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.).