To day's Subhashit.

अङ्गं  गलितं  पलितं  मुण्डं  दशन विहीनं  जातं तुण्डम्  |
वृद्धो याति ग्रहीत्वा  दण्डं तदपि न मुन्च्यत्याशा पिण्डम्   ||

Amgam galitam palitam mundam dashan viheenam jaatam tundam.
vruddho yaati graheetwaa dandam tadapi na munchtyaashaa pindam.

Angam = various limbs of human body.      Galitam = decayed.      Palitam = grey.
 Mundam =  a shaved head.     Dashan = teeth.      Viheenam= deprived of.
Jaatam = become, happened.      Tundam = mouth.    Vradho =  an aged person.
Yaati = on becoming.     Graheetwaa = holding.     Dandam = a walking stick.     Tadapi = even then.
Na = not       Munchati = loses.     Ashaa = hope.      Pindam = subsistence,  remaining alive.

i.e.       Even if a person's various limbs become decayed,  his head becomes bald or hairs turn grey, mouth becomes toothless, and being very old he can not walk without a walking stick, he still is not able to lose the hope for remaining alive.

To day's Subhashit.

दिनयामिन्यौ सायं प्रातः शिशिर वसन्तौ पुनरायातः  |
कालः क्रीडति पुनरायातः तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशावायुः   ||

Dinayaaminyou saaym pratah shishir vasantou punaraayaatah
Kaalh kreedati punaraayatah tadapi na munchatyaashaavaayuh.

Dina = Day.   Yaaminyou = nights.     Saayam = evening.      Praatah = morning.     Shishir = winter season.
Vasanta =  spring season.    Punaraayaatah = punah + aayatah      Punah = again.    Aayatah = arrives.
Kaalh =  death, proper time of seasons.      Kreedati = plays truants..      Tadapi = even then.   Na = not.
Munchatyaashaavaayuh = Munchati + Aasha + Vaayu.     Munchati = gives up,leaves...
 Aasha = hope., expectation      Vaayuh = gushing wind,  the air we breath called 'Pran Vaayu', because when breathing stops a person becomes dead.     Aasha vaayuh =  hope of living a long life.

i.e.          Day and night, morning and evening arrive in succession in a cyclic way, and so also the  winter and spring seasons.    Death also arrives likewise and plays truants with the lives of people in the same manner, but still people do not give up the hope of living a long life.

To day's Subhashit.

सत्संगत्वे   निस्संगत्वं   निस्संगत्वे   निर्मोहत्वम्       |    
निर्मोहत्वे   निश्चलतत्वं  निश्चलतत्वे जीवन मुक्तिः ||

Satsangatve nissangatvam nissangatve nirmohatvam.
Nirmohatve nischaltatvaam nischaltatve jeevan muktih

Satsangatwam = Sat + sangatwam .      Sat = honest ,righteous.   Sangatwam = keeping the company of Satsangatwam =  keeping the company of righteous and noble persons     Nissangatvam = Ni + sangatvam.
Ni = not having.   Nissangatvam = Not having any type of attachment.     Nissangatva = by not having any sort of attachment.       Nirmohatvam = Ni = mohatvam.     Mohatvam = cause of going the wrong way., being perplexed.        Nischal = unchangeable.         Tatvam = reality, truth.    Jeevan = life.
Mukti.= salvation, liberation.     Jeevan mukti = salvation from the repetitive cycle of  birth and death .

i.e.       Keeping the company of noble and righteous persons results in a person becoming free from all sorts of attachments , which in turn results in not getting perplexed or going the wrong way.  This state of mind further results in the person knowing the unchangeable Truth (having communion with God Almighty) , and ultimately results in  salvation of the person from the repetitive cycle of birth and death (jeevan mukti).

|

To day's Subhashit.

वयसिगते कः कामविकारः शुष्के नीरे कः कासारः  |
क्षीणे  वित्ते  कः परिवारः ज्ञाते  तत्वे कः  संसारः   ||

Vayasigate kah kaamavikaarah shushke neere kah kaasaarah.
ksheene vitte kah parivaarah gyaate tatve kah sansaarah.

Vayasigate = vayasi + gate.     Yayasi = youth.    Gatey =gone.    Vayasigatey = an aged person .
Kah = what ?     Kaamvikaara =  Kaam +vikaar.     Kaam = erotic (sexual) love.   Vikaar = extravagance.
Kaamvikaar = strong sexual urge. lust.     Shuska = dry.    Neere = water,     Kaasaar = a lake., a pond.
Ksheene = weakened.     Vitte = finance.     Parivarah = family, dependants.    Gyaate =known,enlightened.
Tatve = philosophy.    Sansaarh = cycle of worldly existence, world.

i.e.            Of what use is the sexual urge to an aged person, and of what use is a dried lake ?  If the financial  position of a person is very poor ,of what use is he to his family, and of what importance this worldly existence  is to a person who is an enlightened philosopher ?  

To day's Subhashit.

यावत्पवनो  निवसति देहे तावत्पृच्छति  कुशलं गेहे |
गतवति वायो देहापाये भार्या विभ्यति तस्मिन्काये ||

Yaavatpavano nivasati dehe taavatprucchati kushalam gehe.
Gatavati vaayo dehaapaaye bhaaryaa vibhyati tasminkaaye.

Yaavatpavano = Yaavat +pavano.     Yaavat = so long as.    Pavano = wind, air. (here the reference is to the breathing of air by living beings, which is essential for staying alive, called 'Praan Vayu'.    Nivasati = resides   Dehe = human body.     Taavat = until then.       Prucchati = enquire.
Kushalam = welfare     Gehe = residence.       Gatavayi = when gone.   Vaayo = breathing process called "Praan Vaayus" i.e . life breath.     Dehaapaye = from the body.   Bhaaryaa = wife.
Vibhyati = becomes afraid.   Tasminkaaye = Tasmin + kaay..  Tasmin = that.    Kaye = body (corpse).

i.e.     So long a person is alive (breathes the air) his welfare is taken care of  by his family members , but as soon as the "Praan vaayu" -the life force- in him departs (he is dead) even his wife is afraid of his dead body. .

To day's Subhashit.

अर्थमनर्थं भावय नित्यं नास्ति ततः सुखलेशः सत्यम्  |

पुत्रादपि  धनभाजां  भीतिः  सर्वत्रैषा  विहिता   रीतिः     ||

Arthmmanartham bhavaya nityam naasti tatah sukhleshh satyam.

Putraadapi  dhanabhaajaam bheetih sarvatraishaa vihitaa reetih.

Arthmanartham = artham + anartham.       Artham = wealth.      Anarth = disastrous, harmful.

Bhavaya = think over, deliberate.    Nityam = every day, always.      Naasti = non existent.    

Tatah = therefore      .Sukhleshah = Sukh +leshah .          Sukh = happiness, comfort.     Lesha = very little.      Satyam = true.     Putraadapi = Putraah + api.      Putrah = sons.       Api = even ( to put emphasis).   

Dhanbhaajaam = Dhan + bhajaam.     Dhan = wealth, money.     Bhaajaam = worship,excessive desire.

Dhnbhaajaam = lust for acquiring wealth    .Bheetih = fear, scare.     Sarvatreshaa = Sarvatra + eshaa.       Sarvatra = every where.  Eshaa = this.     Vihitaa = laid down ,decreed.       Reeti = custom, usage.

i.e.        One should always remember that being wealthy is also harmful and it is truly said that there is very little joy in being a rich person.  Lust for acquiring wealth makes a person to be fearful of even his sons (he even does not trust his sons) and this is considered a well laid down custom in the society.

To day's Subhashit

बालस्तावात्क्रीडाSSसक्तस्तरुणास्तावत्तरुणीरक्त:   ।
वृद्ध्स्तावच्चिन्तामग्न: परे  ब्रह्मणि कोSपि  न लग्नः  ॥

Baalas-taavat-kreedaasakta-starunaa=-staavat-taruneeraktah.
Bruddhas-taava-chintaamsgnah Pare brahmani kopi na lagnah.

Baal = child, childhood.     Taavat = until then.     Kreeda =  playing.     Aasakt = fond of, involved.
Taruna =  young person ,youth.       Taruni  =  a young woman.      Raktah = emotionally attached.
Brudha =  aged.       Chintaa = worries.      Magna = besieged, engrossed    Pare = afterwards.
Brahmani =  Supreme God Almighty,  Parabrahma.     Kopi  (kah + api)  =whosoever..    Na = not.
Lagnah =  pursue, to have communion with

i.e.         Childhood of a person is spent being engrossed in playing, and his youth is spent being emotionally attached towards women (his wife) and when he becomes aged he is besieged with all sorts of worries, but even then hardly any one wants to have communion with  'Braahma' ( The God Almighty).

To day's Subhashit.

कविः करोति पद्यानि  लालयत्युत्तमो जनः  |    
तरुः  प्रसूते  पुष्पाणि  मरुद्वहति  सौरभम्    ||

Kavih karoti padyani laalaayatyutamo janh.
Taruh prasute pushpaani marudvahati saurabham.

Kavi = a poet.    Karoti = composes, does.     Padyaani = poems.   Laalayatyuttmo = laalayati + uttamo.
Laalayati = pampers, pleases.   uttamo = great.   Jana = person.   Uttam janh = knowledgeable persons,connoisseurs of poetry.       Taru = a tree.   Prasute = produced.      Pushpaani = flowers.          Marudvahati = Marut + vahati.         Marut = wind, air.        Vahati = blows,carries forward.  
Saurabham = fragrance.

i.e.      A poet who writes nice and meaningful poetry is like a flowering tree, and his creations  ultimately reach the connoisseurs of poetry  and pleases them, just like the  fragrance of the flowers produced by the tree dispersed  all around and far off by the blowing wind.

To day's Subhashit.

कामं क्रोधं लोभं मोहं त्यक्त्वाSSत्मानं पश्य हि कोSह्म्  |
आत्मज्ञानविहीना  मूढास्ते  पच्यन्ते  नरक   निगूढा:      ||

Kaamam krodham lobham moham tyaktwaatmaanam pashya hi koham.
Aatmagyaanviheenaa moodhaaste pachyanwe narak nigoodham.

Kaamam = sexual desire.    Krodham = anger.     Lobham =excessive  desire for any thing.
Moham= loss of consciousness, infatuation.    Tyaktwaatmaanam = Tyaktwaa + aatmaanam.
Tyaktwaa = abandoning, foregoing.     Aatmaanam = one's own personality.      Pashya =behold, introspect.
Aatmagyaan =  knowing one's own personality and capability.   Viheenaa = in absence of, unaware..
Moodhaaste = Moodha + Aste.       Moodha = ignorant, stupid, gone astray.    Aste = are, exist.
Pachyante = are cooked.      Narak = Hell.      Nigudhaa = secretly

i.e.      O person ! after shedding the negative traits of excessive sexual desire, anger,greed and infatuation, think and do an  introspection that who am I, because those persons who are unaware of their personality and capabilities and fall prey to the aforesaid negative traits, are considered as fools and ultimately are consigned to Hell for being roasted in Hell's fire.

(This Subhashit is a warning to persons who are excessively enamoured  to 'Kama', 'Krodh ', 'lobh' and 'moha', and exhorts them to shed these negative traits, which make a person incapable of realising his true capabilities and result in his downfall and ultimately consign him to Hell.)

To day's Subhashit.

यावद्वित्तोपार्जनसक्त्स्तावन्निजपरिवारो रक्तः  |
तदनु च जरया जर्जरदेहे वार्तां कोSपि न पृच्छति गेहे ||

Yaavadvittopaarjanasaktastaavannijaparivari raktah.
Tadanu cha jarayaa jarjardehe vaartam kopi na prucchati gehe.

Yaavad = so long.    vittopaarjana  = earning money. sakta = capable of .   Taavat = till then.
nija = one's own.      Parivaro = family.     Raktah = emotionally attached.     Tadanu = afterwards.
cha = also.      Jarayaa = old age.      Jarjar = deteriorated.     Dehe = body.   Gehe = household.
Vaartaam = enquiring about health or welfare.    Kopi = no body.     Prucchati = enquires about.  

i.e.      So long a person is capable of earning money he remains emotionally attached to his family.
Afterwards when his health gets deteriorates due to old age, no body in his family enquires (or bothers)about his health and welfare.

To day's Subhashit.

नलिनीदलगतजलवत्तरलं   तद्वद्ज्जीवनमतिशयचपलम् |
क्षणमपि   सज्जनसंगतिरेका   भवति   भवार्णवतरणे नौका ||

Nalineedalagatjalvattaranam tadvadjjevanamatishayachapalam.
Kshnamapi sajjansamgatirekaa bhavati bhavaarnavatarane na

Nalini = lotus.   Dal = petal.  Gat = gone by, over.    Jalvat = like water.   Taralam =moving to and fro..   Tadvajjevanamatishayachapalam = Tadvat +jeevan +atishya =Chapalam
tadvat =  like that.   Jeevan = life.    Atishaya = extremely.    Chapalam = unsteady, momentary
Kshnamapi = Kshna + api.     Kshna =measure of time in Sanskrit like a second in English.
Api = even (to express emphasis).   Sajjansangatirekaa = Sajjan + sangati + eka
Sajjan =noble and righteous person.    Sangati =  association, company of.    Eka = one, single.
Bhavati = becomes, happens.   Bhavaarnavatarane = Bhava + Arnava + tarane..
Bhava = worldly existence.  Arnava = ocean.    Tarane = swimming, crossing.      Naukaa = a boat.

i.e.        Just as water drops over a lotus petal (leaf) remain unsteady and move to and fro, in the same manner expectancy of  life of a person in this World is extremely unpredictable and momentary. But  even a momentary association with noble and righteous persons serves as a ship to fathom the ocean of this worldly living.

(Through this Subhashit the author has compared the ephemeral and unpredictable nature of human life  as a drop of water over a lotus petal and has compared the day to day ups and downs in one's life to a turbulent ocean, and the company and sagacious advice of noble persons akin to a ship, which helps in crossing the ocean.)

To day's Subhashit.

मा कुरु धनयौवन  गर्वं  हरति निमेषात्  कालः सर्वम्  |
मायामयमिदमखिलं हित्वा ब्रह्मपदं प्रविशाSSशु  विदित्वा  ||

Maa  kuru dhanayouvan garvm harati nimeshaat kaalh sarvam.
Maayamayamidmakhilam hitwaa Brahmapadam pravishaashu viditwaa.

Maa = Do not .     Kuru = do, have.     Dhan = riches        Youvan = youth,    Garvam =  pride.
Harati =  snatches away.   Nimeshaat = in a moment, in no time.    Kaalah = death,  Time..
Sarvam =  all, every thing.      Maayaamayamidmakhilam = Mayaa + maya + idam+ akhilam.
Maaya = deception, supernatural.    Maya = full of.     Idam = this.    Akhilam = whole, entire Universe.
Hitwaa= advantageous,        Brahmapadam = Place of Brahma, the Supreme God.
Pravishaasu =  Pravish = aashu.      Pravish = enter into.      Aashu = quickly, immediately.
Viditwaa = understood, known, ordained..

i.e.        Never be proud of your riches and youth, as death  snatches it in no time    All these worldly possessions are just an illusion and it is in one's own interest that he should strive to have unison with the God Almighty, as has been well ordained..  

To day'sSubhashit.

का तव कान्ता कस्ते पुत्रः संसारोSयमतीव  विचित्रः   |
कस्य त्वं  वा कुत आयतस्तत्वं  चिन्तय तदिदं भ्रातः |

Kaa tava kaanta kaste putrh samsaaroyamateeva vichitrh.
kasya tvm vaa kita aayatasttvm chintat tadidm bhraath.

Kaa = who.    Tava = your.       Kaantaa = wife.          Kaste = who is your.       Putrah = son.
Sansaaroyamateeva =Sansaar +iyam+ateeva.     Sansaar = the world we live in.     Iyam = this.
ateeva = extremely.    Vichitra = amazing, strange.    Kasya = who.    Tvm = you.   Vaa = or
Kuta =from where.     Aayatastvm =  Aayata + twam.     Aayata = came.    Chintay = ponder over this.
Tadidm = accordingly.    Bhraath =  brother.

i.e.      O brother !  extremely strange and amazing are the ways of this World  we live in . Therefore, ponder over these aspects that who are you and from where you have come, and what is your relationship with your wife and your son. (Implying thereby that such a relationship is short- lived  and may  not be fruitful and of any use  at the time of need. So,  too much attachment with these worldly comforts is undesirable, )

To day's Subhashit.

शत्रौ मित्रे पुत्रे बन्धौ मा कुरु यत्नं विग्रह्सन्धौ  |
भव समचित्तः सर्वत्र त्वं  वाञ्छस्यचिराद्यदि   सत्तत्वम्    ||

Shatrou mitre putre bandhou maa kuru vigrahsandhou.
bhava samachittah sarvaram twam vaanchasyachiraadyati sattattwam.

Shatrou = enemies.    Mitre = friends.    Bandhou = relatives.   Maa = not.    Kuru  = do
Yatnam =  effort , purposely.      vigrah = quarrel.       Sandhou = friendship,association.
Bhava = become.     Samachitta = possessing equanimity, treating every one without any bias.  
Sarvatra = every where.     Twam = you.         Vaanchsyachiraadyati = vaanchasi +chiraadyati.       Vaanchasy = desired , liked..        Chiraadyati = quickly, always.      Sattattwam = very good, virtuous.

i.e.     Do not purposely (with ulterior motive ) have quarrel or friendship with your enemies, friends and relatives.  Behave equanimously (without any bias) with them and you will always be liked every where for your virtuous behaviour.

(The above Subhashit has been classified under the head सदुपदेश (sadupadesh) i.e. beneficial counsel for betterment in one's life, This 'shloka' is from the famous 'Stotra' - "(भजगोविन्दं  भजगोविन्दं गोविन्दं भज मूढमते " (Bhaj Govindam Bhaj Govindam Govindam Bhaj Moodhmate) written by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya. This stotra is very famous and is even sung as a Bhajan,  It very beautifully outlines in a simple way the essence of Vedanta i.e. complete Philosophy enshrined in  Vedas and Upnishadas, having the status of Scriptures of Sanaatan Dharma (Hindu Religion), about human existence, its aims and purposes etc. I will post some more such Subhashitas during the coming weeks.)

If you want to view the entire Stotra , here is the link of the web site:-
http://sanskritdocuments.org/all_sa/bhajagovindam_sa.html

To day's Subhashit.

अपूर्वो भाति भारत्याः काव्यामृतफले रसः |
चर्वणे सर्व सामान्ये स्वादुवित्केवलं कविः  ||

Apoorva bhaati Bhaaratyaah kaavyaamrutaphale rasah.
charvane sarva saamaanye swaaduvitkevalam kavih.

Apoorvo = unique, novel.    Bhaati = appears.    Bhaaratyaa = dramatic recitation of Sanskrit poetry.
Kaavyaamrutaphale = Kavya + Amruta +phale.    Kaavya = poetry.  Amruta = nectar.   Phala = fruit.      Rashh = juice, flavour.      Charvane = chewing.   Sarva = all        Saamaanya = ordinary.   Swaaduvitkevalam =Swaaduvit +kevalam.  swaaduvit  == tasty.           kevalam = only to.   Kavih = poets.

i.e.       The joy of  participating in a  dramatic recitation of Sanskrit poetry is akin to chewing a fruit, the taste and juice of which can only be appreciated by a poet and not by ordinary people.

( In this Subhashit  the poet has compared the Sanskrit poetry to a juicy fruit (like a mango) and its contents  to the juice of the fruit, which ,ordinary people will treat as ordinary chewing of the fruit, but only a poet will enjoy the subject matter of the poetry (kaavyaamruta) and savour it like the fabulous 'Amrita', the nector of the Gods.)

To day's Subhashit.

मातेव रक्षति पितेव हिते नियुङ्ग्ते
कान्तेव चापि रमयत्यपनीय खेदम्  |
लक्ष्मी तनोति वितनोति च दिक्षु कीर्ति
किंकिं न साधयति कल्पलतेव विद्या. ||

Maatev rakshati pitev hite niyungte.
Kaantev chaapi ramayatyapaneeya khedam.
Lakshmi tanoti vitanoti cha diskhu keerti
kimkim na saadhayati kalpalateva Vidyaa.

Maateva = mother's.  Rakshati = protects.   Piteva = father's   Hite = welfare, interests.    Niyungte = takes special care, gives preference.     Kanteva = a beloved woman ,wife.     Chaapi = also.    Ramayatyapaniya = Ramayati +apaniya.     Ramayati = enjoying carnally (sexually)    Apaniya = to indulge.   Khedam = regret, sexual passion.       Lakshmi =  riches.    Tanoti = accomplishes.    Vitanoti = accomplishes.  cha = also.
Dikshu = initiated into, expert.     keerti = fame, speech (oratory).     Kimkim = what,      Na = not.
Saadhayati = achieves.    Kalpalateva = like the Kalpa Vruksha,the fabulous tree of Hindu Mythology, which  grants all the wishes a person makes.     Vidyaa = knowledge and learning.

i.e.        It protects one's mother and takes care of the welfare of his father, desists him from indulging in adultery (enjoying carnally the company of a beautiful woman), begets him riches as also makes him famous for his oratory and what not else is 'Vidyaa' able to provide  to a person like the fabulous Kalpa Vruksha ?

(Through this Subhashit the author wants to emphasise that if a person is learned and knowledgeable, he can not only acquire all the comforts of life, but he serves his parents  with devotion and is also faithful to his wife thereby implying that his character is also impeccable.)

To day's Subhashit.

सद्विद्या यदि का चिन्ता वराकोदरपूरणे  |
शुकोSप्यशनमाप्नोति हरेराम इति ब्रुवन्  ||

Sadvidyaa yadi kaa chintaa varakodar poorane.
Shukopyashanamaapnoti Hare Ram iti bruvan.

Sadvidyaa = true knowledge.    Yadi = if .     Kaa = what.      Chintaa = anxiety, worry.
Varakodar = varaak + udar.       Varaak = little       Udar = stomach.    Poorane =  filling.
Shukopyashanamaapnoti = Shuka + api + yasham + aapnoti.     Shuka = a parrot.   Api = even.
Yasham = fame.      Aapnoti = obtains, gets.     Hare = a name of God Vishnu .
Ram = the name of Lord Ram, an incarnation of God Vishnu.     Iti =  this.   Bruvan = by saying.

i.e.    If a person has true knowledge (is well educated) then he should not worry at all  for his living (metaphorically called filling of stomach -"udarapoorti' ) e.g. even a parrot gets fame if it is well trained in chanting the words "Hare Ram".

To day's Subhashit.

विद्या नाम नरस्य रूपमधिकं प्रच्छन्न गुप्तं धनं
विद्या भोगकरी यशः सुखकरी विद्या गुरूणां गुरु:  |
विद्या बन्धुजनो विदेशगमने  विद्या   परं  दैवतं
विद्या राजसु पूज्यते नहि धनं विद्याविहीनः पशुः ||

Vidyaa naam narasya roopamadhikam pracchanna guptam dhanam.
Vidyaa bhogakaree yashh sukhakaree vidyaa gurunaam guruh.
Vidyaa bandhujano videshgamane vidyaa param daivatam.
Vidyaa raajasu poojyate nahi dhanam vidyaaviheenh pashuh.

Vidyaa = learning, knowledge.  Naam = name.,well known   Narasya = a person's
 Roopamadhikm = Roopa + adhikm.    Roop = beautiful appearance.    Adhikam =  more.            Pracchanna = hidden.     Guptam = secretly kept.    Dhanam = wealth.      Bhogakaree = producing enjoyment.      Yashh = fame.     Sukhkaree = pleasure giving.    Gurunaam = of the teachers.      Guruh = teacher.     Bandhujano = relatives , friends.   Videsh = foreign country.   Gamane = going to.
 Param =supreme.       Daivatm = God.     Raajasu = kings.      Poojyate =  honoured.    Nahi = not.    Dhanm = wealth. Viheena = in absence of , without.   Vidyaaviheena = an illiterate person    Pashu = animal.

i.e.      If a person is learned and knowledgeable, he is more well known than a beautiful person.. "Vidyaa"  is like hidden and secretly kept wealth and provides enjoyment, fame and happiness to to a person possessing it. He can even be an eminent  Scholar able to produce other teachers. During one's stay in a foreign country, Vidyaa is there to help him like a friend and relative.  In a King's court a learned person is honoured more than a rich person. Therefore,it is rightly said that an illiterate person is just like an animal .

To day's Subhashit.

सुखस्य दुःखस्य न कोSपि दाता  परोददातीति कुबुद्धिरेषा |
अहं करोमीति वृथाSभिमानः स्वकर्मसूत्रग्रथितो हि लोक: ||

Sukhasya dukhasya na koopi daataa parodadaateeti kubuddhireshaa.
Aham karomeeti vruthaabhimaanh swakarmasootragrathito hi lokah.

Sukhasya = of the pleasure.    Dukhasya = of the unhappiness.   Na = not .    Koopi =  no body.
Daataa = giver.   Parodadaati = paro + dadaati + iti.      Paro = another.   Dadaati = gives.
Iti = this, that.      Kubuddhi =  a wrong perception. ( 'ku' is a prefix  to be added before a word implying deterioration and/or just the opposite of  any virtue or thing).   Buddhi = intelligence.       Eshaa = this.
Aham = I, me.     Karomeeti = Karomi  + iti.    doing  this.   Vruthaabhimanah = Vruthaa + abhimaanh.
Vruthaa = futile, in vain.      Abhimaanah =  pride.     Swakarma = one's own actions (deeds)
Sootra = formula, manner of doing.    Swakarmasootra = one's style of doing any task.
Grathito = obsessed, domination of the mind by one idea..   Hi = because.    Lokah = people.

i.e.        People are obsessed with the idea that their style of doing any thing is the only correct one and feeling proud for it is futile.  When as a result of such action one gets  pleasure or sorrow, no one else is responsible for it but the person concerned , and attributing these to others  is nothing but a wrong perception.

To day's Subhashit.

विपत्तौ किं विषादेन संपत्तौ  हर्षणेन किम्  |
भवितव्यं   भवत्येव  कर्मणामीदृषी  गतिः    ||

Vipattou kim vishaaden sampatou harshnen kim.
Bhavitavym bhavatyeva karmnaameedrushee gatih.

Vipattou = calamity, misfortune.      Kim = why.      Vishaad =  sorrow.
Sampattou = affluence.     Harsha =happiness.   Bhavitavym = that must happen.
Bhavatyeva = will inevitably happen.    Karmanaameedrushee = Karmanaa + eedrushee.
Kamranaa = deeds, actions.      Eedrushee =  such, like this.    Gatih =end result

i.e.      There is no reason to feel sorry while facing misfortune and be happy while enjoying affluence during the course of doing a job, because whatever is destined will definitely happen, as this is the end result of all actions.

(This Subhashit highlights the theory of 'Nishkaam Karma' propounded in Bhagwadgeeta, which ordains that one should do his duty with full devotion without  bothering for or having too much craving for a favourable end result, as whatever is destined is bound to happen and Man has no control over it.)

To day's Subhashit

वने  जने  शत्रुजलाSग्निमध्ये  महार्णवे  पर्वतमस्तके  वा  |
सुप्तं प्रमत्तं विषमस्थितं वा  रक्षन्ति पुण्यानि पुराकृतानि ||

Vane jane shatrujalaagnimadhye mahaarnave parvatamastakey vaa.
Suptam pramattam vishamasthitam vaa rakshanti punyaani puraakrutaani.

Vane = a forest.    Jane = persons.    Shatru = enemy.   jalaagnimadhye =jala + agni + madhye.
Jala = water.    agni = fire.    Madhye= in the middle.     Mahaarnava = turbulent ocean.
Parvatmastakey = parvat + mastakey,      Parvat = mountain.       Mastakey = head.
Parvatmastakey = peak of a mountain difficult to climb.      Vaa = also.     Suptam = sleeping
Pramattam = in a drunken state.    Vishamsthitam = visham + sthitam .    Visham = dangerous.
Sthitam = situation, staying.    Vishamsthitam  = a dangerous situation.   Rakshanti = protects.
Punyaani = plus points earned by a person by being virtuous and doing good deeds in his previous as also present birth cycle.     Purakrutaani =  deeds done long ago.

i.e.   'Punya' earned by a person long ago protect him from dangers associated with roaming in a forest, enemies, water and fire, , being trapped in a turbulent ocean or while climbing a mountain peak,while asleep or in a drunken state or various other  dangerous situations.

To day's Subhas

     To day,  on the auspicious occasion of "Mahaa Shivaraatri'\" here is a'Shloka' praising Lord Shiva,
composed by Goswaami Tulsi Das, the author of 'Sri Ramcharita Maanas'

यस्याङ्के च विभाति भूधरसुता देवापगा मस्तके
भाले बालविधुर्गले च गरलं यस्योरसिव्याल्रराट्    |
सोSयं  भूतिविभूषणः सुरवरः सर्वाधिपः सर्वदा
शर्वः सर्वगतः शिवः शशिनिभ: श्रीशंकरः पातुमाम्  ||

Yasyaanke cha vibhaati bhoodharasutaa devaapagaa mastake.
Bhaale baalavidhurgale cha garalam yasyorasivyaalraat.
soyam bhootivibhushanh suravarh sarvaadhiph sarvadaa.
Sharvh Sarvagath Shivah Shashinibhh Shrishankarh paatumaam

i.e.     Let  O God Shankar !  in whose lap Goddess Parvati is sitting, the sacred river Ganges adorns his forehead along with a crescent Moon, has retained most potent poison (called Halaahal) on  his throat (to protect the mankind) , and a snake around his neck like a garland, has smeared ash over his body as an ornamentation, is most reverred among all Gods, is sovereign, is destroyer (of evil and sorrows of his followers), having countenance like a full Moon, always protect me.

Yasyaanke = on whose lap.     Vibhati = adorns       Bhoodhar =a mountain.  Sutaa = daughter.
(Here it refers to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, who is the daughter of Himaalaya,the kind of all Mountains,according to Hindu Mythology.)
Devaapaga = Sacred river Ganges, supposed to have been originated from the feet of Lord Vishnu)
Deva = God .   Paga = feet.      Mastak = forehead.      Bhaale = forehead.    Baalavidhurgale = Baal + vidhu + gale.  Baal = young.   Vidhu = Moon    Baal Vidhu = a crescent moon.   Gale  = throat.
Yasya = whose.  Rasi = garland.  Vyaalraat = king of serpents.      Soyam = whose.
Bhooti (vibhooti) = ash.   Vibhooshana = ornamentation.     Suravarh = most reverred  among Gods .
Sarvaadhiph = sovereign .    Sharva = another name of Lord Shiva.   Sarvagath = supreme.
Shashinibhh = having countenance like the Moon.    Paatumaam = Paatu + maam.
Paatu = protect    Maam = me.

To day's Subhashit.

नैवाSकृतिः फलति नैव कुलं न शीलं
विद्याSपि नैव न च यत्नकृताSपि सेवा  |
भाग्यानि पूर्वतपसा किल संचितानि
काले फलन्ति पुरुषस्य यथेव वृक्षाः         ||

Naivaakrutih phalati naiva kulam na sheelam.
vidyaapi naiva na cha yatnakrutaapi sevaa
Bhaagyaani poorva tapasaa kil samchitaani.
kaale phalanti purushasya yatheva vrukshaah.

Naivaakrutih = na + iva + aakrutih      Na = not.   Iva = like.    Aakruti = appearance.
Phalati = be fruitful.    Kulam = lineage of the family.   Sheel = conduct, character.
Vidyaapi = vidya + api.     Vidyaa = learning, knowledge.   Yatnakrutaapi = yatna + kruta = api.
Yatna = effort.   Kruta = by doing.     Sevaa = service.   Bhagyaani = by destiny or fate.
Poorva = earlier.   Tapasaa = penance, asceticism. self denial.     Kil = is it.
Sanchitaani = accumulated.        Kaale = time.      Phalanti = fructify,        Purushasya = a man's .   Yatheva = just as.      Vrukshaah = trees.

i.e.      Neither good appearance nor lineage of the family, good conduct, knowledge and learning,sincere efforts made to serve the community, and  'punya'  (plus points acquired in previous birth cycle by doing good deeds) of a person do not become fruitful  immediately but are fruitful at the appropriate time afterwards, just as trees take time to grow and blossom thereafter.

To day's Subhashit.

रे चित्त चिन्तय चिरं चरणो मुरारैः
पारं गमिष्यति भवान् भवसागरस्य  |
पुत्रः कलत्रमितरे सुह्रद: सहायाः
सर्वं विलोकय सखे मृगतृष्निकेव ||    

Re chitta chintay chiram charanou muraaraih.
Paarm gamishyati bhavaan bhavasaagarasya.
putrh kalatramitare suhradah sahaayaah.
sarvam vilokaya sakhe mrugatrushnikeva.  

Re = O !       Chitta = mind.      Chintay = think about.    Chiram = long time,always.     Charanou = feet.   Muraarai =  Mura + ari.    Mura = name of a demon.  Ari = enemy.   Muraari = Lord Vishnu     Paarm = across.      Gamishyati = will be able to go.    Bhavaan =  you     Bhava = the world.    Saagarasya = of the ocean.   Bhavasaagar = The hardships of living in this World are compared to an ocean, which one has to fathom only through the grace of God.      Putrah = son.
 Kalatra = wife.   Mitare = friends.  Sahayaah =  helpers.  Suhrudah = kind hearted. Sarvam = all      Vilokay = see,  treat.    Sakhe = O ! friend.   Mrugatrushnikeva = Mrugatrushnaa + iva.
Mrugatrushnaa = mirage (deceptive images seen in a desert e.g. a lake full of water).       Iva = like.

i.e.        O mind !  always think about (pray) Lord Vishnu, because you will be able to cross the ocean of miseries of this World by doing so. O friend ! you will find that your son, wife, friends and well wishers will not be of any help to you , and will be just like a mirage in a desert.

To day's Subhashit.

कृतान्तस्य दूती जरा कर्णमूले
समागत्य वक्तीति लोकाः शृणुध्वम्  |
परस्त्रीपरद्रव्यवान्च्छां  त्यजध्वम्
भजध्वम् रमानाथपादाSरविन्दम्   ||

Krutaantasya dootee jaraa karnamoole.
Samaagatya vakteeti lokaah shrunudhwam.
Parastreeparadruvyavaanchaam tyajadhwam
Bhajadhwam Ramaanathpaadaravindam.

Krutaant = Yama, a Demi God assigned the duty of causing death of persons and then sending them to Heaven (Swarga)or Hell (Naraka), according to Hindu Religion.      Dootee = messanger.    Jaraa = old age.
Karna moole = behind the ears. (when a person becomes aged , the first sign of this is that hairs on the head turn grey  behind the ears ).      Samaagatya =  after coming .       Vakteeti =  tells.     Lokaah = persons.
Shrunudhwam = listen.       Parastree = other person's wife.    Paradruvya = others' money (riches).
Tyajadhwam = forego, give up.       Bhajadhwam = worship.     Ramaanathapaadaarvindam = Rama + naath
paada + arvindam.  Rama = Goddess Lakshmi.    Nath = husband.    Ramaanaath = Lord Vishnu, whose consort is Lakshmi.     Paad = feet.   Arvind = lotus.   Paadarvind = feet soft and coloured like lotus flower.

i.e.       Old age is the messenger of Death God and by turning the hairs grey behind ones' hairs gives the signal of her arrival and warns that  "O people !  listen to my warning and give up your desire to possess other persons' wife and wealth and instead worship the lotus like feet of Lord Vishnu for the remaining period of your life.

To day's Subhashi

     Here is another Subhashit about the relationship between a Guru and his Shishya (student), emphasising that the student must have reverance towards his Guru and should serve him diligently .

शुश्रूषारहिता विद्या यद्द्पि मेधागुणैः  समुपयाति  |
बन्ध्येव यौवनवती  न  तस्य  विद्या फलवती      ||

Sushrushaa rahitaa vidyaa yaddyapi medhaagunaih samupayaati.
Bandhyeva  youvanavatee  na  tasya  vidyaa   phalavatee.

Sushrooshaa = service with reverence.     Rahitaa = without.       Vidyaa = learning, knowledge.
Yaddyapi = although.    Medhaa = intelligence.      Guna = quality.     Samupayaati = acquires.
Bandhyeva = Bandhyaa + iva.      Bandhya = an infertile woman.    Iva = like a ,similar to.
Youvanwati = a young and beautiful woman.      Na = not.     Tasya = his/her.
Phalavatee =  successful, fruitful, beneficial.

i.e.       Knowledge acquired without serving the Guru with reverence, although makes a person intelligent,such learning is not beneficial and fruitful to him, just like a beautiful woman who is infertile and can not beget a child.

To day's Subhashit.

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा   गुरुर्विष्णु:   गुरुदेवो   महेश्वर: |
गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्मः तस्मै श्री गुरुवे   नमः ||

Gururbrahmaa Gururvishnuh Gurudevo Maheshwarah.
Guruh saakshaat Parabrahma tasmai Shri Guruve Namah.

Guruh = a teacher.          Brahmaa , Vishnu and Maheshwara  =  These are the three main Gods of Hindu religion also called  collectively as 'Trideva'.   They are  respectively called as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer of this Universe and Vishnu is treated as the senior most and Brahma and Shiva are considered as subordinate to Vishnu.
Saakshaat = before one's eyes.  personified.     Parabrahma = Sujpreme God Almighty.
Tasmai = to Him.      Shri =  a word added before a name to show respect..     Namah = a salutation.

i.e.       A Guru is akin  to Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara.  He is God Almighty personified before one's eyes.  To him (my respected  Guru), I offer my humble salutations.

(Yesterday I had mentioned about the veneration shown to a Guru in Sanskrit Literature. The above is one of oft quoted Shloka on the subject.  Here the Guru has been compared to the 'Tridevas' of Hindu Religion and even as God Almighty personified.)

To day's Subhashi

यथा खनन खनित्रेण  भूतले वारि विन्दति  |
एवं  गुरुगतां  विद्यां  सुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति  |

Yathaa khanan khganitren bhootale vaari vindati.
Evam Gurugattaam  vidyaam sushrushuradhigacchati.

Yathaa = for instance, just as.      Khanan = digging.       Khanitra - a spade or a digging tool.
Bhootale = underground.     Vaari = water.      Vindati = found, discovered.      Evam = similarly, so also.
Gurugattam =Guru + gataam.     Guru = A Teacher.     Gataam = approached, coming from.
Sushrushadhigacchatiu =suushrushaa + adhigacchati.      Sushrushaa = service, showing reverence and obedience..     Adhigacchati =  acquired, learnt.

i.e.     Just as ground water is found by consistently digging the earth with a spade (digging a well), similarly knowledge is acquired from a teacher by showing reverence and obedience to the teacher .

(In this Subhashit the process of learning has been compared to digging a well to extract ground water.This process requires consistent and strenuous effort and dedication and then only ground water is available  In Sanskrit Literature the relationship of a teacher and his student (Guru-Shishya sambandh) is considered very pious and the Guru is revered like a God. Only that learning is considered successful, which is acquired by serving the Guru with reverence and obedience.  I will post a few Subhashits on this subject in my next posts)|

To day's Subhashit.

सहस्रगुणिता  विद्या  शतशः  परिकीर्तिता   |

आगमिष्यति जिह्वाग्रस्थ्लान्निम्नमिवोदकम् ||

Sahasragunitaa vidyaa shatashh parikeertitaa.

Aagamishyanti jihvaagrasthlaanimnamivodakam.

Sahasragunitaa = multiplied one thousand times.     Vidyaa = knowledge.       Shatashh = one hundred times.

Parikeertitaa = proclaimed, said         Aagamishyati = comes, returns back.. 

Jihvaagrasthalaanimnamivodakam = jihwaagra + sthalaani + nimna + iva + udakam.

Jihvaagra = tip of the toung.       Sthalaani = place.    Nimna = lower.     Iva  =like.   Udakam = water.

i.e.         It is said that Knowledge imparted orally by a teacher to his students one hundred times returns to the tip of his tongue multiplied one thousand times, just like water dropped from a high place accumulates at the lower level.

(Through this Subhashit the author highlights the fact that during the process of teaching to his students, the knowlwdge (or concept.) of the Guru also multiplies (improves) one thousand times times due to repetition.  There is a saying in Sanskrit - "अनभ्यासे विषं शाश्त्रं "  Anabhyase visham shaastrum - i.e. if one does not recapitulate or revise whatever one has learned, such knowledge turns into a poison i.e. it is lost or becomes outdated..  So, repetition of the knowledge regularly hones and updates it., which is a normal process for a teacher.)

To day's Subhashit.

यत् कीटे पांशुभिः श्लक्ष्णैर्वल्मीकः क्रियते महान्  |
न  तत्र  बलसामर्थ्यमुद्द्योगस्तत्र   कारणम्   ||

Yat keete paamshubhih shlakshnairvalmeekh kriyate mahaan.
Na tatra balasaamarthyamuddyogastatra  kaaranam.

Yat = making efforts.      Keete = an insect ( here the reference is to termites ),     Paanshu = crumbling soil.         Shlakshan = small particles.   Valmeek = ant hill created by termites (white ants)       Kriyate = constructs, creates.
Mahaan = large, big.      Na = not.    Tatra = there.       Balasamaarthyamuddyogastatra = bala + saamarthya.+ uddyog  +  tatra.       Bal = strength.    Saamarthya = capacity.    Uddyoga -industriousness, perseverance.       Tatra = there.

i.e.          Small white ants (termites) create large ant-hills out of small particles of crumbling soil.  This is possible not due to their physical strength and capacity but because of their industriousness and perseverance.

(As mentioned by me yesterday, here is another Subhashit extolling the virtues of patience, industriousness and perseverance, which are essential for accomplishing any task.)

To day's Subhashit.

योजनानां सहस्राणि शनैर्याति पिपीलिका  |
अगच्छन वैनतेयोऽपि पदमेकं न गच्छति

Yojanaanam sahasraani shanairyaati pipeelikaa.
Agacchan vaineteyopi padamekam na gacchati.

Yojanaanaam = long distances.   Yojan is a measurement of distance from one place to another in Sanskrit language, just like a kilometer or a mile in English language.||    Sahasraani = thousands.
Shanairyaati + shanaih =yaati.      Shanai= slowly, gradually.      Yaati = goes.      Pipeelikaa = ant.
Agacchan =  not moving, .     Vainateyopi =vainateya + api.      Vainateya =   Garuda, the king of birds.
(In Hindu mythology Lord Vishnu, the foremost among all Gods, uses Garuda - a very large Eagle - as his vehicle to move from one place to another). Api = even       Padamekam = pada + ekam.     Pad = step.    Ekam = one.        Na = not.     Gacchati = goes.

i.e.      An ant, which moves very slowly but steadily, traverses thousands of Yojans.  But even Garuda (the supreme among all flying birds and used by Lord Vishnu as his vehicle) will not be able to move  ahead even one step if it remains immobile.

(Through this Subhashit the author has emphasised that it is the consistency and entrepreneurship, which is foremost for the success of an endeavour. If a powerful person lacks in these virtues and remains idle he will not be able to succeed in his endeavour.  There are many other subhashits on this theme,which I will post shortly.)