Today's Subhashita.

श्रोत्रं  श्रुतेनैव  न कुण्डलेन दानेन पाणिर्न  तु कङ्कणेन  |

विभाति कायः खलु सज्जनानां परोपकारैर्न तु चन्देनेन  || - सुभषितरत्नाकर 

अर्थ -   हमारे कानों की शोभा हमारे पूर्वजों से प्राप्त ज्ञान की  बातें सुनने से

 होती है  न कि कुण्डल पहनने  से , तथा हाथों की शोभा दान देने से  होती है 

न कि कङ्कण पह्नने  से होती है | इसी प्रकार सज्जन व्यक्तियों के व्यक्तित्व 

की शोभा परोपकार करने  से ही होती है न कि शरीर में चन्दन का लेप  करने से 

होती है  |

Shrotram shrutenaiva na kundalena daanena paanirna tu kankanena.

Vibhaati kaayah khalu sajjanaanaam [paropakaarairna tu chandanena.

Shrotram = ears.    Shrutenaiva = shrutena + aiva,    Shrutena = 

sacred knowledge of holy men passed on orally from generation to 

generation..   Aiva = already, surely.   Na = not.   Kundalena = 

by wearing  ear rings.    Daanena = by donating.   Paanirna -

Paanih + na.     Paanih = hands.    Tu = and .   Kankanena = bangles.

Vibhaati =  be resplendent.    Kaayh = body, personality.  Khalu =

surely.  Sajjanaanaam = noble and righteous persons,   Paropakaareirna =

Paroparaih + na.     Paropakaaraih = through benevolent deeds.

Chandanena = by applying sandal wood paste over the body.

i.e.       Our ears  get beautified by listening to the knowledge passed

on to us by our forefathers through oral tradition and not by wearing

beautiful ear rings..  Our hands get dignified by giving donations and

not by wearing wrist bands and bangles.  Similarly the personality of

noble  and righteous persons gets embellished through benevolent deeds

 done by them and not by merely applying sandal wood paste over their

body.