late to amend our attitude and behaviour toward  women.

To day's Subhashit.

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवता
यत्र एता न पूज्यन्ते  सर्वास्तत्र अफला क्रियाः

Yatra naaryastu poojyante ramante tatra Devataah
Yatra eta na poojyante sarvaastatra aphalaa kriyaah.

i.e.    In a community where women folk are respected and adored, God bestows His mercy and bounty there and where this is not done efforts made to improve the lot of the community become unsuccessful .

Yatra = where     Naaryastu = women.  Poojyante =  worshipped, adored, respected.
Ramante =like to reside.      Tatra = there          Devta = gods
Eta = they.       Afalaa= without any result, futile .    Kriyaa = action , doing any  work.

     The idea behind this Subhashit is that women folk play an equally important role  in creating prosperity and well being of the society and if they are treated well and respected it is akin to pleasing the Gods.  This Subhashit is oft quoted but in actual practice women are discriminated and ill treated in all walks of life among many communities in India, with the result that they are still backward .and underdeveloped. 

To day's Subhashit..

शतेषु जायते शूरः सहस्रेषु च पण्डितः |

वक्ता दश सहस्त्रेषु दाता भवति वा न वा.|

Shateshu jaayate shoorah sahasreshu ch panditah.

vaktaas dash sahasreshu daataa bhavati waa na waa..

Shateshu = among one hundred.          Jaayate = takes birth, happens.      Shoorah = a brave person.

Sahasreshu = among one thousand.       Cha = and.    Panditah = a learned and wise person.

Vaktaa = an orator.       Dash = ten.      Das sahreshu = among ten thousand.

 Daataa = a person who gives donations, a philanthropist        Bhavati = happens,  becomes.

Waa  na  waa = an expression of surprise as also of certainty.

i.e.   Among one hundred  persons only one person happens to be brave , and among a thousand of such brave  persons only one person is also learned and wise. And it is not surprising that among such ten thousand orators and learned persons ,hardly one person is also a philanthropist.

,and among tche(Through this Subhashit the author has highlighted the fact that persons who are brave,learned and good orators are available in the society in the descending order, but rarely a philanthropist is found among them. Here we can cite the example of Mr,Bill Gates and Shri Narayan Murthy among the billionairs in this World,who have freely shared their wealth for the welfare of mankind . Such great persons are rarely born.)

To day's Subhashit.

ज्येष्ठत्वं जन्मना नैव गुणैर्ज्येष्ठत्वमुच्यते.
गुणात् गुरुत्वमायाति दुग्धं दधि घृतं कृमात् .

 Jyeshthatwam janmnaa naiva gunarjyeshthatwamuchyate.
Gunaat gurutwamaayaati dugdham dadhi ghrutam krumaat .

Jyeshtatwam = greatness,seniority, prominence.      Janmnaa = from birth.     Naiva = not
Gunaih + jyeshthatwam + uchyate = gunairjyeshthatwamuchyate.
Gunaih = merit,virtues, qualities.      Jyeshatwa = prominence, seniority.      Uchyate = regarded as.
Gunaat = qualities.     Gurutwamaayati = Gurutwam +aayaati.      Gurutwam = grandeur, greatness.
Aayati = attains, becomes.    Dugdha =  milk.     Dadhi = curd.     Ghruta = butter oil, (ghee in Hindi).

i.e.      One does not possess greatness and prominence by birth.  There is also difference in the level of  qualities and virtues one possesses,and these are acquired  gradually e.g. milk  turns into curd and then ultimately becomes Ghee (butter oil, the most valued milk product).


       

To day's Subhashit.

यथा वृष्टिः समुद्रेषु भुक्तस्योपरि भोजनम् .
एवं प्रीति: खलैः सार्धमुत्पन्नाSप्यवसीदति .

Yathaa vrushtih samudreshu bhuktasyopari bhojanam.
Evam preetih khalaih saardhamutpannaapyavaseedati.
Yathaa = just as, for instance.       Vrushtih = rain.      Samudreshu =  over the Ocean.
Bhuktsasyopari =  Bhukta +sy +upari.      Bhukta =eaten.   Sya = a pronoun (3rd person)
 Upari = afterwards.
Bhuktasyopari = after a person has already eaten his meal.      Bhojanam = food, a grand meal.
Evam= similarly.    Preetih =  friendship.      Khal =a rogue, a wicked person.
Saardhmutpannaapyavaseedati = saardh +utpanna = api + avaseedati..       Saardh = together, with
Utpanna = arisen, born.      Api = also.     Avaseedati= comes to an end,  becomes futile, comes to naught.

i.e.   Just as rain over the ocean and  an offer of a lavish meal after a person has already taken his food is futile; similarly friendship with a wicked person is of no use when its need arises..

(Through this Subhashit the author warns against having friendship with wicked persons, as such friendship will be of no use at the time of a need just like rain over an Ocean and an offer of a lavish dinner to a person whose stomach is already full after taking his meal.)

To day's Subhashit.

न धनी न बली नापि शूरो न गुणवानपि .
तथा भाति यथा वक्ता सभायां पिकवद्वने .

Na dhanee na bali naapi shooro na gunawaanapi.
Tathaa bhaati yathaa vaktaa sabhayaam pikavadvane.

Dhani = a rich person.    Bali = powerful.      Naapi = na  + api.      Na = not.     Api = even.
Gunawaanapi = gunwaan = api'        Gunwaan = talented, virtuous.
Tathaa = therefore.    Bhaati = shines,  appears as, shows eminence.      Vaktaa = an orator,
 Yathaa = for instance,  in the same manner.   Sabhaayaam = in an assembly of persons, in a meeting.
Pikawadvane = Pik +wat + Vane.       Pik = cuckoo.( called Koel in Hindi language, known for its very sweet voice)     vad = speak.
Van = a forest.      Vane = in a forest.

i.e.       A person may not be very rich, powerful and even virtuous, but if he is an orator he shows his eminence in an assembly of persons like a cockoo in a forest.

(Through this Subhashit the author has highlighted the sway an orator creates in the minds of his listeners and  can motivate them)

To day's Subhashit.

श्रोतं  श्रुतेनैव न कुण्डलेन  दानेन पाणिर्न तु कंकणेन .
विभाति कायः खलु सज्जनानां परोपकारेर्न  तु चन्दनेन .

Shrotm shrutenaiva na kundalen  daanen paanirn to kamkanen.
Vibhati kaayah khalu sajjanaanaam paropakaarern tu chandanen.

Shrotm = ears.       Shrutenaiva = Shruta + iva.    Shruta - scriptures, treatises, manuals..
Iva = rather than.      Kundalen = by a kundal    Kundal = a round ornament worn on the ears.
Daan =  donation.     Daanen = by donating.      Paanirn = Paani +na.    Paani = hands    Na = not.
Kamkan =  a bracelet worn on the wrist.     Vibhati = adorned, glorified      Kayah = body.
Khalu= surely, truly.   Sajjanaanaaam =  noble and righteous persons.. Paropkaaren = by helping others.
Na tu = not by.     Chandanen = sandalwood paste.

i.e.     Ears get adorned  by listening to scriptures and treatises of learning and not by wearing ear rings,  hands get adorned by giving donations and not by wearing bracelets.  Therefore the personality (entire body)  of a noble and righteous person gets adorned by helping others  and not by smearing sandal wood paste over his body.
 
(Through this Subhashit the author emphasises the fact that outer beauty aids may make a person look beautiful in appearance, but he is appreciated and revered by the society  if he is learned, religious and  virtuous.)

To day's Subhashit.

पिता रत्नाकरो यस्य लक्ष्मीर्यस्य सहोदरी .
शंखो रोदति भिक्षार्थी नादत्तमुपतिष्ठति .

Pita Ratnaakaro yasya Lakshmeeryasya sahodari.
Shamkho rodati bhikshaarthi naadattamupatishth.

i.e.    A conch shell, whose father is the Ocean and Lakshmi (the  Goddess of wealth ) is its sister, has still to live as a begger by weeping and howling ( for the purpose of begging).

Pita = father.         Ratnakaro = Ocean.      Yasya =  whose.      Lakshmi = Goddes of wealth and riches.
Sahodari = a sister ,born of the same womb.      Shankh = conch shell. This is used in religious rites by blowing, which produces loud houling sound.     Rodati =  weeps.(here the reference to the howling sound produced by blowing the conch shell.).     Bhikshaarthi = a beggar.
Bhikshaarthi = bhikshaa + arthi.       Bhikshaa =  begging.      Arthi = desirous  of.
Naadattamupatishthati =  Naadatti +uptishthati.       Naadatti = makes a howling sound.
Upatishthati = attends to , goes to.

(The idea behind this Subhashit ,written in a lighter vein, is that even if two persons are born of the same mother, their destinies are different. While one of them may lead a luxurious life the other one may be very poor and may even become a beggar. Here the author refers to the epic of 'Samudra Manthan" of Hindu mythology, according to which Gods and Demons (Devas and Danaavas) joined together to churn the Ocean and used Sumeru Mountain as a churning tool and Vaasuki Naag (a serpant) as a rope attached to the churn.  During the process of the churning many products were brought out of the ocean including Lakshmi, whom Lord Vishnu took as his consort,  Halahal Visha (most powerful poison), which Lord Shiva drank to protect .Gods and Demons, and Amrita, the necter which makes its drinker immortal , to grab which Gods and Demons fought with each other.  Conch shell is also a product of the Ocean.and used in religious rites and at times beggars and mendicants also use it while begging. So the author has termed it as co-born  of Lakshmi  (sahodari).

To day's Subhashit.

कृपणो धनलोभेन स्वां  भार्यां नाभिगच्छति .
अस्यां यो जायते पुत्रः समे  वित्तं हरेदिति..

Krupano dhanlobhen swaam bhaaryaam naabhigachchti.
Asyaam yo jaayate putrah same vittam harediti.

Krupano = a miser       Dhanlobha = desire for wealth.       Swaam =his own.
Bhaaryaa = wife.         Naabhigachchti = na+abhigachchti       Na = not.
Abhigachchti = maintain marital relations.       Asyaam =theirs.    Yo = even if
Jaayate =  born .   Putra = son.      Same = he.     Vittam =  wealth.   Harediti=  destroys.

i.e.   A miser,due to his excessive desire for acquiring wealth, does not even maintain marital relations with his wife. Even if a son is born to them , he (their son) afterwards destroys the accumulated wealth (due to his extravagance) ..

(The phenomenon of destruction of the accumulated wealth by the successors of misers is very common in the society . Through this  Subhashit the author, therefore, warns against such miserly behaviour.)

To day's Subhashit.

आलस्यस्य कुतो विद्या अविद्यस्य कुतो धनम् '
अधनस्य कुतो मित्रं अमित्रस्य कुतो सुखम् .

Aalasyasya kuto vidyaa avidyasya kuto dhanam.
adhanasya kuto mitram amitrasya kuto sukham.

Aalasya  = laziness, idleness .  Sya = a pronoun , base of 3rd person.   Aalasyasya = a lazy or idle person   Kuto = where.     Vidyaa = any kind of knowledge, learning, education.    Avidya = uneducated, foolishness.     Avidyasya = a foolish or uneducated person.    Adhana = without money.    Adhanasya = a poor person.      Mitra= friend.      Amitrasya = a person without friendsfriends.    Sukham = happiness,prosperity.

i.e.     If a person is lazy then where are the chances of his being a learned persons ?  So also if a person is foolish and uneducated  how can he be rich, and if he is poor how can he have friends, and if he has no friends how can he become happy and prosperous ?

(Through this Subhashit the author exhorts us to shed laziness, which is the root cause of being uneducated,poor, without any friends and  happiness.)

To day's Subhashit.

दूरस्था पर्वताः रम्याः वेश्या च मुखमंडने
युद्धस्य  तु  कथा रम्या त्रीणि रम्याणि दूरतः

Dorasthaa parvataah ramyaa veishya cha mukhmmdane.
yuddhashya to kathaa ramyaa treeni ramyaani dooraatah.

 Doorasthaa = situated far away.       Parvataah =  mountains.     Ramyaa = pleasing, beautiful.
Veishya = a prostitute, awoman of ill repute.      Mukhmandane =  decoration of the face,  make-up.
Yudhasya tu= of a war       Kathaa = story, tales.      Treeni = these three.     Ramyaani = are pleasing.
Dooratah = from a distance.

i.e.      Mountains situated far away, a prostitute with a heavy make-up and stories about a War, all these three are pleasing only if viewed from a distance.

(Climbing a mountain is an arduous task, and it is better to appreciate the beauty of a prostitute from a distance and so also viewing a war (or a movie about a war) is pleasing so long  as one is actually not participating in these activities.)

To day's Subhashit.

आचारः प्रथमो धर्मः इत्येतद् विदुषां वचः
तस्माद् रक्षेत् सदाचारं प्राणेभ्योऽपि विशेषतः.

Aacharh prathmo dharmah ityetad vidushaam vachah.
Tasmaad rakshet sadaachaaram praanebhyopi visheshatah.

Aachaar = good conduct.      Pratham = first, foremost..    Dharma=  religion, propriety of conduct, duty..
Ityetad = like this.  Vidushaam = learned and righteous persons.   Vachah =  have ordained, made as a rule.        Tasmaad = therefore.     Rakshed =  protect, preserve, follow  
Sadachaaram = good conduct, leading a virtuous life.       Praanebhyopi = Praan + ibhya +api.
Praan = life.     Ibhya =  wealth.       Api = more than.      Visheshatah = especially.

i.e.       Learned and righteous persons have ordained (like observance of religion) that leading a virtuous life and maintaining good conduct is the foremost duty  of a person. He should, therefore, take special care to do so in the same manner as he does to protect his life and wealth .

To day's Subhashit.

संपत्सु महतां चित्तं भवत्युत्पल कोमलं  .
आपत्सु च महाशैलशिलासंघातकर्कशम .

Sampatsu mahataam chittam bhatyutpal komalam.
Aapatsu cha mahashailashilaasanghaatkarkasham

i.e.        During the times of affluence a noble person is gentle and kind hearted like a lotus flower, but when he faces a calamity or misfortune he becomes firm like a big rock of a Mountain .

Sampatsu = prosperity, riches.      Mahataam = noble and righteous persons.      Chittam = heart, mind.
Bhawatyutpal = Bhawati + utpal.       Bhawati = becomes.       Utpal = a lotus flower.    
Komal = soft, gentle, kind..          Aapatsu =  a calamity or misfortune.     Cha = at the time of
Mahashaila =  a  mountain.    Shaila = rock.       Samghaat = strike.       Karkasham = rugged, hard, firm.

To day's Subhashit.

परोपदेशे पाण्डित्यं सर्वेषां सुकरं नृणाम् .
धर्मे स्वीयमनुष्ठानं कस्य चित्सुमहात्मनः .

Paropadeshe paandityam sarveshaam sukaram nrunaam
Dharme sweeyamanushthhanam kasya chitsumahaatmanah.

Paropadeshe = giving advice to others.         Paandityam= learning , scholarship.
Sarveshaam = every one.      Sukaram = easy         Nrunaam = people
Dharme = religiously,  duty fully..        Sweeya manushthhanam = carrying out himself.    Kasya = whose.
chid = indeed.        Sumahaatmanah = very magnanimous person.

i.e.       Showing scholarship while giving advice to others is very easy for every body, but following such advice  dutifully themselves is done only by very magnanimous persons.

To day's Subhashit.

उपाध्यायात दश आचार्यः आचार्याणां शतं पिता
सहस्रं तु  पितृन्  माता गौरवेण अतिरिच्यते  ||

Upadhyaayat dash Aachaaryah Aachaaaryaanam shatam Pita.
Sahasram tu Pitrun Maata gauravena atirichyate.

Upadhyaaya =  An ordinary teacher in a school.    Dash = ten      Aacharya = a preceptor (teacher of higher caliber, such as a Professor).       Shatam = one hundred.        Pita = father.       Sahasram = one thousand.
To = a word to differentiate or compare between two things.     Pitrun =   father.      Maata = mother.
Gaurav =  venerableness, teaching .    Gauravena =  in the matter of imparting teaching and venerability..                                           Atirichyate = surpasses, excels.

i.e.          An Achaarya is equal to ten Upadhyaas,  a father is equal to one hundred Aacharyaas, and even one thousand fathers can not surpass  a mother in the matter of imparting knowledge to a child (and deserves more respect and admiration than all these three persons).

(This Subhashit eulogies the role of a mother in imparting the basic skills to a child and stresses that it is thousands times more valuable than the skills imparted by an Upadhyaya,Aachaarya and a father and deserves more veneration and admiration than all theses three persons. It is only due to this reason that the language a person speaks is called  his 'Matru Bhaasha' i.e. 'Mother tongue')

To day's Subhashit.

मनस्येकं वचस्येकं कर्मण्येकं महात्मनाम्  .
मनस्यन्यत् वचंस्यन्यत् कर्मण्यन्यत् दुरात्मनाम् .

Manasyekam vachasyekam karmaNyekam mahatmanaam'
Manasyanyat  vachasyanyat karmNyanyat duraatmnaam.

i.e.     Noble and great persons have uniformity in their thinking, speech and actions, whereas wicked persons' thinking, speaking and actions are different and inferior.

 (Whatever noble persons think, they express it through words and then act accordingly. On the other hand wicked persons never reveal what they have in mind and say some thing else and never stick to their words and act differently to harm  others.)

Manasi =  thought   .     Ekam=  one, same.     Vachasi = speech.     KarmaNi =  being in action.
Mahatmanaam = magnanimous persons, noble and great persons.
Manasyantya = manasi + antya.      Antya = inferior.      Duratmnaam = evil natured and wicked persons.

To day's Subhashit.

एकेन अपि सुपुत्रेण  सिंही स्वपति निर्भयं .
सः एव दशभिः पुत्रैः भारं वहति गर्धभी.

Eken api suputren simhee swapati nirbhayam.
Sah  eva dashabhih putraih bhaaram vahati gardhabhee.

Eken = one.      Api = but.     Su= capable, competent.    Putra =son, a cub in case of animals.  
 Singhee = lioness.Swapati = sleeps.        Nirbhayam = without any fear.      Sah = having.     Eva = already.
Dashabhih =  ten.     Putraih =  sons.      Bhaaram = load,     Vahati = carries, bears.    Gardhbhee = she ass.

i.e.      By having only one capable son(cub) a lioness sleeps (lives) without any fear, but even already having ten offsprings, a she ass has still to carry heavy loads on her back.

(The underlying idea behind this Subhashit is that it is better to have one competent son rather having a number of incompetent sons.)

To day's Subhashit.

अधर्मेणैथते पूर्व ततो भद्राणि पश्यति.
ततः सपत्नान जयति समूलस्तु विनश्यति.

Adharmenaithate poorva tato bhadraani pashyati'
Tatah sapatnaan jayati samoolastu vinashyati.

i.e.     Before indulging in immoral and unjust deeds, for a while a person enjoys prosperity and conquers his enemies. But afterwards he gets destroyed  completely.

Adharmenaithate = Adharma +athate.     Adharma =  immoral and unjust acts.     Atathe = afterwards.
Poorva = before.     Tato = then        Bhadraani =  good fortune, prosperity.       Pashyati = sees, enjoys.
Sapatnaan = enemies.       Jayati = conquers,         Samoolastu = entirely.     Vinashyati = destroyed.

(Through this Subhashit the authors warns against acquiring wealth through immoral and unjust means and prophesies that ultimately such wealth gets destroyed completely.   There is another similar subhashit    on this theme as under:-
अन्यायोपार्जितं द्रव्यं दश वर्षाणि तिष्ठति . प्राप्येकादशे वर्षे समूलं च विनश्यति.
Anyaayopaarjitam druvyam dash varshani tishthati.  Praapyetwekaadashe varshe samoolam ch vinashyati.
i.e. The wealth acquired through immoral and unjust means stays with a person for 10 years only. In the eleventh year it gets destroyed entirely.)

To day's Subhashit.

रूप य़ौवन सम्पन्ना: विशालकुल संभवा:
विद्याहीना न शोभन्ते निर्गन्धाः किंशुका: इव.

Roop youvan sampannah vishalakula sambhawaah.
Vidyaa heenaa na shobhante nirgandhaah kimshukaah iva.

i.e.      A person  endowed with beauty and youth and born in an illustrious family is not adorned if he is illiterate, just like the flower of a "Kinshuka" tree, which is odourless.

Roop= beauty.      Youvan = youth.       Sampanna= endowed with,  having.
Vishaal= big, illustrious.    Kula = family.     Sambhavaah = born in.
Vidyaaheena = illiterate.     Shobhante = adorned,        Nirgandha = without any smell , odourless.
Kinshuk = a tropical tree having very bright red coloured flowers; also known as 'Palaash'. When it blooms in a jungle, it appears as if the jungle is on fire. But the flowers of the tree are odourless and the tree also does  not produce any fruits.(See the subhashit posted by me on 21st October,2012 having a reference of Kinshuka tree and the futile waiting by a parrot on the tree in the hope of getting fruits from the tree).

Through this Subhashit the author emphasises the importance of .being a literate and learned person.

To day's Subhashit.

विद्या मित्रं प्रवासेषु भार्या मित्रं गृहेषु च.
व्यधिस्तौशधं मित्रं धर्मो मित्रं मृतस्य

i.e.     Knoweledge and scholarship acts like a friend  to a person  during his stay in a foreign country,
his wife as a friend in his household , medicine during his illness and his good deeds during his lifetime after his death.

(In Hindu religion it is believed that by doing good deeds during his lifetime a person earns "Punya" -plus points- which enable him to be re-born in an illustrious family and enjoy all good things of life. In  Bhagwd Gita it is said that - शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोभिजायते. (shucheenaam shreemataam gehe yogabhrashtobhi jaayate - i.e.those persons who although living a pious life due to some reason are not able to achieve the status of a yogi , during their next birth are born in a rich and illustrious family.)

Vidyaa =Knowelwdge,scholarship.     Mitram = friend.      Pravaas = stay abroad.     Bharyaa = wife.
Graheshu = household.    Cha = also.      Vyadhi = illness.       Aushadh = medicine.
Dharma = Religion (here it means living a religious and pious life.)
Mrutam = after death.   Mruta = dead.

To day's Subhashit. c

आरोप्यते शिला शैले यत्नेन महता तथा .
पात्यते तु क्षनेनाधस्तथात्मा गुण दोषयोः  .

Aaropyate shilaa shaile yatnen mahata tatha.
Patyate tu kshena-dhastathatma guna doshayoh.

Aaropyate = to plant, to place,        Shila = a big rock.  boulder.      Shaile =  mountain, hill.
Yatnen = with effort.       Mahataa = great,  mighty.      Tatha = then, in the same manner, likewise.
Paatyate = split, fall down.    Tu = but,  and.      Kshena+adhast+tathaa+Atma=Kshnenaadhastathatma
Kshana = a smallest measure of time, in a second.       Patyate = falls down
Adhasta = backwards, downwards.        Tatha = in the same manner.       Aatma =  self.
Guna = merit, qualities, virtues.         Doshen  = defects

i.e.     It requires mighty effort to carry a big rock (boulder) from the bottom of a mountain to its top, but to bring it downwards takes very little time.  Likewise is the case with virtues and defects in a person.

(By quoting the simile of carrying a boulder to the top of a mountain and rolling it back, the author emphasises the fact that it takes great effort and time to acquire virtues,but the downfall from the pinnacle
of  virtues takes no time like a boulder rolling back from a mountain top, if  a person is not careful in his behaviour and actions.) 

To day's Subhashit.

खद्योतो द्योतते तावत् यावन्नोदयते शशि '
उदिते हि सहस्रIशो न खद्योतो न चन्द्रमा .

khadyoto dyotate taawat yaawannodayate shashih.
udite hi sahasraansho na khadyoto na Chandrama.

i.e.     A firefly shines in the sky so long as the Moon does not rise.  But as soon as the Sun rises, neither the firefly nor the Moon shine in the sky.

Khadyot = firefly, an insect which emits light intermittently from its tail during night. It is also called 'Jugnu'.
Dyotate = shines.     Taawat = so long as. .    Yawannodayate = Yaawat + na + udayate.
Yaawat = until such time, as soon as.        Na = not       Udayate = rises in the sky.     Shashi = Moon
Udite hi = on rising of.        Sahasraansho =  Sun.       Chandrama Moon.

(Through this Subhashit the author emphasises the fact  that ordinary or mediocre  persons are able to attract attention so long as there is no learned  person among them.. But as soon as a really great person arrives on the scene all these persons lose their importance and no body will notice them.)

To day's Subhashit.

इयमुन्नतसत्यशालिनी   महतां काSपि  कठोरचित्तता .

उपकृत्य भवन्ति दूरतः परतः प्रत्युपकार शङ्कायाः 

Iyamunnatsatyashaalini mahtaam kaapi kathorchittataa.

Upakrutya bhawanti dooratah partah pratyupakaar shankaayah.

i.e.   Noble and truthful persons do not have any feeling of rudeness in them, but after helping others they become aloof and indifferent  to avoid the gratitude anticipated from the person helped by them.

Iyam =this.     Unnat = noble, great.      Satyashaalani = truthful .      Mahtaam = great persons.

Kaapi =  any,   where is ?         Kathora =rude.     Chittataa = feeling.     Upakrutya = helped, assisted.

Bhawanti = become.     Dooratah = aloof, keep a distance.     Paratah = indifferent.

Pratyupakaar =  gratitude.       Shankaaya = suspecting, anticipating.

(The author emphasises that charitable work should be done without any pomp and show. In Hindu Religion it is ordained that 'Daan' i.e.charity should be done without any show and  in a clandestine manner. So, righteous persons always follow this dictum.)

To day's Subhashit.

अति कुपिता अपि सुजना योगेन मृदु भवन्ति न तु नीचाः
हेम्नः कठिनस्यापि द्रवणोपायोSस्ति न तृणाना

Ati kupital api sujanaa yogen mradu bhawanti na tu neechaah.
Hemnah kathinasyaapi dravanopaayosti na trunanaam .

i.e.   Even if a righteous person becomes very angry due to some reason,  his attitude softens and he calms down if handled skillfully, but this does not happen in the case of a wicked person. For example Gold (a precious metal) on being treated harshly (heated on a fireplace) becomes liquefied (but takes its original shape and lustre when cooled), whereas ordinary grass on catching fire gets  burnt completely.

Ati = too much.      Kupita = angry, offended.        Api = even if.          Sujana = righteous person.
Yogen = handled skillfully or diligently.        Mrudu = soften,  pliant.       Bhavanti = happens, becomes.
Na tu = but not.      Neechaah = wicked and lowly persons.        Hemnah = gold ( a precious metal).
Kathina = harsh, cruel (here it refers to rough treatment to gold by heating it on a fireplace)
Api = even , also (this word is also used to emphasise an action).      Dravanopaaya = liquefied.
Asti = becomes   Dravanopaayosti = becomes liquefied.      Na = not .    Trunanaam = grass..

(The author of the Subhashit has compared righteous and wicked persons to Gold and grass respectively and thereby highlighted their qualities and weakness dramatically.)

To day's Subhashit.

मनसि वचसि कार्ये पुण्यपीयुष्पूर्णा-                   Manasi vachasi kaarye punyapeeyushpoornaa-
-स्त्रिभुवनमुपकारश्रेणिभिः प्रीणयन्त:                -stribhuvanmupakaarashrenibhih preenayante
परगुणपरमाणन्पर्वतीकृत्य नित्यम्                    Paraguna parmaanan parvateekrutya nityam
निजहृदि विकसन्तः सन्ति सन्तः कियन्तः .       Nijhrudi vikasantah santi santah kiyantah.

 Manasi = in though or imigination.     Vachasi = verbally, through words.     Kaarye= through action ,deeds.
Punya = holy, pure.      Peeyush = nectar.        Poorna =full of.       Tribhuwan =  three worlds.
(In Hindu Religion the Universe called 'Brahmaand'  consists of three  components i.e.Prithvi = Earth,  Aakash =Sky and Paataal = underground, which are called tribhuwan. Tri means three.)
Upkaar = helping others, doing good.      Shrenibhih =range, different types.    Preenayante =pleases.
Par= others.   Guna = qualities.      Parmaanu = atom , a speck of dust.   Parvat = mountain.
Krutya = making     Parvatikrutya = treating like a mountain (making a mountain out of a molehill)
Nij = one's own.     Hrudi = mind., heart.       Vikasantah =    blooms, opens.      Santi= there are.
Santa = a saint, one who himself endures hardships but helps others i.e. a very religious and kind person who is always keen to help mankind.             Kiyantah = where are.

i.e.       A saintly persons whose  heart blooms in such a way that it is full of the nectar of compassion,who is always engaged  in helping the mankind in this World  through his thoughts,speech and action, who always views the qualities in others magnified in such a way as if  a speck of dust is like a mountain, are rarely found.

(The author by  praising the virtues of a Saint who is very kind heart and engaged in the service of the Mankind, asks a question as to how many such great persons can be found. This shloka is a fine example of the use of flowery language to express a thought.)

To day's Subhashit.

हरे : पदाहति श्लाघ्या न श्लाघ्यं खररोहणे 

स्पर्धाSपि  विदुषा युक्ता न युक्ता मूर्खमित्रता /

Haraih padaahati shlaaghyaa na shlaaghym khararohane.

spardhaapi vidushaa yuktaa na yukata moorkhamitrataa.

i.e.    It is still praiseworthy to be kicked by a horse while mounting it rather than riding on a donkey. Similarly it is preferable to compete with a wise and learned person rather than having friendship with an idiot.

Haraih = horse.      Padahati = kicked by       . Shlaaghyaa = praiseworthy, laudable.

Khara = donkey.    Rohane = riding on.      Khararohane = riding on a donkey.  

Spardhaapi = Spardhaa + api     Spardhaa = competition.     Api = also,  even.

Vidushaa = wise and learned men.     Yuktaa =  with , desirable.     Moorkha = idiot, a foolish person.

Mitrataa = friendship.

To day's Subhashit.

दुर्जनवदनविनिर्गत वचनभुगङ्गेन सज्जनो दष्टः
 तद्विषघातनिमित्तं विद्द्वज्जनमौनमौषधं  पिवति

Durjanavadanvinirgat vachanbhungen sajjano dashtah
Tadvishghaatanimittam viddwajjanmounamoshadham pivati.

i.e.   Whenever a virtuous and wise man faces like a snake's bite foul and indecent words out of the mouth of a mean and wicked person,he keeps mum and does not react, which acts like drinking a medicine as a cure of  such a  poisonous bite.

Durjan = a mean and wicked person.      Vadan = mouth .     Vinirgat = coming out of.
Vachan = words,  speech.     Bhujanga = snake.    Bhungen = like a snake.
Sajjano = a virtuous and wise person.       Dashtah = bitten by (a snake).      Tad =  that
Visha = poison .       Ghaat = strike.      Nimittam =   due to, because of..
Viddwajjana = virtuous and wise person.      Maunmoushadham = maun + aushadham.
Maun =silence, keeping mum.            Aushadham = medicine, (antidote for a poison)

To day's Subhashit.

यदि सन्ति गुणाः पुंसां विकसन्त्येव केवलम् .
नहि कस्तूरिकाSSमोदः शपथेन विभाव्यते.

Yadi santi gunaah pumsaam vikasantyev kevalam.
nahi kastoorikamodh shapathen vibhavyate.

i.e.    If there are good qualities in a person they definitely grow further like the strong fragrance of 'Kasturi' which is clearly distinguishable and can not be concealed simply by swearing (that there is no fragrance).

Yadi = if.        Santi = there are.        Gunaah = good qualities, virtues.     Pumsaam =  person.
vikasanti+eva =Vikasantyev.      Vikasanti = grow gradually,  bloom.     Eva= perhaps, almost.
Kevalam = definitely.       Nahi = not.      Kastoorikamodh = Kasturika + Aamodah.
Kasturika = A breed of deers found in higher reaches of Himalayas. Inside their spleen there is a substance which produces a very strong sweet smell and is a prized item known as Kasturi' (musk).. The fragrance is so strong that the location of the deer can be traced easily by following it.         Kasturi = musk.
Aamod = strong smell.      Shapath = swearing.      Vibhavyate = distinguidshable, clearly perceived.

(The underlying idea behind this Subhashit is that good qualities and virtues in a person grow gradually and can not remain hidden just like the fragrance of Kasturi inside the stomach of the deer.)

To day's Subhashit.

मूलं भुजङ्गैः शिखरं विहंगै:
शाखाः प्लवंगैः कुसुमानि भृङ्गैः
आश्चर्यमेतत् खलुचन्दनस्य
परोपकाराय सतां विभूतियः

Moolam bhungaih shikharam vihamgaih
Shaakhah plavmgaih kusumaani bhrungaih
Aascharyametat khaluchandanasya
paropkaaraya sataam vibhootiyah.

i.e.     Isn't it strange and surprising that on a Sandalwood tree snakes reside in its roots (and trunk), birds on its top, monkeys on its branches, and bees on its flowers ?   No, it is not surprising because ( likewise) benevolence and charity is the greatness (special attribute) of venerable and learned persons.

Moolam = roots.      Bhujmgaih = snakes.     Shikharam = top, peak.      Vihamgaih = birds.
Shaakhah = branches of a tree.      Plawangaih = monkeys.       Kusumaani = flowers.
Bhrungaih = honey bees.          Aascharya =strange,  extraordinary, surprising,      Etat = this
Khalu = truly, surely, isn't it ?      Chandan =sandalwood tree.    Chandanasya = about the 'Chandan' tree.
Paropkaaraaya = benevolence,  helping others,       Sataam = venerable and learned persons.
Vibhuti = greatness, glory, special attribute.

(In this Subhashit a Sandalwood tree and venerable and learned persons have been compared with each other. Both shower their benevolence to all and sundry without any discrimination.  The last line of the Shloka -'परोपकाराय सतां विभूतियः ' (Paropkaaraya sataam vibhutiyah) is the most oft quoted Subhashit.).

To day's Subhashit.

खलानां कण्टकानांच द्विविधै च  प्रतिक्रिया .
उपानन्मुखभंगवो दूरतो वा  विसर्जनम्  .

Khalanaam  kantakaanaamcha dwividhai cha pritikriyaa.
upaananmukhbhangwo doorto wa visarjnam.

i.e.     The way of dealing with wicked persons and thorns is of two types. Their face should either be snubbed by a shoe or they should be avoided and kept at a distance..

Khalaanam =  wicked persons.      Kantakaanam = thorns.       Dwividhai =  of two types.
Pritikriyaa = retaliation,  remedy.     Upaan = shoe.      Mukha = face.        Bhanga = snubbed, broken.
Doorto = from a distance,         Waa = or, alternately.      Visarjanam = abandoned, avoided.

To day's Subhashit.

कृपणेन समो दाता न भूतो न भविष्यति
अस्पृशन्नेव वित्तानि यः परेभ्यो प्रयच्छति .

Krupanena samo daaataa na bhooto  na bhavishyati.
asprushanneva vittaani yah parebhyo prayachchhati.

i/e/     There has never been and nor will ever be a philanthropist equal to (or greater than) a miser who leaves  his wealth for others almost without enjoying it.

Krupan = a miser, an ungenerous person who lives poorly  in order to store his wealth.
Sama = equal to.         Daataa = giver.        Bhooto = never happened in the past.
Bhawashyati =  will happen in future.           Asprashanneva = asprash + iva.
Ashprash = untouched.        Iva = almost.       Vittaani = wealth.        Parebhyah = to others.
Prayachchati = gives.

(There is a nice couplet in Hindi on this very theme - 'खाय न खरचे सूम धन चोर सबै  ले जाय ' -Khai na kharche soom dhan chor sabe le jaaya -  i.e. a miser neither uses his wealth for himself nor gives to others and ultimately thieves take it away.  In Hindi a miser is called a 'soom' .

To day's Subhashit.

अस्थिरं जीवितं  लोके अस्थिरो धन यौवने .
अस्थिराः पुत्रदाराश्च धर्मकीर्तिर्द्वयं  स्थिरं .

Asthiram jeewitam loke asthiro dhana youwane.
asthiraah putradaraashch dharmakeertirdwayam sthiram.

i.e.   In this world the period for which a person will be alive is uncertain and so also how long his wealth, youth, children and wife will remain with him is uncertain.  Only the righteous behaviour and the resultant  reputation (fame) of a person remains permanent (even after his death).

Asthir =  uncertain, temporary, not permanent.         Jeewitam =  age of a person.
Loke = in this world.             Dhan = wealth, riches.        Youwan = youth.
Putra = son .       Daara = wife .         Cha = also.          Dharma =  literal meaning of Dharma is Religion, but here it means righteous and just behaviour of  a person beneficial to society at large.
Dwayam = both .                Sthiram = permanent. 

To day's Subhashit.

वयमिह परितुष्टा वल्कलैस्त्वम् च लक्ष्म्या  (दुकूलैः)
 Vayamih paritushtaa valkalaistwam cha lakshmyaa (dukulaih)
सममिह  परितोषो  निर्विशेषो विशेष:
 Samamiha paritoshe nirvishesho visheshh
स हि भवति दरिद्रो यस्य तृष्णा  विशाला
Sa bhawati daridro yasya trushnaa vishalaa
मनसि च परितुष्टे कोSर्थवान्  को दरिद्रः
 Manasi cha paritushtokorthwaan ko daridrah.

(In the subhashit posted yesterday the first two lines were omitted to be posted inadvertantly. So the entirer Shloka is  now being posted. In the first line there are two versions  (i) वल्कलैस्त्वम् च लक्ष्म्या -'valkalaistwam ch lakshmyaa' and (ii)  वल्कलै त्वम् दुकुलै -'valkalai twam dukulei . Both the versions are  right in their own way. So I am now giving the translation of the entire shloka hereunder)

i.e.      If a person  while provided with garments  made out of  barks of trees or made out of silk (costly  garments) remains satisfied in either of the situations i.e. ordinary and extraordinary, then it is immaterial for him if he become rich or poor. On the other hand  a person who is very greedy is really poor (because he always desires for more and feels himself as poor).

Valkal = clothes made out of barks of wood (e.g.hemp) i.e.very ordinary clothes.
Dukulaaih = garments made out of silk (costly garments).     Lakshmyaa = riches.
Sama = equal.    Iha = here , now.         Nirvishesh = ordinary.    Vishesh = special.

To day's Subhashit.

स हि भवति दरिद्रो यस्य तृष्णा  विशाला 

मनसि  च परितुष्टे कोर्थवान्  को दरिद्रः 

Sa hi bhawati daridro yasya trashnaa vishasala.

manasi  cha paritushto korthwaan ko daridrah 

i.e.       A person who is very greedy always remains needy and surely feels himself as poor. If  one feels completely satisfied by whatever he gets  then it is immaterial for him to become rich or remain poor.

Sa  =  he.        Hi = surely .      Bhawati = becomes ,  is.        Daridra = poor.     Yasya =  whose

Trashnaa = greed,strong desire.      Vishala = very big in size.       Manasi =  feeling .

Paritushte =satisfied.      Korthwaan - Kh + Arthwaan.    Kh = who.     Arthwaan =  rich person.

Ko = who.

( Through this Subhashit the author emphasises that there is not end to the desires of a person. If one is very greedy, he still feels poor in spite of being very rich, whereas a person who is satisfied with his lot is a happier person,    There is also a saying in English that if wishes were horses fools would ride on them, which also supports the above subhashit.)

              

To day's Subhashit.

आदौ माता गुरौ पत्नी ब्राह्मणी राजपत्निका
धेनुर्धात्री तथा प्रथ्वी सप्तैता मातरः स्मृतः

Aadou Maata Guruau Patni Bhramani Raajpatnikaa
Dhenurdhaatri tatha Prathwee saptaitaa Maatrah smrutah .

i.e.     At first one's own mother and afterwards the wife of the Guru, a brahmin lady, a Queen, a cow, a foster mother and the mother Earth, all these seven  are declared by tradition as a Mother.

Aadou = at first.      Mataa = mother.       Guruau = teacher's.     Patni = wife.
Raajpatnikaa = wife of the King or a high official.         Dheni =  a cow.
Dhaatri = a foster mother or a maid servant , who, in absence of a child's mother brings up the child.
Prathwee = the Earth in which we live.          Matarah =  mothers.    Saptaitaa =  these seven.
Smrutah = declared by tradition.   ( The rules of social behaviour handed down by tradition and  by our Religion to be treated as a Law are called 'Smriti..

( In Hindu religion a Mother and Father are given the status of a God -  "मातृ देवो भव्  पितृ देवो भव् " -Matru devo bhava pitru devo bhawa -. So all the above seven are awarded the status of one's own Mother by our Religion and tradition having regard to the services rendered by them to the mankind)

To day's Subhashit.

     On the auspicious occasion of Deepawali, the festival of lights, I convey my best wishes to all my friends and well wishers with this Shloka:-

सर्वे सुखिनः सन्तु सर्वे सन्तु निरामया.
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु माकश्चिद्दु:खभाग्भवेत् .

i.e.   I pray to God Almighty that let all inhabitants of this Earth remain happy  and free from all sorts of ailments. Let every body see and enjoy a good lifestyle and never face sorrows and calamities.

To day's Subhashit.

दीपो भक्ष्यते ध्वान्तं  कज्जलं च प्रसूयते .
यादृशं भक्षयेदन्नं जायते तादृशी प्रजा '

Deepo bhakshyate dhwaantam kajjalam cha prasooyater.
Yaadrusham bhakshyedannm jaayate taadrushi prajaa.

i.e.      A burning earthen oil lamp destroys darkness and during that process produces lampblack. Similarly   the type of food consumed  by the inhabitants of a country  accordingly affects their attitude and behaviour.

Deep = an earthen oil lamp.      Bhakshyate = destroys, devours, eats.    
Dhwaanta =  darkness, without light.          Kajjalam = lampblack.
Prasooyate = produces.     Yaadrusham = like this.       Taadrush =  like that.
Bhakshyedannm = Bhakshaye + annam.     Bhakshye =  consume, eat.
Annam - food.     Jaayate = becomes .        Prajaa = subjects, inhabitants of a country.

(The author emphasizes the importance of simple and nourishing vegetarian food as compared to non-vegetarian food.  Those animals and humans who are carnivorous are more aggressive and cruel in their behaviour towards others.)

To dsy's Subhashit.

नरस्याभरणं रूपं रूपस्याSSभरणं गुण:
गुणस्याSSभरणं ज्ञानं ज्ञानस्याSSभरणं  क्षमा .

Narasyaabharanam roopam roopasyaabharanam gunah.
gunasyaabharanam gyaanm gyaanasyaabharanam kshmaa.

i.e.     A person's ornamentation is his grace , and grace if  associated with virtues. Virtues get decorated by knowledge, and knowledge by tolerance and forbearance.

Nara = a person.      Aabharan =jewellery, attire, decoration.      Roop =grace,  form, splendour.
Roopasya =  of the 'Roop'.        Gunah = virtues, quality,merit.         Gyaan = knowledge.
Kshama = forbearance, tolerance, forgiveness.

(Through this Subhashit the author emphasises  that a person may be beautiful, but simply being beautiful is of no use if he does not have good qualities which are acquired through knowledge.  And  simply having knowledge is immaterial if the person concerned does not possess tolerance and forgiveness.)

To days Subhashit.

आयुषः क्षण एकोऽपि सर्वरत्नेन लभ्यते.
नाSयते स वृथा येन प्रमादः सुमहानहो

Aayushh kshana ekopi sarvaratnena labhyate.
naayate sa vrathaa yena pramaadh sumahaanho.

i.e.    Even a single moment of Life can not be obtained in exchange of all the wealth and to expect this is futile and rightly a big mistake.

Aayushh = life.      Kshna = moment, a second.     Ekopi = even one.    
Sarvaratnena= Sarva +Ratne +na,     Sarva = all       Ratne = jewels, wealth, riches.    
Na =  not.           Labhyate = obtained.
Naayate =na +aayate.    Na = not      Aayate =  expected.       Sa = that.
Vruthaa = futile, useless, producing no result.     Yean = where for,  this.
Pramaad = mistake, madness, error.     Sumahaanho = Su+mahaan+ho.
Su =rightly.   Mahaan = big.     Ho = a suffix to a word.

To day's Subhashit.

येषां श्रीमद्द्यशोदासुतपद्कमले नाSस्ति भक्तिर्नराणां .
येषांमाभीरकन्या प्रियगुण कथने नाSनुरक्ता रसज्ञा .
येषां श्रीकृष्णलीलाललितगुणरसे सादरौ नैव  कर्णों.
धिक् तान  धिक् तान धिगेतान कथयति सततं कीर्तानस्यो मृदंग:

Yesham shreemaddyashodasutapadakamale naasti bhaktirnaraanaam
yeshaammaabhirakanyaa priyaguna kathane naanuraktaa rasagyaa.
yeshaam shreekrishnaleelalalitgunarase saadarou naiva karnou
Dhik taan dhik taan dhigetaan kathayati satatam keertanasyo mrudangh.

Those persons who do not show obeisance before the lotus like feet of the son of Yashodsa, whose tongue is not engaged in praising the virtues of  the lover of daughters  of  cowboys, and those who do not lend reverentially their ears to the beautiful stories of various deeds of Shri Krishna, during the course of a 'keertan'  the 'mrudang' on being played repeatedly and always pronounces 'Pity on such persons, pity on such persons' .

(This Subhashit is a fine example of playing with words. 'Mrudang' , a pruccusion musical instrument used for accompanying a singer, produces a sound on being played which is just like the sound when one pronounces the word 'dhik taan' repeatedly. The meaning of 'dhik' is 'pity'  and that of 'taan'  is' those people'.   In the first three lines of the 'Shloka' the author has not mentioned the name of Lord Shri Krishna, but just given a description of his personality and activities and in the last line disclosed his name.The main profession of the family where  Lord Krishna was reared during his childhood, was raising cow herds and dealing in milk products and were called 'Abheer' or 'Aheer' or 'Gope. )

Yeshaam = those persons.     Yashoda = foster mother of Lord Krishna .     Suta =  son.
Pad kamal = feet like lotus flower.      Bhakti = showing obeisance.      Naranaam = persons
Aabhir = a caste of persons engaged in raising cows and dealing in milk products  as a profession.
Kanyaa = daughter.      Anurakta =  engaged in.     Rasagyaa = tongue.     Lalit = beautiful.
Guna = qualities.   Leela =  antics, actions.deeds.       Saadarou = with respect reverentially.
Karnau = ears.       Dhik  taan =  a sound produced by playing a mridang,  pity on those.
Kathayati = says      Satatam = always.       Keertan = singing in praise of the Lord with the accompaniment of various musical instruments including a 'mridang' .

To day's Subhashit.

कुस्थानस्य प्रवेशेन  गुणवानपि  पीड्यते
वैश्वानरोSपि लोहस्यः कारुकैरभिहन्यते.

Kusthaanasya praveshen  gunawaanapi peedyate.
Vaishwaanaropi lohasya kaarukairabhihanyate.

i.e.    By entering a wrong place even a virtuous person also suffers e.g. the fire in the hearth  of an ironsmith is hit by him (with a hammer for  giving a shape to the heated iron)

Kusthaan = an improper place.       Ku = improper.     .   Sthaan = place.
Praveshen = by entering.         Gunawaan =  virtuous.      Peedyate =  suffers, gets pain.
Vaishwaanaropi = Vaishwaanar + api.       Vaishwaanar = fire.        Api = also.
Loha = iron.    Lohasya = of the iron.      Kaarukairabhihanyate = Karukaih + abhihanyate.
Karukaih = artisans ( an ironsmith).         Abhihanyate = hit by, beaten by.

To day's Subhashit.

किन्चिदाश्रय सौन्दर्याद्धत्ते  शोभामसाध्वपि.
कान्ता विलोचने न्यस्तं मलिमसिभिवान्जनम् .

Kinchidaashraya saundaryaaddhatte shobhaamasaadhwapi.
Kaantaa vilochane nyastm malimasabhiwaanjanam.

i.e.       By getting  a little support from a beautiful person even generally bad things and persons get glorified , e.g. carbon soot applied to the eyes by a beautiful woman becomes 'anjan' ( a beauty aid to beautify eyes).

Kinchidaashraya = Kinchit + aashraya.         Kinchit = little,slight.        Aasshraya =  support, shelter.
Saundaryaaddhate = Saundarya + Ddhatte.       Saundarya = beauty.       Dhatte = in association with.
Shobhaamasaadhwapi = Shobhaa + asaadhu + api.       Shobha = grace, beauty, become distinguished.
Asaadhu = not good, bad, a wicked person.          Kaantaa = a beautiful woman.
Vilochane =  eyes.         Nyastam = applied to.      Malimasi = black soot produced by burning an oil lamp.
Bhiwanjanam =  bhawati +anjanam.         Bhawati = becomes.
Anjanam = a beauty aid created by mixing black carbon soot produced by an oil lamp mixed with butter oil used as a shado liner on the eyes to beautify them.    

( The Subhashit emphasizes the fact that association with renowned and famous persons gets recognition to even very ordinary persons, which they would never get on their own.)

To day's Subhashit.

राजा राष्ट्रकृतं पापं राज्ञाम्य पापः पुरोहितः
भर्ता च स्त्रीकृतं  पापं शिष्य पापं गुरुः तथा.

Raajaa raashtrakrutam paapm raagyaamya paph purohitah.
Bhartaa cha sweekrutam paapm shishya paapm guruh tathaa.  

i.e.    If the subjects of a King indulge in wrongdoings, he is responsible for it. And if the King does the same his priest (counsellor) is responsible for it.  A husband is responsible for the wrongdoings of his wife and a teacher is responsible for the wrongdoings of his students.

Raashtrakrutam = Raashtra + krutam.     Rashtra = kingdom.      Krutam = done by.
Paapm =act of breaking a law of one's religion, wrongdoings,shortcomings.
Raagyaamya = of the king's.       Purohita = priest. (in olden times the main priest  of a king used to guide him in the matters of ruling his subjects and they were reverentially called 'Guru'.
Bhartaa = husband.      Stree = wife, woman.      Shishya = student.      Guru = a teacher.

(The underlying idea behind this subhashit is that a ruler and his counsellors,a husband and a teacher are responsible for and can control the wrongdoings and sinful behaviour of their subjects and subordinates for the overall benefit of the Society. Their timely and stern action can dissuade their subordinates from indulging in wrongdoings.)

To day's Subhashit.

साक्षराः विपरीतास्चेद्राक्षसाः  एव केवलम्
सरसो विप्रीतस्चेत्सरसत्वम् च मुञ्चति

Saaksharaah vipreetaschcdraakshsaah eva kevalam .
Saraso vipreetaschetsasatwam na munchati.

i.e.    The opposite of the word '.saaksharaah' is only 'Raakshasaah' . On the other hand the opposite of the word 'saras' is always 'saras' and it does not lose its meaning.

(To understand this Subhashit we have to get a bit familiar with the alphabet of Sanskrit. The word  'साक्षरा ' which means a person who just knows only reading and writing and is not a Scholar,when read backward becomes 'राक्षसा '  whereas the word 'सरस ' remains the same i.e. 'सरस'. The meaning of 'Rakshasha' is a demon and that of the word 'saras' is sentiment or any thing juicy and it remains the same even on being read backwards. This implies  that a person who is just a 'saakshar' changes his  nature under adverse circumstances, whereas a really  learned person does not lose his nature and remains cool even under adverse circumstances. )

Saakshara = a person who just knows reading and writing and is not a learned person.
Vipreeta = opposite      Rakshasha =  a demon .     Eva = really.       Kewalam = only.
Saras = sa + rasa.    Sa = with.     Rasa = sentiments,  a juice or fluide. ( here it implies good nature of a learned  person).        Sarasatwam = good nature  like kindness, humility and compassion.
Munchati = loses.

To day's Subhashit.

संग्रहेकपरः प्रायः समुद्रोपि  रसातले .
दातारं जलदं पश्य गर्जन्तं भुवनोपरि..

Sangrahekaparah praayah samudropi rasaatale
Daataaram jaladam pashya garjantam bhuwanopari.

i.e.     Those persons who generally hoard their wealth, are like an Ocean as also underground mines of minerals.. On the other hand look at those persons who share their wealth with others (by doing charitable work) like a rain bearing cloud roaming all around the Earth with thundering sound, distributing life giving water to all living beings.

Sangrahekaparah =  Sangrah + eka + Par.    Sangrah = hold, hoard.  Eka = a fellow, a person.
Para = best or worst.       Praayah = generally.     Samudropi = Samudra + api.
Samudra = Ocean.      Api = as also.         Rasaatala = underground. (here reference to mines of various minerals hidden inside the Earth).      Daata = a person who gives his belongings to others in charity.         Jalad = a rain bearing cloud.     Pashya = look at.      Garjantam = producing thunderous and rumbling sound.      Bhuwanopari = Bhuwan + upari.   Bhuwan = Earth.    Upari = over, upon.

(Through this subhashit the author has compared misers with Ocean and mines deep down the Earth, and liberal persons who share their wealth with others by giving on charity, to rain bearing clouds providing life giving rain to all living beings.   The water of the Ocean is of no use for drinking purposes unless its salt content is removed and similarly the mines hidden under the earth are also of no use until their material is brought up with much effort. Likewise, the wealth of a hoarder is of no benefit to the Society.)

To day's Subhashit.

विद्या विवादाय धनं मदाय शक्तिः परेषां परपीडनाय
खलस्य साधोर्विपरीतमेतज्ज्ञानाय  दानाय च रक्षणाय .

Vidya vivaaday dhanam madaay shaktih paresham parpeedanaay.
Khalasya saadhorvipreetametajgyaanaay daanaay cha rakshnaay.

i.e.    Wicked persons use their knowledge in creating controversies and disputes, their wealth in its vulgar display,and their power in troubling others. On the other hand noble persons do just the opposite i.e. use their knowledge in teaching others, use their wealth in charitable work and their power in protecting the meek

Vidya = knowledge.     Vivaad = dispute, controversy.       Dhanam = riches, money.
Madaay = arrogance, excessive pride over any thing, a state of being intoxicated.
Shaktih = power.     Pareshaam =  others.  Par = others.    Peedanaay = troubling, giving pain to others.
Khal = a wicked person.       Saadho = a noble and kind person.        Vipreet =  opposite.
Etad = theirs.       Gyaanaay = knowledge ..      Daanay =  charity.       Rakshnaay = protecting.

To day's Subhashit.

पृथिव्यां त्रीणि रत्नानि जलमन्नं सुभाषितम् .
मूढैः पाषाणखण्डेषु रत्नसंज्ञा प्रदीयते.

Pruthivyaam treeni ratnaani jalamannam subhashitam.
moodhaih paashaankhandeshu ratnasangyaa pradeeyate.

i.e.   In this World there are three real jewels (anything or anyone highly valued), namely water, food and Subhashitas (noble and pious thoughts). Those persons who consider only rare and beautiful coloured stones as jewels are fools.

Pruthivyaam = the World, Earth.       Treeni = three.        Ratnaani = Jewels, precious stones, any thing or anyone highly valued.          Jal = water.         Annam = food, material used as food. what one feeds on.
Subhashitam = Noble thoughts and commandments given by pious and righteous persons recorded in writing for the benefit of humanity.   Su = noble.   Bhashita = spoken words..      Moodhaih = foolish persons.
Pashaan = Stone .    Khandeshu = pieces. (Jewels and gems are known as precious stones, as the are basically stones but are very beautiful and rarely found in this Earth  and  hence considered precious.)

( Through this Subhashit the author gives more importance to water, food and  noble thoughts of our ancestors and codified ideal human behaviour as commandments of various Religions recorded in writing, collectively named "Subhashitas".  One can not live without water and food as also proper human behaviour and the gems and jewels are mere stones and of no use if we do not have food, water and do not maintain proper behaviour towards others.)

To day's Subhashit.

सर्वाभीष्ट प्रदो नित्यं सन्मार्गेणैव गच्छताम्
विचित्रमेतद्विद्वान्स्तु  जङ्गमः  कल्पपादपः

Sarvaabhishta prado nityam sanmaargenaiva gacchataam
Vichitrametadvidwaanstu jangasmah kalpapaadapah.

i.e.   One should always follow the path of righteousness which is unique and wonderful and fulfils all wishes of learned persons, who are like a "Kalpataru" in a forest of ordinary trees

Sarvaabhishta  (sarva + abhishta)  Sarva = all.      Abhishta = wishes.       Prado = giver.
Nityam = every day.      Sanmaargenaiva = (Sat + Maarg+aiva )  Sat = right    Marga = path.
Aiva = only.      Gacchataam = follow,  go through.       Vichitrametadviswaanstu = (vichitra + etad +vidwaan + to) . Vichitra = unique and wonderful.        Etad = this.   Vidwaan = learned persons. To = also.
Jangamah = forest.   Kalpapaadapah = Kalpa =name of a tree.  Padapah =  tree.
 (In Hindu mythology Kalpapaadap is the tree of Gods, which is capable of fulfilling all the wishes of a person. It is also called 'Kalpataru', taru in Sanskrit is another name for a tree.)

(In this Subhashit the author has emphasized the importance of following the path of righteousness, which, wise men always follow. They are not found in abundance but are very rare like the Kalpataru in a forest having common varieties of trees.)

To day's Subhashit.

सतां सङ्गं बिना  कोपि लभेत्किं वाञ्छितं फलं ,
नहि संताप शान्तिः स्यात्पूर्णचन्द्रोदयं बिना.

Sataam sangam binaa kopi labhetkim vaanchitam phalam,
Nahi santaap shantih syaatpoornachandrodayam bina.

i.e.     Without companionship of noble and righteous persons no one can achieve the desired results, just as without the rising of  a full Moon the heat of a scorching day time can not be subdued.

Sataam = noble and righteous persons.     Sangam = companionship.      Bina = without.
Nahi = not.         Santaap = heat (reference to environment heated by a scorching Sun)
Shantih = subdued,  removed.       Syat = just as,  perhaps.      Poorna Chandra = a full Moon
Udaya = rising.   Poornachandrodaya = rising of a full Moon.

To day's Subhashit.

केशवं पतितं दृष्टवा  पाण्ड्वा : हर्षनिर्भरा:

रुदन्ति कौरवाः सर्वे हा हा केशव केशव.

Keshavam patitam drushtwaa Pandwaah harshnirbharaah

Rudanti Kauravaah sarve ha ha Keshav Keshav.

This is a special type of subhashit known as 'Koot Shloka', which implies that one can interpret  the shloka in two different ways having just the opposite meaning. This is due to either a word having two meaning or by 'sandhi viccheda' (breaking a combination of two words into its components).  In the above shloka the word 'Keshav' by use of sandhi viccheda becomes Ke + Shava (ke= water and shava = cadaver (dead body). 

The word 'Keshav' taken as a whole means  Lord Krishna,.The word Pandav has two meanings  i.e. (i) five sons of Kunti as a group called 'Pandava' and (ii) fish in water    Similarly Kaurava has also two meanings , namely (i) 100 sons of Dhritrashtra,the King and (ii) Crows.  (Kunti and Dhritrashtra are different characters in the famous epic known as 'Mahabharata".)

By interpreting the above shloka in the above manner we get the following two translations of the Shloka, which are just opposite of each other. Without knowing the background of the incident of Mahabharata we can not appreciate this shloka. A war was being waged between Kauravas and Pandavas. Lord Krishna was on the side of Pandavas, giving his services to Arjuna (one of the Pandavas) as his Charioteer(Saarathi). That is why Krishna is also known as "Parth Saarathi". So there was no reason for Pandwas being becoming elated on seeing Keshav's downfall.

1st meaning of the shloka.

By seeing Keshava falling down (dead) during the course of the battle, Pandavas became very happy , whereas the kauravas started weeping by saying 'Ha Keshav Ha Keshav'

2nd meaning of the shloka.

By seeing a cadavor (dead Body) lying in water, the school of fish became overjoyed and at the same time a bunch of crows started crowing loudly.

Patitam = fallen.    Drushtwaa = seeing       Harshnirbharaa =  became happy.

Rudanti = are weeping .     Sarve = all. 

To day's Subhashit.

लोभ मूलानि पापानि संकटानि तथैव च .
लोभात्प्रवर्तते वैरं अतिलोभात्विनश्यति.

Lobha moolaani paapani sankataani tathaiva cha.
lobhaatpravartate vairam atlobhaatvinashyati.

i.e.       Greed is the root cause of sins as also of dangers.  Greed also originates enmity and excessive greed ruins a person.

Lobha = greed , too much desire or appetite for money or food.          Moolaani = root cause, main reason.
Paapani =  sins.         Tatahiva = as also, similarly.          Cha = also.     Lobhat = due to greed
Pravartate = originates, produces.     Vairam =  enmity.         Ati = excessive, too much.
Vinashyati =  ruins, annihilates, destroys.
     

To day's Subhashit.

कुसुमं वर्णसंपन्नं गन्धहीनं न शोभते .
न शोभते क्रिया हीनं मधुरं वचनं तथा .

Kusumam varnasampannam gandhheenam na shobhate.
Na shobhate kriyaa heenam madhuram vachanam tathaa.

i.e.     A flower having bright colours but without any sweet smell is not adored. Similarly only pleasing talk (mere  promises) without being backed by any action is not liked by anybody.

Kusum = a flower.          Varnasampannam = having bright colour(s).        Varna = colour.
Sampanna = having, doing.           Gandh = odour, sweet smell.       Shobhate = adored, liked.
Kriyaa = action,  performance.       Heenam = without.         Madhuram = pleasing.
Vachanam = talk,  speaking.    

To day's Subhashit.

यथा एकेन हस्तेन तालिका न संप्रपद्यते
तथोद्द्यम परित्यक्तं कर्मं नोत्पाद्यते फलं

Yathaa ekena hastena taalika na samprapadyate.
Tathoddyama parityaktam karmam notpaadyate phalam.

i.e.     Just as with the palm of only one hand  no body can do clapping, similarly any task done without making strenuous and sincere effort can not produce the desired result.

Yathaa = for instance, just as.         Ekena =  by one.     Hastena =  palm of a hand.
Taalika = a clap made by striking  palms of both hands to applaud.     Na = not.
Samprapdyate = achieved, produced.    Tathoddyama = Tatha + uddyam.
Tathaa - similarly.   Uddyam = sincere and strenuous efforts made to achieve an objective. Boldness and willingness to try new line of action.
Parityaktam =  leaving, abandoning.       Karma = doing a job.     Notpaadayate = na + utpaadyate.
Utpaadayate  = produces.      Phalam = final result,  also a fruit.

(The Subhashit emphasises that any work done without proper enterprise , i.e.boldness and willingness to try a new line of action, does not produce the desired result. There is another saying in Sanskrit - उद्यमे नास्ति दारिद्रम्  -(udyame naasti daridram) i.e. an enterprising person can never be  poor, which also emphasises the spirit of enterprise.)

To day's Subhashit.

(The following Subhashit is an example of playing with words by the author in the praise of Lord Shiva. In Devnaagri alphabet, which is used to as a Script to write Sanskrit language, the alphabet is divided into many sub-groups called 'varga'.   Each 'varga' is named after the first word of the 'varga'. Pa(प ) varga contains words प(Pa) , फ(pha), ब(ba), भ(bha) , and म(ma). The author has mentioned different words associated with Lord Shiva, starting  with the words of  'Pa varga' in that order i.e.pa, pha,ba, bha and ma
e.g.Parvati his consort,  Phani (a snake),Baalendu (crescent moon), Bhasma (ash), Mandaakini ( river Ganges) in the descending order of 'Pa varga')

(पार्वती फणि बालेन्दु भस्म मन्दाकिनी युता  I
अपवर्ग प्रदा मूर्तिः कथं स्यात् तव शंकरः  I I

Parvati Phani Baalendu Bhasma Mandaakini yutaa.
Apavarg pradaa moortih katham syaat tava Shankarah.

i.e.    O Lord Shiva ! , tell me as to why your idol (moorti) which also has Parvati besides you, a snake on your neck like a garland,  a crescent moon on your forehead, ash smeared over your entire body, and river Ganges falling over your head, (if worshipped with devotion) will not bestow 'Swarga'  to the worshipper ?

Parvati = name of the consort of lord Shiva.        Phani = a snake.        Balendu = crescent moon.
Bhasma = ash .     Mandaakini = River Ganges, which brought from Heaven first landed over the                             head of Lord Shiva.         Yuta =  possessed by.          Apavarg = Swarg (heaven). It is believed that a righteous person, who worships God with devotion, achieves heavenly happiness (Swarga) after his death.          Apavarg pradaa = bestower of 'Swarga'- the heavenly happiness. 
Pradaa = giver.         Moorti = idol.        Katham = tell.        Syaat = perhaps, may be, why not.
Tava = yours.      Shankarh = Lord Shiva

To day's Subhashit

यस्तु संचरते देशान् सेवते यस्तु पण्डितान
तस्य विस्तारिता बुद्धिस्तैलबिन्दुरिवाम्भसि.

 Yastu sancharate deshaan sevate yastu Panditaan.
Tasya vistaaritaa budhistailabindurivaambhasi.

i.e.     A person who frequently travels to different countries and remains in the service of learned persons, his scope of intelligence is very wide,  just like a drop of oil which spreads over a wide area of water.

Yastu =  reference to a person, one who.       Sancharate = travels, roams.
Deshaan = different countries.        Sevate = remains in the service of.
Panditaan = learned persons.          Tasya = his.        Vistaaritaa = expanded,  wide.
Budhistailabindurivaambhasi = Buddhi + taila +bindu +iva+ambhasi
Buddhi = intelligence.         Taila = oil.         Bindu = a drop.     Iva = like.        Ambha = water.

( The subhashit emphasises that a widely travelled person who keeps the company of learned persons becomes very intelligent due to his association with them , citing the example of a drop of oil which spreads evenly over water making a thin layer of oil.) 

To day's Subhashit.

काव्यं करोति सुकविः सहृदय एव व्यनक्ति तत्त्वम्
रत्नं खनिः प्रसूते रचयति शिल्पि तो तत्सुषमाम् .

Kaavyam karoti sukavih sahrudaya evaa vyanakti tatwam.
ratnam khanih prasute rachayati shilpi to tatsushamaam.

i.e.   An expert poet composes an anthology of poems and another kind-hearted person gives it wide publicity by publishing it in a nice book form, just like rough precious stones extracted from a mine after being  cut and polishes by an expert artisan become more beautiful, attractive and valuable..

Kaavya = a story told in verse.        Karoti = writes, produces.       Sukavi = a renowned poet.
Sahrudaya = kind-hearted.               Vyanakti = decorates, beautifies, circulates.
Tatwam = importance, prominence.         Ratnam = precious stones.         Khani = a mine
Prasute = produces, gives birth to.        Rachayati = crafted by cutting and polishing.
Shilpi = an expert artisan.   tat = to.       Sushamaam = beauty, attractiveness.

To day's Subhashit.

विद्वानेन विजानाति विद्द्वज्ज्न्परिश्रमम् .
न हि बन्ध्या विजानाति गुर्वी प्रसववेदनाम्.

Vidwaanen vijaanaati viddwajjnaparishramm .
Na hi bandhyaa vijaanaati gurvi prasavavednaa.
i.e.     Only a learned persons knows how much effort a person has to make to become a learned person. So also a barren woman does not know how much pain a pregnant woman has to bear during child-birth.

Vidwaan = a learned person.        Vijaanaati = knows.         Viddwajjan = learned persons.
Parishramam = efforts made.         Na hi =  does not,            Bandhyaa = a barren woman, a woman who is medically incapable of getting pregnant and bear a child.
Gurvi = a pregnant woman.             Prasav = the process of child birth.       Vednaa = pain.

(In this subhashit a foolish person is compared to a barren woman and the process of acquiring knowledge to pregnancy and the process of child-birth entailing hardships and unforeseen problems. Just as a barren woman can not visualise the pain a woman has to bear during child birth,similarly a foolish person is also oblivious of the effort and sacrifice one has to make to become a learned person, which only a learned person knows.)

To day's Subhashit.

प्रत्यक्ष कवि काव्यं च रूपं च कुलयोषितः
गृहवैद्यस्य विद्या न कस्मैचित्यति  रोचते .

Pratyaksh kavi kaavyam cha roopam cha kulayoshitah .
Gruhavaidyasya vidyaa na kasmaichityati rochate.

i.e.       The poetry of a contemporary and easily available poet, the beauty of one's own wife, and the family doctor's expertise in treating diseases, is hardly ever appreciated and liked by people.

Pratyaksh = any thing directly in front, contemporary.       Kavi = poet.        Kaavya = poetry.
Roopam = beauty.        Kulayoshitah =  one's own wife,   Kula= family.   Yoshita = wife.
Gruh = house.       Vaidya = a person practicing Indian system of Medicine
Gruhavaidya = a family doctor or vaidya.       Kasmai = ever.    Chityati = minds,appreciates.
 Chitta = mind.      Rochate = liked , appreciated.

(The underlying idea is that any thing that is easily available does  not get the recognition and appreciation that it deserves.  There is a Hindi proverb as -  निज गांव  का जोगी अन्य गांव का  सिद्ध - Nij gaon ka jogi anya gaon kaa siddha- i.e. a Jogi  (a person who has renounced family life) of one's own village is considered as an ordinary Jogi, whereas a similar person from any other place is treated like a Siddha (a jogi of highest order). Same is the case with local poets and one's own wife.)

To day's Subhashit.

सर्वत्र देशे गुणवान् शोभते प्रथितः नरः
मणिः शीर्षे गले बाहौ यत्र कुत्र मपि शोभते..

Sarvatra deshe gunawaan shobhate prathitah narah.
manih sheershe gale baahou yatra kutra mapi shobhate.

i.e.    A knowledgeable and virtuous person becomes a celebrity and is adored  in all Countries, just as a precious stone worn over head, neck,arms and even anywhere on the body looks beautiful and  is adored.

Sarvatra = everywhere.        Deshe =  Country.        Gunawaan = knowledgeable and  virtuous person.
Shobhate = liked, adored.        Prathitah = a celebrity,  famous.       Narah = person.
Mani = a precious stone like a ruby,gem etc.        Sheersh = head.        Gale = neck.
Bahou= arms.        Yatra = here.   Kutra = where.       Yatra Kutra = any where.      Mapi = even
Shobhate = looks beautiful, adored.

To day's Subhashit.

किंशुके शुकमातिष्ठ चिरकाल फलेच्छया
वाह्यरङ्गप्रसङ्गेन के के नाSनेन वञ्चिता

Kimshule shukammaatishtha chirkaal phalechchyaa.
Vaahyarangprasangena ke ke naanen vanchitaa.

i.e.    A parrot living on a 'Kinshuka' tree for a very long period with the hope of  getting fruits, ultimately gets dejected (because the tree bears no fruits and is attractive only outwardly). Simply relying on the outwardly attractive appearance of any thing who is not duped and deprived of his expectations from such a thing ?

Kinshuka = A tree also called 'Palash' , which bears only very red coloured flowers but not any fruits.
Shuka = a parrot.     Aatishtha = staying, living        Chirkaal = for a very long period.
Phalechchyaa = Phal + Ichchyaa.       Phal = fruits.        Ichchyaa =  desire, in the hope of getting.
Vaayha = outwardly.       Rang = colour.      Prasangena =appearance.       Ke ke =  how many,  who.
Naanen =Na + Anena.       Na = not.           Anena =  by this.       Vanchitaa = deprived of, duped.

( The underlying idea in this Subhashit is that many a times people get fooled and cheated  due to their reliance on a person or a thing only by the outward appearance of such a thing or person without verifying other important aspects.)

To day's Subhashit.

दुर्जनदूषितमनसां पुंसां सुजनेप्य विश्वासः
बालः पायसदग्धो दध्यापि फूत्कृत्य भक्षति .

Durjandooshitmanasaam punsaam sujanepya vishwashh.
Baalh paayasdagdho dadhyapi phootkrutya bhakshati.

i.e.    A person cheated by a wicked person does not have faith even in noble persons, just as a child having burnt his mouth while eating piping hot milk pudding, next time while eating curd (yoghourt) takes extra precaution of cooling it by blowing over it through his mouth.

Durjan = wicked person.      Dooshit = polluted.      Mansaam = mind.       Pumsaam = person(s).
Sujanepya =  (sujan + api).     Sujan = noble person/.      Api =  not even,  doubts about.
Vishwaas = faith.           Baalah = a child.          Payas = milk pudding.      Dagdho = burnt by.
Dadhyaapi =  even the curd.         Phootkrutya =  the process of cooling a thing by blowing wind over it by using one's mouth.        Bhakshati = eats.

(There is a proverb in Hindi as  'दूध का जला छाछ भी फूक फूक कर पीता है ' (doodh ka jala chhachh bhi phoonk phoonk kar peeta hai ) which has a similar meaning.  Buttermilk is called 'chhaachh' in Hindi.

To day's Subhashit.

साधोः प्रकोपितस्यापि मनो नाSSयाति विक्रियाम्
नहि तापयितुं शक्यं सागराम्भ्स्तृणोल्क्या .

Saadhoh prakopitasyaapi mano naayaati vikriyaam
nahi taapayitum shakyam saagaraambhastrunolkayaa.

i.e.   Noble persons even on being instigated and angered do not lose their presence of mind and remain cool, just as a bundle of burning grass is unable to boil the water of a sea.

Saadhoh = noble persons.       Prakopita = angered ,      Prakopitasyaapi = even on being angered.
Mano =  mind.        Naayaati = na + aayaati.  =   do not .       Vokriyaam =  change, distortion.
Nahi = not.     Taapyitum = heating, boiling.     shakyam = able to do.        Saagar = sea.
Ambha = water.      Saagaraambha = sea water.       Trunolkayaa = Truna + Ulkayaa.
Truna= a blade of grass.    Ulkayaa =  a burning object producing bright light.
Trunolkayaa = a bundle of bruning grass.   (In Sanskrit a metero is also called Ulkaa.)

To day's Subhashit.

हृदयानि सतामेव कठिनानीति  मे मतिः
खलवाग्विषिखैस्तीक्ष्नैर्भिद्द्यते न मनाग्यतः

Hrudayaani sataameva kathinaaneeti me matih.
khalavaagvishikhaisteekshnairbhidyante na manaagyatah.

i.e.   Noble persons with their hearts pierced by sharp arrow like words by wicked people, even under such difficult situation, do not allow their mind to deviate even a bit towards injustice.

Hrudayaani = heart.      Sataameva = noble persons.        Kathinaaneeti = kathin + aneeti.
Kathin = difficult.          Aneeti = injustice , wrong doings.        Mati = mind.
Khala = a wicked person.      Vaag = speech, words         Vishikh = arrow.       Teekshna = sharp, pointed.
Bhidyate = pierced by.   na = not.       Manaagyatah = even a bit , hardly.

(The underlying idea behind this Subhashit is that noble persons do not deviate from the path of righteousness even on being provoked by wicked persons.)

To day's Subhashit.

काचः काञ्चनसंसर्गाद्धत्ते मारकतीर्द्युतिः
तथा सत्सन्निधानेन मूर्खौ याति प्रवीणताम्

Kaachh kaanchansamsargaaddhatte maarkateerdyutih.
Tathaa satsannidhaanen moorkhou yaati praveenataam.

i.e.  a piece of glass in association with Gold acquires brilliance like a precious stone ( on being studded on an ornament made of gold).  Similarly, in the company of righteous persons, foolish persons also become skillful.

Kaach = glass.       Kaanchan = gold.       Sansarga = in association with.      Dhatte = acquires.
Maarkat = a precious stone used for being studded in ornaments.       Dyuti = brilliance.
Sat = righteous (persons).  Sannidha = near.     Sannidhaanen = in the company of..
Moorkh = a foolish person.     Yaati = becomes, acquires.      Praveenatam = skill, expertise.

To day's Subhashit.

गानाब्धेस्तु परं पारं नोपेयाय सरस्वती
अतो निमज्जनभयात्तुंबी वहति वक्षसि .

Gaanaabhdhestu param paaram nopeyay Saraswati
Ato nimajjanbhayaattumbi vahati vakhshi.

i.e.   Being unable to cross the ocean of Music and afraid of getting drowned while doing so, Goddess Saraswati bears two hollow gourds on her bosom.

(In this Subhashit the author has used 'Atishayokti alankaar' (hyperbole) comparing Indian Classical Music to an Ocean, which, even Saraswati , the Goddess of Learning, Music and Arts is afraid of crossing, and to save herself from drowning wears  hollow gourds around her bosom. Here the reference is to two gourd shells attached to a Veena,the musical instrument associated with Saraswati, giving her another name as "Veena Vadini" i.e.player of a veena.This implies that without the assistance of Veena, even Saraswati is unable to fathom the ocean of Music (singing). Hollow gourds called 'tumbi' are commonly used by people to cross flooded rivers by tying them to their bosom to keep them afloat and save them from drowning).

Gaanabhdhestu = Gaan +Abhdhi +Astu.    Gaan = Singing (music) .  Abhdhi = ocean.
Param Paaram = to cross.       Nopeyay = not able to.         Ato = therefore.
Nimajjan = bathing (crossing) Bhaya = afraid of, fear.    Vahati = carries.    Vakhshi = bosom,
.

To day's Subhashit.

अजायुद्धंमृषिश्राद्धं  प्रभाते मेघडम्बरं
दम्पत्यो कलहश्चैव परिणामे न किंचनः

Ajaayuddham-mrushi-shraadham prabhate meghadambaram
dampatyo kalahaschaiva parinaame na kinchanh

i.e.    Fight between two goats,'shraadha' of a sage, overcast sky in the morning ,and a quarrel between  husband and wife, are generally without any result (and are like a mock drill ).

Ajaa = a goat.       Yuddham = fight.          Rishi =  a sage who has renounced worldly life.
Shraaddha = a religious ritual in Hindu Religion to perpetuate the memory of ones' ancestors.
Dampati = husband and wife together, couple.         Kalah = quarrel
Chaiva = (cha + iva)   Cha =an alphabet used to complete a word.   Iva = comparison between two or more objects.          Parinaam = result    .      Na kinchanh = nothing, very little.

To day's Subhashit.

उत्तमो नातिवक्ता स्यात् मध्यमो बहु भाषते

न काञ्चन ध्वनिस्तादृक् यादृक् कांस्य प्रजायते.

Uttamo naativaktaa syaat madhyamo bahu bhashate,

Na kaanchan dhwanistaadruk yaadruk kaansya prajaayate.

Honourable persons never indulge in loose talks whereas ordinary persons talk too much unnecessarily, just as Gold (considered as best and costliest metal) does not produce a loud sound like bronze ( a base metal) on being struck.

(There is also a proverb in Hindi on this theme as -'थोथा चना बाजे घना '- Thotha chana baaje ghana  i.e.  hollow seeds of Gram produce more sound - thereby implying that knowledgeable persons do not indulge in unnecessary and loose talk, whereas those who are less knowledgeable are always talkative.)

Uttam = Best. (here reference is to honourable persons)     Naati vaktaa= (na + ati+vaktaa)
Na = not.   Ati = too much.    Vaktaa = 0ne who is speaking.       Syaat = are.         Madhyam = middle .     Bahu = too much.           Bhaashate = speak, talk.       Kaanchan = gold.         Dhwani = sound .       Taadruk = like that of.      Yaadruk = like this.       Kansya = bronze , an alloy of tin and copper used for making bells, as it produces loud sound. compared to Gold, which produces only a thud, bronze (a base metal) produces a loud sound.         Prajayate = produces.