Today's Subhashita.

दग्धं दग्धं त्यजति न पुनः काञ्चनं कान्तिवर्णं
छिन्नं छिन्नं त्यजति न पुनः स्वादुतामिक्षुदण्डम्  |
धृष्टं धृष्टं त्यजति न पुनश्चन्दनं चारुगन्धं
प्राणान्तेSपि प्रकृति  विकृतिर्नायते नोत्तमानाम् || -सुभषितरत्नभाण्डागार

अर्थ -     बार  बार आग में जलाये जाने पर भी  सोना अपनी चमक और रंग
नहीं छोडता है , तथा बार  बार  काटे  जाने  पर भी  गन्ने का डण्डा अपनी
मिठास नहीं छोडता है |   चन्दन भी बार बार घिसे जाने  पर भी  अपनी सुगन्ध
नहीं छोडता है |  इसी प्रकार  महान  व्यक्ति  भी अपने  आचरण और स्वभाव में
विकृति (गिरावट) नहीं आने  देते है चाहे उनके प्राण ही क्यों न चाले जायें  |

Dagdham dagdham tyajati na punah kaanchanam kaanti varnam
Chinnam chinnam tyajati na punah svaadumikshudandaam.
Dhrushtram dhrushtam tyajati na punh svaadutaamikshudandaam.
Praantepi prukriti vikrutirnaayate nottamaanaam,

Dagdham = burnt on fire.    Tyajati = sheds, leaves.   Na= not.  Punah =
again and again.    Kanchanam = Gold.   Kaanti = lustre.   Varnam =
colour.   Chinnam chinnam = cut into pieces.   Tyajati = leave,give up.
Svaadutaamikshudandam =Svaadutaam + ikshu +dandam.  Svaadutaa =
sweet taste.      Ikshu = sugarcane.   Dandam = stem.     Dhrushtam
dhrushtam = rubbed again and again     Punashchandanam = punah +
chandanam.     Chandanam =Sandalwood.      Praanantepi = praanant +api.      
Praaanant = death.  Api = even.   Prakruti = nature.     Vikrutirnaayate =
vikrutih +naayate.  Vrukriti = change, deterioration.    Naayate = results in,
leads towards.     Nottamaanaam = na + uttamaanaam.       Na = not.  
Uttamaanaam = persons of highest integrity and character.

i.e.        In spite of being burnt in fire again and again Gold does not lose its
lustre and colour, and similarly the stem of sugarcane on being cut into
pieces does not shed its sweet taste.   Sandalwood also does not give up
its sweet smell in spite of being rubbed again and again on a stone .   In
the same manner noble and righteous persons of highest integrity do not
allow any change in their nature and good behaviour even on the face of
imminent death.