To day's Subhashit.

अल्पाSक्षरं रमणीयं यः कथयति निश्चितं स खलु वाग्मी |
बहुवचनमल्पसारं   यः  कथयति   विप्रलापी  सः   ||

Alpaaksharam ramaneeyam yah kathayati nischitm sa khalu vaagmee.
Bahuvachanmalpasaaram yh kathayati  vipralaapi  sah.


Alpaaksharam = Alpa + akshram.     Alpa = few, little.    Aksharam =  words, a letter of the alphabet.
Ramaneeyam = delightful, pleasant.     Yah = who.           Kathayati = says , tells.
Nishchitam =  surely, definitely.     Sa =  he.    Khalu = surely, indeed.    Vaagmee = eloquent speaker.
Bahuvachanmalpasaarm = Bahu + vachan+ alpa+ saaram.     Bahu = many.   Vachan = speaking.
Alpa = easily, a little             Saaram = essence, essential,     Vaachayati = speaks, pronounces.
Vipralaapi =  a prattler, one who talks much but idly.

i.e.    A person who expresses himself (speaks) pleasantly and forcefully in a few words is definitely an eloquent speaker, whereas a person who talks much but idly (without any sense) is called a prattler.

(Through this subhashit the author has praised the orators who can sway the minds of public by their eloquent speech.   Eloquence means the power of expressing emotions or thoughts in words that impress or move other people.)

To day's Subhashit.

सीदन्ति सन्तो विलसन्त्यसन्तः पुत्राः म्रियन्ते जनकश्चिरायुः  |
परेषु  मैत्री स्वजनेषु   वैरं  पश्यन्तु  लोकाः  कलिकौतुकानि

Seedanti santo vilasantyasanth putraah mriyante janakashchiraayuh.
Pareshu maitree swajaneshu vairam pashyantu lokaah Kalikautukaani.

Seedanti = distressed.      Santo = saints,  noble  persons.   Vilasantyssanth =vilasant + asanth
Vilasanti = leading a luxurious life.       Asant = a person who is not a saint.    Putraah = sons.
Mriyante = die, become dead.   Janakashchiraayuh = Janakah + chiraayuh.    Janak = father.
Chiraayuh = long-lived.      Pareshu = to others.    Maitree = friendship,    Swajaneshu = relatives.
Vairm = enemity.      Pashyantu = see,  observe.     Lokaah = public, people.
Kalikautaakani = Kali + kautukaani.      Kautuk = any strange happening creating curiosity .
Kali = According to Hindu Scriptures,the span of years (period) is divided into four periods namely, Satya Yug, Tretaa Yug, Dwaapar Yug and Kaliyug.   Satya Yug is considered the best one, when every body is virtuous and God fearing and law abiding, there is no strife, calamities etc.  In Tretaa and Dwaapar Yugs,there is progressive decline in the religiosity of people and they become irreligious and cunning, In Kaliyuga they are rarely virtuous  and people do not adhere to the commandments of scriptures and are sinful, resulting in strange happenings, which are described in detail in our literature.The above Shloka describes some of these strange happenings.  Presently we are in Kali Yug and  are passing through 5114th year out of its total span of 432000 years.

i.e.   O people !  see the strange happenings of Kali Yug.    Saints are distressed and languishing, whereas cunning and wicked person are rolling in luxuries, sons are facing untimely death whereas their fathers are long-lived,  people are friendly to others but enemical to their near and dear ones.

(Goswami Tulsidas in his treatise "Ramcharit Maanas' has listed these strange happenings of Kali Yug in great detail , which are  rather prophetical in nature.  Reference- Uttar Kaand's Doha No,97 to 103)  

To day's Subhashit.

गुणयुक्तोSप्यधो याति रिक्तः कूपे यथा घटः  |
निर्गुणोSपि  भृतः पश्य जनैः शिरषि धार्यते     ||

Gunayuktopyadho yaati rikth koope yathaa ghath.
Nirgunopi bhruth pashya janaih shirashi dhaaryate.

Gunayuktopyadho = guna + yukto +api +adho.     Guna = good qualities, virtues, merit.
Another meaning of 'Guna' is a thin rope  used to extract water from a well. In olden times travellers always kept a long string and a small round vessel (called 'Lota-dor') to fetch drinking water from wells and pitchers..     Api = in spite of.     Adho = degraded.      Yaati = gets.      Rikta = empty.
Koop = a well.        Yathaa = for instance.       Ghat = a pitcher.     Nirgunopi = without any qualities.
Bhrutah = a labourer available for hiring.    Pashya = seeing.    Janaih= people,   Shirashi = head.
Dhaaryate = put on.     Shirashi Dhaaryate = readily accept (figuratively speaking)


i.e.     An empty (dry) well or a pitcher although having the provision of a rope ( a ladle in case of a pitcher) is of no use and is treated as degraded . But while hiring a labourer people readily accept him  irrespective of his being unskilled (nirguna).

(The author has skillfully played with the two meanings of the word "Guna"  as stated above. By adding a prefix 'ni' to a word  ( 'un' in the case of English language) the meaning of a word becomes just the opposite. So 'nirguna' means without any good qualities as also without a rope..  A well without any water is termed as 'nirguna'.  Even if a traveller may be having 'guna'  ( lota-dor') with him, a dry well is of no use to him.     While hiring a labourer one does not know whether the labourer is having the desired skill and readily accept him. Later on he may turn out to be a 'nirguna' )

To day's Subhashit.

तत्र मित्र न वस्तव्यं यत्र नास्ति  चतुष्ठयम्    |
ऋ|ण दाता च वैद्यश्च  श्रोत्रियः सजला नदी  |

Tatra mitra na vastvyam yatra naasti chatushthayam.
Rin daataa cha vaidyashcha shrotriyh sajalaaa nadi|.

Tatra = there.     Mitra = friend.    Na = not     Vastvym = stay or live in.     Yatra = where.
Naasti =non existent.      Chatushthayam = a set of 4.    Rina daataa - money lender.
Vaidya = physician, an Ayurvedic doctor.      Shrotriya = a scholar well versed in Vedas, the original Scriptures of Hindu Religion.       Sajala = having water.   Nadi = river.
Sajala Nadi = a perennial river (a river in which water flows throughout the year and it does not dry up)

i.e.      O friend !  never live in a place where you do not have access to these four.facilities, namely
(i) a money lender  (ii)  a physician  (iii) scholars and learned persons and (iv) a perennial river flowing nearby.

(Through this Subhashit the author emphasises the main prerequisites for a comfortable living at a place , namely availability of financial assistance and medical facilities, proper educational facilities for children and availability of potable water throughout the year.  Ironically, all these facilities are in short supply or some of them are non existent in most of the towns and places due to faulty planning and maladministration.)

To day's Subhashit..

मूर्ख चिह्नानि षदति गर्वो दुर्वचनं मुखे  |
विरोधी  विषवादी च कृत्याSकृत्यं न मन्यते. ||

Moorkh chinaani shadati garvo durvachanm mukhe.
virodheee vishasvaadi cha krutyaakrutym na manyate.

Moorkh = idiot, a foolish person.     Chinhaani = charsacteristics.     Garvo = pride.
Durvachann = bad or harsh language.      Virodhi = opposing others.
Vishvaadi =  dirty.       Krutyaakrutya =Kruti +akrutya.         Kruti = deeds
Akrutya =  any thing that aught not to be.   Na = not.      Manyate =learn and think rightly.

i.e.   There are six characteristics in a foolish person. These are  pride, bad and harsh language, always opposing others, dirty, does what aught not to be done , and also unable to learn and think rightly.

To day's Subhashit.

प्राक्पादयो: पतति खादति पृष्ठमांसं
       कर्णे कलं  किमपि रौति शनैर्विचित्रम् |
छिद्रं निरूप्य सहसा प्रविसत्यशंक:
       सर्वं खलस्य चरितं मशकः करोति   ||

Praakpaadayo patati khaadati prushtmamsm.
Karne kalam kimapi routi shanairvichitram.
chiddram nirupya sahasaa pravisatyashankah.
sarvam khalasya charitam mashakh karoti.

Prak =  earlier, a long time ago.      Padayoh =  feet.      Patati = bows.      Khadati = eats/
Prushth = back.       Maansa =  flesh.     Karne =  ears.    Kalam = buzzing sound.
Kimapi = at all.     Routi = makes.      Shanairvichitram = Shanaih + vichitram .   Shanaih = slowly.
Vichitram = strangely.     Chidram = hole, gap, fault.    Nirupyua = seeing, observing.
Sashasaa = suddenly     Pravisatyashankh = Pravasiti + ashankhh.    Pravasati = enters.
Ashankah =  without any fear.    Sarvam = all       Khalasya a wicked person's
Charitam = behaviour.     Mashakh = mosquito.     Karoti = does.

i.e.         Earlier it falls down at your feet, then without your knowing it feeds on the flesh of your back and then hovering around your ears slowly makes a strange buzzing sound. Then suddenly finding a hole (gap) in the net around  your bed a mosquito enters inside the net without any fear to suck blood. Thus a mosquito's behaviour is just like that of a wicked person.
.
(Through this Subhashit the author indirectly compares  the behaviour of a wicked person with that of a mosquito.   A wicked person also pays obeisance to others and talks very politely and nicely in the beginning.. But once he observes any fault in the other person , he exploits it to the fullest extent without any fear and does not hesitate to harm him.)

Today's Subhashit.

सतां संग   विना कोपि  लभेत्किम वाञ्छितम फलं  ।
नहि    संतापशान्तिः    स्यात्पूर्णचंद्रोदयं   विना  ।।

Sataam sang vinaa kopi labhetckim vaancchitam phalam.
nahi santaapshaantih syaatpoornachandrodaya

Sataam = noble and righteous persons.    Sang = company, association with.    Bina = without.
kopi = no body.   labhetkim = labhe +Kim .     Labhe = get , acquire.     Kim =  how.
Vaanchitam = desired.      Phalam = result.     Nahi = not     Santaap = suffering (due to a scorching day)       Shaanti = comfort, abatement.     Syaat = occurs , happens,
Poorna = full.     Chandrodayam = rising of the Moon.

i.e.     Without the association with and the company of noble and righteous persons  how can one obtain the desired results in his endeavour ?   The suffering created by a scorching day during summer months can not be abated until the rising of a cool full-moon in the sky.
  

To day's Subhashit.

ये पापं शमयन्ति संगतिभृतां  ये दान शृङ्गारिणो
             येषां चित्तमतीव निर्मलतरं येषां न भग्नवृतं   |
ये सर्वान्त्सुखयन्ति हि प्रतिदिनं ते  साधवो दुर्लभा :
              गंगावद्गजगंडवद्गगनवद्गंगेयवद्गेयवत्   ||

Ye paapam shamayanti samgatibhrutaam ye daanshrungaarino.
              Yeshaam chittmateeva nirmaltaram yeshaam na bhagnavrutam.
Ye sarvaant sukhyanti hi pritidinam tey saadhwo durlabhaah.
               Gangawad gajagandwad gaganawad gangeyawad geyawad.

i.e.      Those noble and righteous persons, whose company results in reducing evil from the society, who are adored for their philanthropy, who are extremely kind hearted, who do not deviate from the vows taken by them, and who always strive to make every body happy,  are rarely found . They are worshipped and adored like ,the  sacred river Ganges, majestic like an elephant,open to all like the Sky and precious like Gold.

Ye = those.      Papam = evil .     Shamayanti =  reduce, remove.    Sangatribhrutaam =in the company of,      Daan = charity.      Shringaarino = adored for.      Yeshaam = whose.    Chittamateeva = chitta + ateeva .    Chitta = mind , heart.    ateeva = extremely.  Nirmaltaram = pure, unsullied.
Bhagnavrutam = deviated from a vow.      Sarvaantsukhiyanti = make every body happy.
Pratidanam = every day, always.    Saadhwo = kind and righteous persons.   Durlabha = rarely found..
Gangaawad =worshipped like the sacred  river Ganges.  Gajgandwad = majestic like an elephant.  Gaganwad = open to all like the Sky..
Gaangeya = gold.     Gaangeywad = precious like Gold.

(Through this Subhashit the author, besides praising noble and righteous persons, has also displayed his scholarship, particularly in the last line of the Shloka which is very complex.)

To day's Subhashit.

स्तोकेनोन्नतिमायाति स्तोकेनाSSयात्यधोगतिम  |
अहो    नु सदृशी  वृत्तिस्तुलायष्ठे       खलस्य च  ||

Stokenonnatimaayati stokenaayaatyadhogatim.
Aho nu  sadrusho vruttistulaayashthe khalasya cha.

Stolenonnatmaayati = stoken + unnati +aayati.        Stoken = by a little.    Unnati =upliftment,elevation.
Aayaati = attains, gets or falls into a state.      Stokenaayaatyadhogatim = stonen + aayati +adhogatim.
Adhogatim =goiing downwards,  degradation.       Aho = Oh !       Nu = certainly, surely.
Sadrushi = similar, like.       Vruttistukaayashthe = vrutti + tulaa +yashthe .   Vrutti =behaviour, nature
Tulaa = weighing balance (a weighing instrument with two dishes hanging from a bream  suspended
in the middle called 'Tarajoo' in Hindi language).    Yashthe = beam, stick.
Tulaa yashthi = beam of a weighing instrument.      Khalasya = of a wicked person.  Cha = and.

 Oh !  See the nature and behaviour of a bem of the weighing balance and a wicked person is similar. Both get elevated and degraded just by  a little effort (addition or removal of any thing)..

( Through this Subhashit the author has compared the nature of wicked persons with the scales and beam of a weighing scale. Just as by putting even a little quantity of any thing on any side of the scale the scales move upwards and downwards simultaneously, similarly the behaviour of wicked persons also wavers between good and bad by even a slight change in the prevailing circumstances.)

To day's Subhashit.

दुर्जनस्य विशिष्ठत्वम्  परोपद्रवकारिणाम्  |
व्याघ्रस्य चोपवासेन पारणं पशु मारणम्  ||

Dirjanassya vishishthatwam paropadravakaarinaam.
vyaaghrasya chopavaasen paaranam pashu maaranam.

Durjanasya = a wicked person's ,     Vishishthatwam = distinguishing attribute, nature.
Paropadravakaarinaam = par +upadrava + kaarinaam.   Par = others.   Upadrava = trouble, harm.
kaarinaam = causing.    Vyaaghrasya =  a tiger's      Chopavaasen = cha + upavaasen.
Cha = and.       upvaasen = by fasting (abstcaining from food)
Paaranam = results into      Pashu = animals.      Maaranam = death.

i.e.     The nature of wicked persons is to create trouble and harm other persons, just like a tiger forced to fasting ultimately results in the death of animals in a forest by the tiger hunting down the animals to feed himself.

(A wicked persons can not remain kind for a long time and ultimately harms others, as it is part of his nature ).
,
. 

To day's Subhashit.

हितेच्छुना  तु कर्तव्यः सतामेव समागमः  |
सरसानां सुमनसां षट्पदेनेव सर्वदा  ||

Hitechchunaa tu kartavyh sataamev samaagamh.
sarasaanaam sumanasaam shatpadenev sarvadaa.

Hithechunaa = seekers of welfare.   Tu= is      Krtavyh =  duty.   Sataamev = with righteous persons.
Samaagamh = associate with, approach.          Sarasaanaam = having a sweet liquid,  nectar
Sumanasaam = beautiful flowers.    Shatpadenev = shatpaden + iva.    Shatpad = honey-bee.
Iva = like.     Shatpaden = like a honey-bee.      Sarvadaa = always, at all times.  

i.e.        It should be the duty of seekers of welfare to always associate with noble and righteous persons, just like the honey-bees which always throng around beautiful flowers to collect the nectar  (sweet liquid inside flowers) for making honey.

     (By comparing noble and righteous persons to beautiful flowers containing nectar (sweet liquid and pollen in them akin to virtues of such persons) and seekers of welfare to honey-bees,  the author praises the virtues of righteous persons and at the same time exhorts ordinary persons to seek the company of such persons if they want prosperity and welfare in their life.)

To day's Subhashit.

पातितोपि कराघातैरुत्पतत्येव कन्दुकः  |
प्रायेण साधुवृत्तानामस्थायिन्यो विपत्तयः  ||

Paatgitopi karaaghaatairutpatatyeva kandukh.
Praayen saadhuvruttaanaamasthaayinyo vipattyh.

Paatitopi =  Paatit + api.     Paatit = struck down,      Api = even,  too.  Karaaghaatairutpatatyeva =
Kar +aaghaatai +utpatati + iva .   Kar = hand.      Aaghaatai = blow by.    utpatati = jumps, shoots up.
Kanduka = a ball,       Praayen = usually, mostly.     Sadhuvruttanaam = persons leading a virtuous life.
sthaayinyo = remain in the same condition, steadfast.       Vipattyah = calamity, disaster, adversity.

i.e.       On being struck down by a blow of a hand even a ball shoots up (shows its resistance on being struck), but persons leading a virtuous and pious life  do not change their stance and their inherent qualities of head and heart and remain steadfast even if they face a calamity or adversity.

To day's Subhashit.

करे श्लाघ्यस्त्याग: शिरशि गुरुपाद प्रणयिता
मुखे सत्या वाणी विजयि भुजयोर्वीर्यमतुलम्  |
हृदि स्वस्था वृत्तिः श्रुतमधिगतैकवृत फलं
विनाप्यैश्वर्येण प्रकृतिमहतां मण्डन मिदम्  ||

Kare shlaghyastyaagh shirashi gurupaad pranayitaa.
mukhe satyaa vaani vijayi bhujayorveeryamatulam.
hrudi swasthaa vruttih shrutamadhigataikavruta phalam.
vinaapaishwaryena prukritimahataam mandan midam.

Kare = hands        Shlaaghya = commendable, appreciable.     Tyagh = sacrifice, donation.
Shrashi = of the head.      Gurupaad =  feet of the Guru.     Paad = feet.     Pranayitaa = devotion , love.
Mukhe = mouth.       Satya = truth.     Vaani = speech, words.    Vijayi  = victorious, victory.
Bhujayorveeryamatulam =Bhujayo + veerya + atulam.      Bhujayo = arma.   Veerya - strength, power.
Atulam = matchless, unequal.      Hrudi = mind, heart.       Swastha = healthy, noble.     Vrutti = behaviour.
Shrutammadhigataaikavruta = Shruta + adhigat+aik+vrata.    Shruta = heard,said in scriptures.
adhigat =found.     aik =one.     Vrat = commitment to do any righteous and pious deed.  Phalam = reward.
Vinaapaishwaryena = Bina + api+aishwaryena.   Bina= without.   Api = even (to express emphasis).
Aishwarya = Riches, prosperity.       Prakruti = nature.     Mahataam = great and noble persons,
Mandan= decoration,adoration, appreciation.    Midam =  this.

i.e.    A noble and rightous person's hands are always engaged in giving donations to the needy, his head bowing at the feet of his Guru, his mouth always speaks the truth, his arms full of strength to protect the weaklings, and his mind engaged in noble thoughts, Therefore, it is ordained in the scriptures that only because of these attributes and commitment (vrata), a noble person is venerated and respected, although he may not be a rich and prosperous person. .

(Through this Subhashit the author describes the qualities of head , heart and body, which make a person great and noble, even if he may not be a very rich person.)

To day's Subhashit.

 द्व्वात्रिंशद्द्शनद्वेषिमध्यं   भ्रमिति नित्यशः |
तदिदं शिक्षिता केन जिह्वे संचार कौशलम्  ||

Dwaatrinsh dashan dweshi madhym bhramati nityashh.
Tadidm shikshitaa kena jihwe samchaar koushalam.

Dwaatrinsh = 32 (thirty two numbers).     Dashan = teeth.        Dweshi = unfriendly, hostile..
Madhye = middle.      Bhramati = moves around.        Nityashh.= continuously.
Tadidm (tat + idam ) = even then.         Shikshitaa = learnt.         Kena = how ?
Jihwe =  tongue.      Sanchaar = moving around, roaming.       Kaushalam =  expertise, skill.

i.e.      The tongue always moves around continuously inside our mouth among a group of thirty two  teeth which are unfriendly towards it.  Even then how has  it learnt this expertise to move around freely ?

(Through this Subhashit the author emphasises the importance of  the art of living among adversaries by citing the example of the tongue inside our mouth.)

To day's Subhashit.

एकेन तिष्ठताSधस्तादन्येनोपरितिष्ठता |
दात्रयाचकयोर्भेदः कराभ्यामेव सूचितः  |

Eken tishthtaadhastaadanyoparitishthataa.
Daatrayaachakayorbhedh karabhyaameva suchith/

Tishthaadhastaadhastaadanyoparitishthataa =|tishthata +aadhasta +anyen + upari +tishtitaa.    
Tishthata = staying     Aadhasta = from below,      Anyen = from another.    Upari = above
Datrayaachakayorbhedh =  Datra + Yachakayo + bhedh..
Datra = giver.    Yaachak = beggar     Bheda = difference.   Karabhyaameva = Karabhyam + iva.
Karaabhyaam= by hands.        Iva =  exactly, almost.           soochitah = communicated, made known.
.
i.e.       The difference between a giver and a beggar is almost demonstrated  (made known) by the  position of their hands.   One pair of hands (that of a beggar) stays below and another pair of hands (that of giver) stays above them.

(This subhashit demonstrates the power of observation of its author and linking it so nicely with the act of giving and receiving alms and underlining the supremacy of charity. In English language this can be called as  "having an upper hand" )


 

To day's Subhashit.

वधिरयति कर्णविवरं वाचं मूकयति नयनमन्धयति  |
विकृतयति गात्रयष्टि संपद्रोगोSयमद्भुतो  राजन्    ||

Vadhirayati karnavivaram vaachm mookayati nayanmandhayati.
vikratayati gaatrayashti smpadrogoyamadbhuto Raajan.

Vadhirayati =  become deaf.        Karnavivaram  = ear drums (auditory passage of ears)
Vaachm =  voice, way of speaking.      Mookayati = becomes muted , dumb.
Nayanmandhayati = nayan + andhayati.      Nayan = eyes        Andhayati = become blind.
Vikratayati = deteriorates, to grow worse.      Gaatra =body.    Yashti =  slender.
Gaatryashti = the slender shape of body.     Sampadrogoyamadbhuto = sampad + rogo + iyam +adbhuto.
Sampad = becoming.   Rogo = illness, diseases     Iyam = this.      Adbhuto = astonishing, surprising.

i.e.        O king !   contracting diseases is really surprising, which results in becoming deaf, dumb and blind
and the entire shape of the body deteriorating for worse.

(Through this Subhashit the author warns  against contracting diseases, which results in overall deterioration in the physical condition and  even the loss of the faculties of speech, hearing and seeing.)

To day's Subhashit.

कष्टं खलु मूर्खत्वम् कष्टं खलु यौवनेशु दारिद्र्यम् |
कष्टादपि   कष्टतरं परगृहवासः परान्नं च  ||

Kashtm khalu moorkhtwam kashtm khalu youvaneshu daaridryum .
kashtaadapi kashttaram paragruhavassh paraannm cha.

Kasht. = pain or trouble .   Khalu = truly .      Moorkhtwam = foolishness, stupidity.  
Youvaneshu = during youth.      Daaridrya = poverty .        Kashtaadapi = kasht + api .
Api = even ( to emphasize) , also.        Kashtaram = more painfiul or troublesome.
 Paragruhvassh = dwelling  in another's house.     Paraannm = getting food from others.

 i.e.      It is truly troublesome  to be a stupid person, and also a poor person during youth. But it is more painful to live in another person's house and be dependent on him even for food ( subsistance).

To day's Subhashit.

पापं कर्तुमृणं  कर्तुं मन्यन्ते मानवाः सुखं  |
परिणामोSतिगहनो  महतामपि नाशकृत  |

Paapm kartumrunam kartum manyante maanavaah sukam.
Parinaamotigahano mahataamapi naashkruta.

Paapm =  sins.      Kartumrunm =  kartum +Rinam       Kartum = doing, commiting.    
Rinum =debt, loan.      manyante = imagine, suppose.   Maanavaah = people, persons.
Sukham = happiness, pleasure.       Parinaamotigahano =  parinaam + ati + gahano.
Parinaam  = result, effect.        ati =  exceedingly,  too much.    Gahano = causing distress.
Mahataamapi = Mahataam + api.      Mahataam = great and virtuous persons.
Api = even , too       Naash = destruction,      Nashkruta = ruined, results in destruction,

i.e.     While committing sins  and  borrowing  money from a money lender people feel happy.  But its ultimate result is very distressing and even great and virtuous persons get ruined by doing so,

(Through this Subhashit the author warns against doing sinful deeds and borrowing money, which ultimately result in destruction of the person concerned, particularly in the case of sinful deeds.)

To day's Subhashit.

अहो कनकमाहात्म्यम् वक्तुं केनाSपि शक्यते  |
नाम साम्यदहो  चित्रं धत्तूरोSपि  मदप्रद  ||

Aho kanak maahaatmyam vaktum kenaapi shakyate.
Naam saamyadaho chitram dhatturopi madaprada.

Aho = oh !  (an expression of surprise)       Kanak = Gold.    A plant called 'Dhattura" in Hindi and Sanskrit, which produces thorny and round fruits; Its seeds are very poisonous and intoxicating. The flowers and fruits of the plant are offered in pooja to Lord Shiva, as they are considered His favourits.
Maahatmya = greatness, majesty.    Vaktum = telling, able to explain.    Kenaapi = for some reason or other ,Shakyate = capable of..     Naam =  name.      Saamyadaho = resemblance of.     Chitram = surprising.
Mada = drunkenness, intoxicaant.    Prada = giver.    Madaprada =  causing intoxication or drunkenness.

i.e.     Oh ! no one is capable of describing the majesty of  Gold.   Simply by having  similarity of  its name
with Gold, even 'Dhattura'  causes intoxication and drunkenness.

(Through this Subhashit the author wants to draw attention towards the excessive desire to possess and hoard Gold , bordering into a craze, by comparing it to intoxication (drunkenness) by consuming dhattura. There is a 'Doha' (a couplet) in Hindi having the same theme as the above shloka, reading as under:-
'कनक कनक ते सौ गुनी  मादकता अधिकाय | यह् पाये बौराय जग वह् खाये बौराय "
'Kanak kanak te sou guni maadaktaa adhikaaya,  yah paaye bouraaya jaga wah khaaye bouraaya'
 i.e. gold is hundred times more intoxicating than Dhattura, because simply by possessing it a person behaves like a drunkard, whereas dhattura causes intoxication after consuming it.)

To day's Subhashit.

शुन्नः पुच्छमिव व्यर्थं जीवितं विद्यया बिना  |
न गुह्यगोपने शक्तं न च दंश निवारणे

Shunnh pucchamiva vyarthm jeevitm vidyayaa binaa.
Na guhyagopane shaktm na dmsha nivaarane.

Shunnh = a dog      Pucchamiva = Puccha + iva,      Puccha = tail.      Iva = like.
Vyarthm = futile, useless.    Jeevitam = living,     Vidyayaa = knowledge, learning.     Bina = without.
 Guhya = hidden (here it means genital organs which are to be hidden).    Gopane = covering,concealing.
Shaktm = able.      Cha = also       Dansh = biting, sting. (here it means flying insects which sting)
Nivaarane = warding off.

i.e.   Living a life without being a learned person is like being the tail of  a dog, which is neither capable to cover its genitals nor able to ward off stinging flies.

(Through this Subhashit the author emphasises in a jovial manner the importance of getting proper education, by citing the example of the tail of a dog, which is too short to ward off the flies and is also useless in covering its genitals unlike other animals having a long tail, which they effectively use to ward off flies.)

To day's Subhashit.

गतेऽपि वयसि ग्राह्या विद्यासर्वात्मने बुधैः |
यद्द्यापि स्यान्न फलदा सुलभा सान्यSजन्मनि  |

Gatepi vayasi graahyaa vidya sarvaatmane budhaih.
yadyaapi| syanna phaladaa sulabhaa saanyajanmani.

Gatepi =gata +api.       Gat = past bygone.    api =even.     Vayasi = age.     Graahyaa = to be learnt.
Vidyaa = learning, knowledge.    Sarvaatmane =fully.      Budhaih = learned persons.
Yaddyapi = although .    Syaann =  sya + na.      Sya = that (third person Pronoun i.e. Vidyaa).
 Na = not      Phaladaa = bearing fruits, fruitful.    Sulabhaa = easily acquired.
Saanyajanmani = sa + anya +janmani.     Sa = that .   Anya = another.    Janmani = birth.
Anyajanmani = next birth.

i.e.  Wise and learned persons have ordained that 'Vidyaa' should be learnt even if  a person  becomes aged.
Although such learning may not  be fruitful to him during his lifetime, in his next birth it easier for him to acquire knowledge because of his 'Samskaars' in his previous birth .

(In Hindu Religion it is believed that the 'Samskaar'  (way of living,knowledge acquired during  one's life time)  are in a dormant state in his next birth cycle making it easier  for him to acquire knowledge . The concept of re-birth is unique in Hindu Religion. In Bhagwad Geeta Lord Krishna says that 'शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोपि जायते.'  - Shuteenam shreemataam gehe yogabhrashtopi jaayate - meaning that those persons, whose efforts to acquire and practise "Yoga" (a pious and disciplined way of living ) are disrupted and not completed due to any reason ) are born in their next birth cycle in an illustrious and rich family)

to day' subhashit.

वीणेन श्रोत्रहीनस्य लोलाSक्षीव विचक्षुषः |
 व्यसो: कुसुममालेन विद्या स्थब्धस्य निष्फला ||

Veenev shreeheenasya lolaaksheeva vichakshushah.
Vyasoh kusumamaalen vidyaa stabdhasya nishphalkaa.

Veenen = an ancient stringed musical instrument called 'Veena' .    Shrotra = ears.   Heenasya = deprived of. Shrotraheenasya = a person who is deaf and can not hear.    Lolakshi =lol + akshi .   lol = rolling.
Lolaakshi = a person (wonan) with beautiful rolling eyes.    Vichakshu = a blind person.
Vyasoh = a dead body, corpse.    Kusum = flower.  Maala = garland.    kusummaalen = by a flower garland..    Vidyaa = Learning, knowledge.      Stabdhasya = an arrogant and rude person.
Nishphalaa = ni + phala .  Ni = not.   Phala =fruit.    Nishphalaa = not fruitful.  

i.e.       Playing a veena to a deaf person,  a beautiful woman with rolling eyes to a blind person, a garland of flowers to a dead body (corpse) and 'Vidya' to an arrogant an rude person is of no use (fruitless).

To day's Subhashit.

किं कुलेन विशालेन विद्याहीनस्य देहिनः  |
अकुलीनोपि विद्यावान्देवैरपि  स पूज्यते ||

Kim kulen vishaalen vidyaaheenasya dehinah.
Akuleenopi vidyaavaandevairapi sa poojyate.

Kim = what.     Kulen =by a clan or fsamily.    Vishaalen = being illustrious  or very big.
Vidyaa = knowledge, scholarship.   Heena = bereft or deprived of,       Dehinah = having been born.
Akuleenopi = akuleen + api/      Akuleen = a person who does not belong to an illustrious family.
api = even .      Vidyaavaan = a learned person.    Daivairapi =(daivai  +api) even as Gods.
Sa = that person.      Poojyate = honoured,, worshipped.

i.e.       It is of no use to be born in an illustrious family if such a person is bereft of knowledge and scholarship, whereas on  the other hand  a person, even if he may  be born  in an ordinary family , is  worshipped like a God.if he is a scholar
.
(Through this Subhashit the author has emphasised the importance of acquiring 'Vidyaa'.)

To day's Subhashit.

दुर्जनः क्रुतशिक्षोSपि सज्जनों नैव जायते  ।
अपि गंगाजलस्नानादध : केशः कुशायते  ।।

Durjanah krutashikshopi sajjano naiva jaayate.
Api Gangasajalasnaanaadadh keshh kushaayate.

Durjan = mean and wicked person.    Krutashikshopi =  kruta = shikasha= api.     Kruta =proper.
Shiksha = education, training.    Api = even.       Sajjan = a noble person. gentle man...     Naiva = na + iva.
Na = not.      Iva = as , like.      Jaayate = becomes.  Gangajalasnaanadadh =    .Gangajal + snaan +aadadh.
Gangajal = holy water of river Ganges..   Snaan=  bathing,        Dadhh = impart, give.
Kesh = hairs     Kushaayate = make shining..

i.e.        Even if a mean and wicked person may be well educated, he will never be a gentleman just like rough hairs even after taking a holy bath in the river Ganges will not become smooth and shining.

To day's Subhashit.

निन्दन्तु नीतिनिपुणा यदि वा स्तुवन्तु                       Nindantu neetinipunaah yadi vaa stuvantu
          लक्ष्मी समाविशतु गच्छतु वा यथेष्टम्  |           Lakshmi samaavishatu gacchatu vaa yatheshthm.
अद्द्येव वा मरण्मस्तु  युगान्तेरेवा                               addyeva vaa maranmastu yugaantare vaa
          न्यायात्पथः प्रविचलन्ति पदं न धीराः. ||             Nyaayaatpathh pravichalanti padm na dheerh..

Nindanti =criticises rredicules .    Neeti =prudence, morality, ethics.    Nipuna = an expert.
neetinipunaa = persons versed inethics, morality and prudence,     yadi = if.      vaa =or.
Stuvantu = praises.     Lakshmi = riches.     Samaavishatu =acquired, comes.      Gacchatu = goes.
yatheshtam = in plenty.      Adyey = to day itself.      Maranmastu = maran = Asti.      Maran = death.
Astu =-let  it be.   Yugantere = after ages. (A yuga is a period of  of thousands of years in Hindu mythology,There are four yugas called Satya, Treta, Dwaapar and Kali, which succeed in that order. So yugaantar means passing into another Yuga i.e. a very long number of years.)
Nyaatpathh = nyaayaat + pathh .     Nyaayaat =  of justice.    Pathh = path, road.
Pravichalanti = deviate, disturbed.   Padam = tread upon,     Dheer - a brave, intelligent and patient person.

i.e.        Brave, intelligent and patient persons do not deviate from the path of  justice and it is immaterial for them if during this process they are criticised or praised, become  rich or poor, or may face death just now  or after a 'yugaantar' (much later)..

(The above Subhashit is in the praise of just, honest and righteous persons, who do not change their righteous ways of serving the society even on the face of adversities or even imminent death.)

To day's Subhashit.

वक्तृतां विभ्रतो यस्य गुह्यमेव प्रकाश्यते |
कथं न समान: स्यात्पुच्छेन पिशुनः शुनः

Vaktrutaam vibhrato yasya guhyameva prakaashyate.
Kathm na samaanh syatpuchhen pishunh shunh.


Vaktrutaam =-eloquence, power of  expressing thoughts through words that impress or move other people, way of speaking..      Vibhrato = goes astray, inconsistent.     Yasya = whose.
Guhya = secret.      Eva = even.    Prakashyte = discloses, throws light on.      Katham =  whatever told.
Na = not.      Samaanh = alike, similar.     syaat = like.     Puccha = tail,      Shunh = a dog.
Pishunah = wicked, wavering, showing.

i.e.     A person  who is not eloquent and is inconsistent in his speech,while speaking to others at times (unknowingly) even discloses his secrets.   There is no consistency and reliability in his speech, which wavers like the curved tail of a dog.

To day's Subhashit.

दाता नीचोSपि  सेव्यः स्यान्निष्फलो न महानपि |
जलाSर्थी वारिधिं त्यक्त्वा पश्य कूप निषेवते  ||

Daataa neechopi sevyah syaannishphalo na mahaanapi.
Jalaarethee varidhim tyaktwaa pashya koop nishevate.

Daataa = giver, one who offers.    Neechopi = neech + api.       Neech = inferior, mean,lowly
Api = even.     Sevya = approached , honoured.     Syaannishphalo = Syaat + nishphalo.
Syaat = but.    Nishphalo =  useless, fruitless.    Na = not.    Mahaanapi = mahaan  + api.
Mahaan = great.      Jalaarthi = Jal = water.    Arthee = one who wants or desires any thing.
Jalarthee = a thirsty person.      Vaaridhi = ocean.  Tyaktwaa = leaving.    Pashya = seeing.
Koop = a well (full of water) .   Nishevate = approaches,  enjoys.

i.e.      A person who at the time of your need makes an offer to you should be appreciated and approached even if he may be a lowly person, but not a person who is useless to you even if he may be a great  person.For example a thirsty person near the sea shore will approach a well to quench his thirst rather than the ocean ,because sea water being brackish is unfit for drinking purpose.

To day's Subhashit.

युध्यते पक्षिपशव: पठन्ति शुकसारिकाः
दातुं शक्नोत्री यो  वित्तं स शूरः स च पण्डितः

Yudhyate pakshipashwah  pathantib shukasaarikaah.
Daatum shaknoti yo vittm sa shoorh sa cha pandith.

Yudhyate =  fight,      Pakshi = birds.     Pashwah = animals, beasts.     Pathanti = reciting. studying.
Shuka = parrot.       Saarikiaa =  a singing bird called mainaa.(मैना ).    Daatum = give, share
Shaknoti = can.        Yo = who.    Vittam = wealth, money.      Sa = he.    Shoorah = warrior, brave person.
cha = and       Pandit = a learned person, scholar.

i.e.     Even birds and animals fight with each other and parrots and Mainnas recite whatever they are taught,
but only a person who can share his wealth and knowledge with others is considered a brave and learned person.

(Through this Subhashit the author emphasises the virtues of a person who is a philanthropist. Simply possessing wealth and being learned is not sufficient. Sharing it with fellow citizens for the benefit of society as a whole makes a person really brave and learned )

To day's Subhashit.

श्लिष्ठा क्रिया कस्यचिदात्मसंस्था                 Shlishthaa kriyaa kasyachidaatmasamsthaa.
              संक्रान्ति रूपस्य विशेषयुक्ता |                           Samkraanti roopasya visheshyuktaa..
यस्योभयं साधु स शिक्षकाणां                          Yasyobhayam saadhu sa shikshakaanaam.
               धुरि प्रतिष्टापयिततत्वमेवम्  ||                         Dhuripratishthaapayitatvamevam.

अर्थ -  कुछ विद्वान अपने ज्ञान की वृद्धि खोजपूर्ण प्रक्रिया द्वारा करने में कुशल होते हैं  हैं और कुछ विद्वान अपने ज्ञान को   को एक शिक्षक के रूप में वितरित करने  में कुशल होते हैं | परन्तु जो विद्वान इन दोनों विधाओं में निष्णात होते हैं वे श्रेष्ठतम होते हैं और एक धुरी के समान प्रतिष्ठित होते हैं |
( धुरी एक रथ का वह् महत्त्वपूर्ण  भाग (एक लोहे की मजबूत कील ) होता है जिस के उपर रथ का पहिया घूमता है  और उसके बिना रथ निष्क्रिय हो जाता है |)

Slishthaa = adhereing to one's self,  doing himself.        Kriyaa = activity, experiment, research.
Kasyachid = Kasya + chid.      Kasya = whose.     Chid = also  
Aatmasamsthaa = an adjective relating to a person who is accomplished to do a job himself.
Samkraanti = transference of an art, teaching.      Roopasya = of the talent.
Yasyobhayam = Yasya + ubhayam.     Yasya= who has.     Ubhayam = both.
Saadhu = very good, a saint.        sa = he       Shikakaanaam =  among the teachers.
Dhuri = topmost, pinnacle.       Pratishthaapayit =recognissed, established
Tatva = truly.      Evam = thus, in this way.

i.e.     Some scholars are also adapt in furthering their knowledge by research, and some are expert in imparting their knowledge to others as a teacher. But a scholar who is an expert in both is recognised as topmost among all scholars.

(In this shloka by the famous Sanskrit poet Kaalidas from his treatise "Maalvikgnamitra", the poet emphasises that simply being a scholar is not sufficient. Imparting the knowledge to other seekers is more important and a scholar who does this is the scholar of highest order, like the fulcrum over which a wheel rests and is able to move easily.)

To day's Subhashit.

न कश्चिदपि जानाति किं कस्य श्वो भविष्यति  |
अतः श्वकरणीयानि कुर्यादद्येव बुद्धिमान  ||

अर्थ -   कोई  भी यः नहीं जानता है कि आने वले कल को क्या होगा | इसी लिये बुद्धिमान् व्यक्ति जो कार्य उन्हें करना हो उसे आने वाले कल के लिये न छोड  कर आज ही संपन्न कर लेते हैं |

Na kaschidapi jaanaati kim kasya shwo bhavishyati.
atah shwakaraneeyaani kuryaadddyeva buddhimaan.

Na = never, not      kaschiddapi =  kaschid +api.      kaschid = some one     .
Na Kaschid = nobody    Api = even..    Jaanaati = knows      Kim = what ?
Kasya = whose.    Shwo = tomorrow.  bhavashyati = will happen.
Atah = therefore .  shwakaraneeyaani =   work to be done tomorrow.
Kuryadddyeva = Kuryaad + adyeva     Kuryaad = done.   Adyeva =to day itself.
Buddhimaan = wise person.

i.e.  Nobody knows what is going to happen tomorrow. Therefore, wise men do a job today itself whatever they have to do tomorrow.

There is a Hindi couplet on this very thought as under:-
काल करे सो आज कर आज करे सो अब |,  Kaal kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab.
पल मे प्रलय होइगी फेरि करोगे कब ||         Pal me pralaya hoigi pheri karoge kab ?
 i.e.Whatever you have to do tomorrow do it to day itself and whatever you have to do to day do it just now.   Doomsday can happen at any moment, so when  will   you get the opportunity to do your job ?.    The underlying idea  is that we should not unnecessarily postpone the work at our hand, because nobody knows what will happen tomorrow..   

To day's Subhashit.

अभ्रच्छाया खलप्रीतिर्नवसस्यानि  योषितः |
किंचित्कालोपभोग्यानि यौवनानि धनानि च ||

अर्थ -       एक बादल की छाया, एक नीच व्यक्ति से मित्रता,  मौसमी फल, एक सुन्दर युवती का सान्निध्य तथा धन संपत्ति  का उपभोग  सीमित अवधि  तक ही संभव होता है |

Abhracchaayaa khalapreetirnavasasyaani yoshitah.
kimchitkaalopabhogyaani youvanaani dhanaani cha.

Abhra = a cloud.     Chaaya= shade.    Khalapreetirnavasasyaani = khala +preeti + nava+ sasyaani.  
.khala = a wicked person.     Preeti = friendship.      Nava = new     Sasyaani = fruits,crops.
Yoshitah = a young woman.       Kinchitkaalopabhogyaaani = kimchit+Kaal+upabhogyaani.
Kimchit  = a little.      Kaal = period of time.    Upbhogyaani = enjoying, making use of.
Youvanaani = youth,       dhanaani = money, wealth.     Cha = and.

i.e.      The shade of a cloud, friendship with a wicked person, new crop (seasonal fruits), a young woman's company, youth and wealth, can be enjoyed only for a limited period of time.

(Through this shubhashit the author emphasises the ephemeral nature of the shade of a cloud,friendship with a wicked person, seasonality of fruits and crops,  youth and wealth, which is ultimately lost.)