सुभाषितानि

Moved blog to wordpress!

2006-06-02T20:31:00.000+05:30

This blog is essentially defunct, as of May 2006. Please look at samskrtam.wordpress.com, where I love the categorisation feature of wordpress!

विनयस्तत्र सुदुर्लभः

2006-05-12T11:03:00.000+05:30

नरत्वं दुर्लभं लोके विद्या तत्र सुदुर्लभा।
शीलं च दुर्लभं तत्र विनयस्तत्र सुदुर्लभः॥
In this world, to take birth in the human race is rare, wherein to obtain knowledge and wisdom is even harder. Further to have a noble character is harder and further still is modesty.

सर्वाः सुखमया दिशाः

2006-05-01T20:15:00.000+05:30

अकिञ्चनस्य दान्तस्य शान्तस्य समचेतसः।
मया सन्तुष्तमानसः सर्वाः सुखमया दिशाः॥
akiñcanasya dāntasya śāntasya samacetasaḥ|
mayā santuṣtamānasaḥ sarvāḥ sukhamayā diśāḥ||
For a humble one, whose passions are curbed, even-tempered, self-controlled, even-tempered always content — the whole world is full of happiness.

आचरात् किं न साध्यते

2006-04-30T07:45:00.000+05:30

आचारः परमो धर्म आचारः परमं तपः।
आचारः परमं ज्ञानम् आचरात् किं न साध्यते॥
ācāraḥ paramo dharma ācāraḥ paramaṁ tapaḥ|
ācāraḥ paramaṁ jñānam ācarāt kiṁ na sādhyate||
Good conduct is the highest dharma, it is the greatest penance.
It is also the greatest knowledge. What can't be achieved through good conduct?

सुखं हि दुःखान्यनुभूय शोभते

2006-04-29T20:30:00.000+05:30

सुखं हि दुःखान्यनुभूय शोभते घनान्धकारेष्विव दीपदर्शनम्।
सुखात्तु यो याति नरो दरिद्रतां धृतः शरीरेण मृतः स जीवति॥
sukhaṁ hi duḥkhānyanubhūya śobhate ghanāndhakāreṣviva dīpadarśanam|
sukhāttu yo yāti naro daridratāṁ dhṛtaḥ śarīreṇa mṛtaḥ sa jīvati||
Happiness indeed shines up, after having experienced miseries, like the sight of a lamp in thick darkness. But a person who goes from luxury to penury, lives on [as though] dead, [only] keeping up (his) body.

क्रोधं विवर्जयेत्

2006-04-25T14:48:00.000+05:30

क्रोधो मूलमनर्थानां क्रोधः संसारबन्धनम्।
धर्मक्षयकरः क्रोधः तस्मात् क्रोधं विवर्जयेत्॥
krodho mūlamanarthānāṁ krodhaḥ saṁsārabandhanam|
dharmakṣayakaraḥ krodhaḥ tasmāt krodhaṁ vivarjayet||
Anger is the main cause of all kinds of misfortune and is a gread impediment of wordly life.
It [even] destroys righteousness; therefore, anger should always be shunned!

कीर्तिर्यस्य स जीवति

2006-04-11T18:40:00.000+05:30

स जीवति यशो यस्य कीर्तिर्यस्य स जीवति।
अयशोऽकीर्तिसंयुक्तः जीवन्नपि मृतोपमः॥
sa jīvati yaśo yasya kīrtiryasya sa jīvati|
ayaśo'kīrtisaṁyuktaḥ jīvannapi mṛtopamaḥ||
"He lives [in the true sense], whose fame and reputation are existent in the world.
One whose infamy and slander is spread in the world, though alive, is as good as dead."

पञ्चैते मातरः स्मृताः

2006-04-09T18:24:00.000+05:30

राजपत्नी गुरोः पत्नी भ्रातृपत्नी तथैव च।
पत्नीमाता स्वमाता च पञ्चैते मातरः स्मृताः॥
rājapatnī guroḥ patnī bhrātṛpatnī tathaiva ca|
patnīmātā svamātā ca pañcaite mātaraḥ smṛtāḥ||
"The wife of the king, the wife of the teacher, the wife of the elder brother, the mother of one's own wife and one's own mother — These are considered the five mothers of a man"

पञ्चैते पितरः स्मृताः

2006-04-09T18:13:00.000+05:30

जनिता चोपनेता च यश्च विद्यां प्रयच्छति।
अन्नदाता भयत्राता पञ्चैते पितरः स्मृताः॥
janitā copanetā ca yaśca vidyāṁ prayacchati|
annadātā bhayatrātā pañcaite pitaraḥ smṛtāḥ||
"One who gives birth, one who performs rituals and cultural ceremonies, one who teaches and educates, one who gives food and one who protects from danger — These are considered the five fathers of a man"

नामरामायणम्

2006-04-06T18:30:00.000+05:30

॥अथ नामरामायणम्॥
॥बालकाण्डः॥
शुद्धब्रह्मपरात्पर राम्‌।
कालात्मकपरमेश्वर राम्‌।
शेषतल्पसुखनिद्रित राम्‌।
ब्रह्माद्यमरप्रार्थित राम्‌।
चण्डकिरणकुलमण्डन राम्‌।
श्रीमद्दशरथनन्दन राम्‌।
कौसल्यासुखवर्धन राम्‌।
विश्वामित्रप्रियधन राम्‌।
घोरताटकाघातक राम्‌।
मारीचादिनिपातक राम्‌।
कौशिकमखसंरक्षक राम्‌।
श्रीमदहल्योद्धारक राम्‌।
गौतममुनिसम्पूजित राम्‌।
सुरमुनिवरगणसंस्तुत राम्‌।
नाविकधाविकमृदुपद राम्‌।
मिथिलापुरजनमोहक राम्‌।
विदेहमानसरञ्जक राम्‌।
त्र्यम्बककार्मुखभञ्जक राम्‌।
सीतार्पितवरमालिक राम्‌।
कृतवैवाहिककौतुक राम्‌।
भार्गवदर्पविनाशक राम्‌।
श्रीमदयोध्यापालक राम्‌।

राम राम जय राजा राम्‌।
राम राम जय सीता राम्‌।

॥ अयोध्याकाण्डः॥

अगणितगुणगणभूषित राम्‌।
अवनीतनयाकामित राम्‌।
राकाचन्द्रसमानन राम्‌।
पितृवाक्याश्रितकानन राम्‌।
प्रियगुहविनिवेदितपद राम्‌।
तत्क्षालितनिजमृदुपद राम्‌।
भरद्वाजमुखानन्दक राम्‌।
चित्रकूटाद्रिनिकेतन राम्‌।
दशरथसन्ततचिन्तित राम्‌।
कैकेयीतनयार्थित राम्‌।
विरचितनिजपितृकर्मक राम्‌।
भरतार्पितनिजपादुक राम्‌।

राम राम जय राजा राम्‌।
राम राम जय सीता राम्‌।

॥ अरण्यकाण्डः॥

दण्डकावनजनपावन राम्‌।
दुष्टविराधविनाशन राम्‌।
शरभङ्गसुतीक्ष्णार्चित राम्‌।
अगस्त्यानुग्रहवर्धित राम्‌।
गृध्राधिपसंसेवित राम्‌।
पञ्चवटीतटसुस्थित राम्‌।
शूर्पणखार्त्तिविधायक राम्‌।
खरदूषणमुखसूदक राम्‌।
सीताप्रियहरिणानुग राम्‌।
मारीचार्तिकृताशुग राम्‌।
विनष्टसीतान्वेषक राम्‌।
गृध्राधिपगतिदायक राम्‌।
शबरीदत्तफलाशन राम्‌।
कबन्धबाहुच्छेदन राम्‌।

राम राम जय राजा राम्‌।
राम राम जय सीता राम्‌।

॥ किष्किन्धाकाण्डः॥

हनुमत्सेवितनिजपद राम्‌।
नतसुग्रीवाभीष्टद राम्‌।
गर्वितवालिसंहारक राम्‌।
वानरदूतप्रेषक राम्‌।
हितकरलक्ष्मणसंयुत राम्‌।

राम राम जय राजा राम्‌।
राम राम जय सीता राम्‌।

॥ सुन्दरकाण्डः॥

कपिवरसन्ततसंस्मृत राम्‌।
तद्गतिविघ्नध्वंसक राम्‌।
सीताप्राणाधारक राम्‌।
दुष्टदशाननदूषित राम्‌।
शिष्टहनूमद्भूषित राम्‌।
सीतवेदितकाकावन राम्‌।
कृतचूडामणिदर्शन राम्‌।
कपिवरवचनाश्वासित राम्‌।

राम राम जय राजा राम्‌।
राम राम जय सीता राम्‌।

॥ युद्धकाण्डः॥

रावणनिधनप्रस्थित राम्‌।
वानरसैन्यसमावृत राम्‌।
शोषितसरिदीशार्त्तित राम्‌।
विभीषणाभयदायक राम्‌।
पर्वतसेतुनिबन्धक राम्‌।
कुम्भकर्णशिरश्छेदक राम्‌।
राक्षससङ्घविमर्धक राम्‌।
अहिमहिरावणचारण राम्‌।
संहृतदशमुखरावण राम्‌।
विधिभवमुखसुरसंस्तुत राम्‌।
खःस्थितदशरथवीक्षित राम्‌।
सीतादर्शनमोदित राम्‌।
अभिषिक्तविभीषणनत राम्‌।
पुष्पकयानारोहण राम्‌।
भरद्वाजाभिनिषेवण राम्‌।
भरतप्राणप्रियकर राम्‌।
साकेतपुरीभूषण राम्‌।
सकलस्वीयसमानस राम्‌।
रत्नलसत्पीठास्थित राम्‌।
पट्टाभिषेकालङ्कृत राम्‌।
पार्थिवकुलसम्मानित राम्‌।
विभीषणार्पितरङ्गक राम्‌।
कीशकुलानुग्रहकर राम्‌।
सकलजीवसंरक्षक राम्‌।
समस्तलोकोद्धारक राम्‌।

राम राम जय राजा राम्‌।
राम राम जय सीता राम्‌।

॥ उत्तरकाण्डः॥

आगत मुनिगण संस्तुत राम्‌।
विश्रुतदशकण्ठोद्भव राम्‌।
सितालिङ्गननिर्वृत राम्‌।
नीतिसुरक्षितजनपद राम्‌।
विपिनत्याजितजनकज राम्‌।
कारितलवणासुरवध राम्‌।
स्वर्गतशम्बुक संस्तुत राम्‌।
स्वतनयकुशलवनन्दित राम्‌।
अश्वमेधक्रतुदीक्षित राम्‌।
कालावेदितसुरपद राम्‌।
आयोध्यकजनमुक्तिद राम्‌।
विधिमुखविबुधानन्दक राम्‌।
तेजोमयनिजरूपक राम्‌।
संसृतिबन्धविमोचक राम्‌।
धर्मस्थापनतत्पर राम्‌।
भक्तिपरायणमुक्तिद राम्‌।
सर्वचराचरपालक राम्‌।
सर्वभवामयवारक राम्‌।
वैकुण्ठालयसंस्थित राम्‌।
नित्यनन्दपदस्थित राम्‌।

राम राम जय राजा राम्‌।
राम राम जय सीता राम्‌।

॥इति नामरामायणं सम्पूर्णम्॥

|'tha nāmarāmāyaṇam||
||bālakāṇḍaḥ||
śuddhabrahmaparātpara rām|
kālātmakaparameśvara rām|
śeṣatalpasukhanidrita rām|
brahmādyamaraprārthita rām|
caṇḍakiraṇakulamaṇḍana rām|
śrīmaddaśarathanandana rām|
kausalyāsukhavardhana rām|
viśvāmitrapriyadhana rām|
ghoratāṭakāghātaka rām|
mārīcādinipātaka rām|
kauśikamakhasaṁrakṣaka rām|
śrīmadahalyoddhāraka rām|
gautamamunisampūjita rām|
suramunivaragaṇasaṁstuta rām|
nāvikadhāvikamṛdupada rām|
mithilāpurajanamohaka rām|
videhamānasarañjaka rām|
tryambakakārmukhabhañjaka rām|
sītārpitavaramālika rām|
kṛtavaivāhikakautuka rām|
bhārgavadarpavināśaka rām|
śrīmadayodhyāpālaka rām|

rāma rāma jaya rājā rām|
rāma rāma jaya sītā rām|

|| ayodhyākāṇḍaḥ ||

agaṇitaguṇagaṇabhūṣita rām|
avanītanayākāmita rām|
rākācandrasamānana rām|
pitṛvākyāśritakānana rām|
priyaguhaviniveditapada rām|
tatkṣālitanijamṛdupada rām|
bharadvājamukhānandaka rām|
citrakūṭādriniketana rām|
daśarathasantatacintita rām|
kaikeyītanayārthita rām|
viracitanijapitṛkarmaka rām|
bharatārpitanijapāduka rām|

rāma rāma jaya rājā rām|
rāma rāma jaya sītā rām|

|| araṇyakāṇḍaḥ ||

daṇḍakāvanajanapāvana rām|
duṣṭavirādhavināśana rām|
śarabhaṅgasutīkṣṇārcita rām|
agastyānugrahavardhita rām|
gṛdhrādhipasaṁsevita rām|
pañcavaṭītaṭasusthita rām|
śūrpaṇakhārttividhāyaka rām|
kharadūṣaṇamukhasūdaka rām|
sītāpriyahariṇānuga rām|
mārīcārtikṛtāśuga rām|
vinaṣṭasītānveṣaka rām|
gṛdhrādhipagatidāyaka rām|
śabarīdattaphalāśana rām|
kabandhabāhucchedana rām|

rāma rāma jaya rājā rām|
rāma rāma jaya sītā rām|

|| kiṣkindhākāṇḍaḥ ||

hanumatsevitanijapada rām|
natasugrīvābhīṣṭada rām|
garvitavālisaṁhāraka rām|
vānaradūtapreṣaka rām|
hitakaralakṣmaṇasaṁyuta rām|

rāma rāma jaya rājā rām|
rāma rāma jaya sītā rām|

|| sundarakāṇḍaḥ ||

kapivarasantatasaṁsmṛta rām|
tadgativighnadhvaṁsaka rām|
sītāprāṇādhāraka rām|
duṣṭadaśānanadūṣita rām|
śiṣṭahanūmadbhūṣita rām|
sītaveditakākāvana rām|
kṛtacūḍāmaṇidarśana rām|
kapivaravacanāśvāsita rām|

rāma rāma jaya rājā rām|
rāma rāma jaya sītā rām|

|| yuddhakāṇḍaḥ ||

rāvaṇanidhanaprasthita rām|
vānarasainyasamāvṛta rām|
śoṣitasaridīśārttita rām|
vibhīṣaṇābhayadāyaka rām|
parvatasetunibandhaka rām|
kumbhakarṇaśiraśchedaka rām|
rākṣasasaṅghavimardhaka rām|
ahimahirāvaṇacāraṇa rām|
saṁhṛtadaśamukharāvaṇa rām|
vidhibhavamukhasurasaṁstuta rām|
khaḥsthitadaśarathavīkṣita rām|
sītādarśanamodita rām|
abhiṣiktavibhīṣaṇanata rām|
puṣpakayānārohaṇa rām|
bharadvājābhiniṣevaṇa rām|
bharataprāṇapriyakara rām|
sāketapurībhūṣaṇa rām|
sakalasvīyasamānasa rām|
ratnalasatpīṭhāsthita rām|
paṭṭābhiṣekālaṅkṛta rām|
pārthivakulasammānita rām|
vibhīṣaṇārpitaraṅgaka rām|
kīśakulānugrahakara rām|
sakalajīvasaṁrakṣaka rām|
samastalokoddhāraka rām|

rāma rāma jaya rājā rām|
rāma rāma jaya sītā rām|

|| uttarakāṇḍaḥ ||

āgata munigaṇa saṁstuta rām|
viśrutadaśakaṇṭhodbhava rām|
sitāliṅgananirvṛta rām|
nītisurakṣitajanapada rām|
vipinatyājitajanakaja rām|
kāritalavaṇāsuravadha rām|
svargataśambuka saṁstuta rām|
svatanayakuśalavanandita rām|
aśvamedhakratudīkṣita rām|
kālāveditasurapada rām|
āyodhyakajanamuktida rām|
vidhimukhavibudhānandaka rām|
tejomayanijarūpaka rām|
saṁsṛtibandhavimocaka rām|
dharmasthāpanatatpara rām|
bhaktiparāyaṇamuktida rām|
sarvacarācarapālaka rām|
sarvabhavāmayavāraka rām|
vaikuṇṭhālayasaṁsthita rām|
nityanandapadasthita rām|

rāma rāma jaya rājā rām|
rāma rāma jaya sītā rām|

||iti nāmarāmāyaṇaṁ sampūrṇam||

[Posted on 9 APR]

यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः

2006-04-04T18:45:00.000+05:30

सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत।
श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः॥१७-३॥
—श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता
sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata|
śraddhāmayo'yaṁ puruṣo yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ||17-3||
—śrīmadbhagavadgītā
"The faith of all men conforms to their mental constitution, Arjuna.
The man consists of faith; whatever the nature of his faith, he is verily that."

[Posted on 9 APR]

सर्वदेवनमस्कारः केशवं प्रतिगच्छति

2006-03-28T14:17:00.000+05:30

आकाशात्पतितं तोयं यथा गच्छति सागरम्।
सर्वदेवनमस्कारः केशवं प्रतिगच्छति॥
ākāśātpatitaṁ toyaṁ yathā gacchati sāgaram|
sarvadevanamaskāraḥ keśavaṁ pratigacchati||
"Just as all the water fallen from the sky go towards (into) the sea,
Salutations offered to all Gods go unto Keshava!"

भगवान् श्री कृष्णः अपि भगवद्गीतायाम् उक्तवान् —
येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः।
तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम्॥९-२३॥
bhagavān śrī kṛṣṇaḥ api bhagavadgītāyām uktavān —
ye'pyanyadevatā bhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ|
te'pi māmeva kaunteya yajantyavidhipūrvakam||9-23||
"Even those devotees, who, endowed with faith worship other Gods,
worship Me alone, Arjuna, though with a mistaken approach."

सतां हि दर्शनं पुण्यम्

2006-03-24T21:47:00.000+05:30

सतां हि दर्शनं पुण्यं तीर्थभूताश्च सज्जनाः।
कालेन फलते तीर्थम् सद्यः सज्जनसङ्गतिः॥
satāṁ hi darśanaṁ puṇyaṁ tīrthabhūtāśca sajjanāḥ|
kālena phalate tīrtham sadyaḥ sajjanasaṅgatiḥ||
The sight of good people is by itself holy since they are the source of pious and sacred knowledge. While the other 'tirthas' or holy places give their effects after time (death?), acquaintance with the good and righteous pays off immediately

संकीर्त्य नारायणशब्दमात्रम्

2006-03-16T23:30:00.000+05:30

आर्ता विषण्णाः शिथिलाश्च भीताः घोरेषु च व्याधिषु वर्तमानाः।
संकीर्त्य नारायणशब्दमात्रं विमुक्तदुःखाः सुखिनो भवन्तु॥
ārtā viṣaṇṇāḥ śithilāśca bhītāḥ ghoreṣu ca vyādhiṣu vartamānāḥ|
saṁkīrtya nārāyaṇaśabdamātram vimuktaduḥkhāḥ sukhino bhavantu||

This shloka again expounds the power and importance of नामसंकीर्तनम् (nāmasaṁkīrtanam), which is one of the most relevant and possible methods of worship in this age of Kali (कलियुगम्).

An oft-quoted example of the power of nāmasaṁkīrtanam is that of Ajamila. Read more about Ajamila in wiikipedia.

भक्तिश्चेन् नवलक्षणा

2006-03-05T23:26:00.000+05:30

श्री प्रह्लाद उवाच—
श्रवणं कीर्तनं विष्णोः स्मरणं पादसेवनम्
अर्चनं वन्दनं दास्यं सख्यमात्मनिवेदनम्।
इति पुंसार्पिता विष्णौ भक्तिश्चेन् नवलक्षणा
क्रियेत भगवत्यद्धा तन् मन्येऽधीतमुत्तमं॥
— श्रीमद्भागवतम् ७-५-२३
śrī prahlāda uvāca—
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pādasevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyamātmanivedanam|
iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiścen navalakṣaṇā
kriyeta bhagavatyaddhā tan manye'dhītamuttamaṁ||
— śrīmadbhāgavatam 7-5-23

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) — these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Kṛṣṇa through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.

Courtesy: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Expressions_of_Bhakti

[Posted on 16 MAR]

दाता लक्षेषु जायते

2006-02-28T21:01:00.000+05:30

शतेषु जायते शूरः सहस्रेषु च पण्डितः।
वक्ता दशसहस्रेषु दाता लक्षेषु जायते॥
śateṣu jāyate śūraḥ sahasreṣu ca paṇḍitaḥ|
vaktā daśasahasreṣu dātā lakṣeṣu jāyate||
"A brave man is born among hundred persons; a learned scholar, among thousand.
A great orator is one among ten thousand, [but a] great generous donor, one in a lakh!"

न मातुः परदैवतम्

2006-02-27T20:31:00.000+05:30

नान्नोदकसमं दानं तिथिर्नैकादशी समा।
न गायत्र्याः परो मन्त्रः न मातुः परदैवतम्॥
nānnodakasamaṁ dānaṁ tithirnaikādaśī samā|
na gāyatryāḥ paro mantraḥ na mātuḥ paradaivatam||
There are no alms that are equivalent to that of grain and water; there is no day (thithi) equivalent to Ekadashi. There is no mantra superior to Gayatri mantra and there is no God superior to one's mother

संहतिः कार्यसाधिका

2006-02-22T22:05:00.000+05:30

अल्पानामपि वस्तूनां संहतिः कार्यसाधिका।
तृणैर्गुणत्वमापन्नैः बध्यन्ते मत्तदन्तिनः॥
alpānāmapi vastūnāṁ saṁhatiḥ kāryasādhikā|
tṛṇairguṇatvamāpannaiḥ badhyante mattadantinaḥ||
"The unity of even small things can accomplish [huge] tasks.
Straw, when united in the form of a rope can even tie down mad elephants!"

विद्या मित्रं प्रवासेषु

2006-02-17T23:10:00.000+05:30

विद्या मित्रं प्रवासेषु भार्या मित्रं गृहेषु च।
रुग्णस्य चौषधं मित्रं धर्मो मित्रं मृतस्य च॥
vidyā mitraṁ pravāseṣu bhāryā mitraṁ gṛheṣu ca|
rugṇasya cauṣadhaṁ mitraṁ dharmo mitraṁ mṛtasya ca||
"Knowledge is the friend in a foregin land; wife is the [advising and consulting] friend at home.
A medicine is the friend of the sick; Dharma is the friend of the dead [after death]."

यो ध्रुवाणि परित्यज्य अध्रुवाणि निषेवते

2006-02-15T22:52:00.000+05:30

यो ध्रुवाणि परित्यज्य अध्रुवाणि निषेवते।
ध्रुवाणि तस्य नश्यन्ति अध्रुवाणि नष्टमेव हि॥
yo dhruvāṇi parityajya adhruvāṇi niṣevate|
dhruvāṇi tasya naśyanti adhruvāṇi naṣṭameva hi||

"One who gives up the permanent things and hankers after the impermanent.
The permanent things destroy him and the impermanent are anyways destroyed!"

[Can't find either the source or a better meaning. This is my own very vague interpretation, whichI believe is partially correct too!]

पापं तापञ्च दैन्यञ्च घ्नन्ति सन्तो महाशयाः

2006-02-14T20:03:00.000+05:30

गङ्गा पापं शशी तापं दैन्यं कल्पतरुस्तथा।
पापं तापञ्च दैन्यञ्च घ्नन्ति सन्तो महाशयाः॥
gaṅgā pāpaṁ śaśī tāpaṁ dainyaṁ kalpatarustathā|
pāpaṁ tāpañca dainyañca ghnanti santo mahāśayāḥ||

"The [holy river] Ganga cleanses sins [on dipping in it], the moon, by her pleasant and cold beams removes heat, the divine tree kalpataru (that grants every wish) removes any needs or scarcities. [But] the great saints and virtuous people simulataneously destroy the sins, pains and deficiencies [of all those who associate with them]. "

नास्ति सत्यात् परो धर्मः

2006-02-13T22:58:00.000+05:30

सत्येन सूर्यस्तपति सत्येनाग्निः प्रदीप्यते।
सत्येन मारुतो वाति सर्वं सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
अश्वमेध सहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम्।
अश्वमेधसहस्राद्धि सत्यमेव विशिष्यते॥
—महाभारते अनुशासन पर्वः
satyena sūryastapati satyenāgniḥ pradīpyate|
satyena māruto vāti sarvaṁ satye pratiṣṭhitam||
aśvamedha sahasraṁ ca satyaṁ ca tulayā dhṛtam |
aśvamedhasahasrāddhi satyameva viśiṣyate||
—mahābhārate anuśāsana parvaḥ

"The Sun burns by Truth, by truth does the Fire give Light.
By Truth does the Wind blow, Everything is rooted in Truth".
"When a thousand Ashvamedhas are compared with Truth with a balance,
More than the thousand Ashvamedhas, Truth weighs greater.

नास्ति सत्यात् परो धर्मः।
nāsti satyāt paro dharmaḥ|
There is no greater dharma than truth.

अप्रियस्य च पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः

2006-02-10T20:24:00.000+05:30

सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन् सततं प्रियवादिनः।
अप्रियस्य च पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः॥३-३७-२॥
— वाल्मीकिरामायणम् अरण्य काण्ड ३७-२
sulabhāḥ puruṣā rājan satataṁ priyavādinaḥ|
apriyasya ca pathyasya vaktā śrotā ca durlabhaḥ||3-37-2||
— vālmīkirāmāyaṇam araṇya kāṇḍa 37-2

It will always be easy to get people who talk pleasantly, Oh, King!
But it is impossible to get them who talk judgementally and give suggestions that may be apparently insipid, but that are recuperative, more so, it is impossible to get listeners of such advices.

स्वभावो मूर्ध्नि वर्तते

2006-02-09T08:44:00.000+05:30

सर्वस्य हि परीक्ष्यन्ते स्वभावा नेतरे गुणाः।
अतीत्य हि गुणान् सर्वान् स्वभावो मूर्ध्नि वर्तते॥२०॥
— हितोपदेशे मित्रलाभः
sarvasya hi parīkṣyante svabhāvā netare guṇāḥ|
atītya hi guṇān sarvān svabhāvo mūrdhni vartate||20||
— hitopadeśe mitralābhaḥ

One should always examine the innature nature of everyone, not other qualities.
[For] surpassing all the [other] qualities, nature alone dominates.

अनभ्यासे विषं विद्या

2006-02-08T09:09:00.000+05:30

अनभ्यासे विषं विद्या अजीर्णे भोजनं विषं।
विषं सभा दरिद्रस्य वृद्धस्य तरुणी विषं॥
anabhyāse viṣaṁ vidyā ajīrṇe bhojanaṁ viṣaṁ|
viṣaṁ sabhā daridrasya vṛddhasya taruṇī viṣaṁ||

Without practice, knowledge is poison; on indigestion, food is poison;
For a poor man, a social gathering is poison; for an old man, a maiden is poison.

अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्

2006-02-07T10:10:00.000+05:30

अतिदानाद्धतः कर्णस्त्वतिलोभात् सुयोधनः।
अतिकामाद्दशग्रीवस्त्वति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्॥
atidānāddhataḥ karṇastvatilobhāt suyodhanaḥ|
atikāmāddaśagrīvastvati sarvatra varjayet||

By excessive charity, Karna was ruined; by excessive greed, Suyodhana.
By excessive desire, Ravana, excesses should be avoided everywhere.

शरीरमाद्यम् खलु धर्मसाधनम्

2006-02-06T14:13:00.000+05:30

अपि क्रियार्थम् सुलभं समित्कुशं जलानि अपि स्नानविधिक्षमं ते।
अपि स्वशक्त्या तपसि प्रवर्तसे शरीरमाद्यम् खलु धर्मसाधनम्॥
— कालिदसस्य कुमारसम्भवम् सर्ग ५-३३
api kriyārtham sulabhaṁ samitkuśaṁ jalāni api snānavidhikṣamaṁ te|
api svaśaktyā tapasi pravartase śarīramādyam khalu dharmasādhanam||
— kālidasasya kumārasambhavam sarga 5-33

शरीरमाद्यम् खलु धर्मसाधनम्
śarīramādyam khalu dharmasādhanam
The body is the means of fulfilment of Dharma

कः परः प्रियवादिनाम्

2006-02-05T19:00:00.000+05:30

को हि भारः समर्थानां किम् दूरं व्यवसायिनाम्।
को विदेशः सविद्यानां कः परः प्रियवादिनाम्॥
ko hi bhāraḥ samarthānāṁ kim dūraṁ vyavasāyinām
ko videśaḥ savidyānāṁ kaḥ paraḥ priyavādinām

What is too difficult for the competent; what is too far for the hardworking/resolute!
What place is foreign for one who is educated; who is an alien/foe of the one who speaks sweetly?

[Posted on 6th FEB]

आत्मनः प्रतिकूलानि परेषाम् न समाचरेत्

2006-02-04T17:00:00.000+05:30

श्रीभगवान् अर्जुनं उवाच —
श्रूयताम् धर्मसर्वस्वं श्रुत्वा चैवावधर्यतम्।
आत्मनः प्रतिकूलानि परेषाम् न समाचरेत्॥
śrībhagavān arjunaṁ uvāca —
śrūyatām dharmasarvasvaṁ śrutvā caivāvadharyatam
ātmanaḥ pratikūlāni pareṣām na samācaret
Listen to the summary of righteousness, which you should listen to attentively and accept it only after understanding it.
What is contrary to the welfare of one's own self should not be discharged or done in regard to others.
i.e. Do not do any thing to others which you do not want to be done to yourself.

[Posted on 6th FEB]

संशयात्मा विनश्यति

2006-02-03T19:00:00.000+05:30

अज्ञश्चाश्रद्धधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति।
नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः॥
— भगवद्गीता ४-४०
ajñaścāśraddhadhānaśca saṁśayātmā vinaśyati|
nāyaṁ loko'sti na paro na sukhaṁ saṁśayātmanaḥ||
— bhagavadgītā 4-40

He who lacks discrimination, is devoid of faith, and is at the same time possessed by doubt is lost from spiritual path.
For the doubting soul there is neither this world nor the world beyond, nor even happiness.

[Posted on 6 FEB]

परित्राणाय साधूनाम्

2006-02-02T09:57:00.000+05:30

परित्राणाय साधूनाम् विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय संभवामि युगे युगे॥
— भगवद्गीता ४-७
paritrāṇāya sādhūnām vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām|
dharmasaṁsthāpanārthāya saṁbhavāmi yuge yuge||
— bhagavadgītā 4-7
"For the protection of the virtuous, for the extirpation of evil-doers,
And for establishing righteousness on a firm footing, I am born from age to age."

Check out www.paritrana.org

कृतस्य करणं नास्ति

2006-02-01T09:41:00.000+05:30

कृतस्य करणं नास्ति मृतस्य मरणं तथा।
गतस्य शोचना नास्ति ह्येतद् वेदविदां मतम्॥
kṛtasya karaṇaṁ nāsti mṛtasya maraṇaṁ tathā|
gatasya śocanā nāsti hyetad vedavidāṁ matam||

"What has been done cannot be done again; what is dead cannot (come to life and) die again;
What is lost cannot be repented for; such is the view of those learned in the Vedas."

न विप्रियं वदत्यार्यः

2006-01-31T09:47:00.000+05:30

अप्रियवचनाङ्गारैर्दग्धोऽपि न विप्रियं वदत्यार्यः।
किं दह्यमानमगरु स्वभावसुरभिं परित्यजति॥
apriyavacanāṅgārairdagdho'pi na vipriyaṁ vadatyāryaḥ|
kiṁ dahyamānamagaru svabhāvasurabhiṁ parityajati||
"A man of culture does not speak unpleasantly though burnt by the burning coals of displeasing talk.
Does the fragrant aloe wood abandon its natural fragrance when being burnt?"

वन्दे मातरम्

2006-01-26T09:00:00.000+05:30

वन्दे मातरम्।
सुजलाम् सुफलाम् मलयजशीतलाम्।
शस्यश्यामलाम् मातरम् वन्दे मातरम्॥
शुभ्रज्योत्स्ना पुलकितयामिनीम्
फुल्लकुसुमितद्रुमदलशोभिनीम्।
सुहासिनीम् सुमधुरभाषिणीम्
सुखदां वरदाम् मातरं॥
वन्दे मातरम्।

vande mātaram|
sujalām suphalām malayajaśītalām|
śasyaśyāmalām mātaram vande mātaram||
śubhrajyotsnā pulakitayāminīm
phullakusumitadrumadalaśobhinīm|
suhāsinīm sumadhurabhāṣiṇīm
sukhadāṁ varadām mātaraṁ||
vande mātaram|

The English translation of the stanza rendered by Sri Aurobindo:
I bow to thee, Mother,
Richly-watered, Richly-fruited,
Cool with the winds of the south,
Dark with the crops of the harvests,
The Mother!
Her nights rejoicing in the glory of the moonlight,
Her lands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom,
Sweet of laughter, Sweet of speech,
The Mother, giver of boons, giver of bliss.

[Posted on 30 JAN]

श्रीकृष्णलीलामृतम्‌

2006-01-25T12:00:00.000+05:30

आदौ देवकीदेवगर्भजननं गोपीगृहे वर्धनम्‌
मायापूतनजीवितापहरणं गोवर्धनोद्धारणम्‌।
कंसच्छेदनकौरवादिहननं कुन्तीतनूजावनम्‌
एतद्भागवतं पुराणकथितं श्रीकृष्णलीलामृतम्‌॥
ādau devakīdevagarbhajananaṁ gopīgṛhe vardhanam
māyāpūtanajīvitāpaharaṇaṁ govardhanoddhāraṇam|
kaṁsacchedanakauravādihananaṁ kuntītanūjāvanam
etadbhāgavataṁ purāṇakathitaṁ śrīkṛṣṇalīlāmṛtam||

First the birth of the lord in the womb of Devaki, then the growing up in the house of Gopis,
The taking of life from the deceitful Putana, the lifting up of the Govardhana mountain,
the cutting (beheading) of Kamsa, the killing of the Kauravas etc. and the protection of the sons of Kunti
This is the Bhagavatam told in the Puranas and which is immortal because of the legends of Shri Krishna.

[Posted on 30 JAN]

शीलपरीक्षा धनक्षये

2006-01-22T11:55:00.000+05:30

आपदि मित्रपरीक्षा शूरपरीक्षा रणाङ्गणे।
विनये वंशपरीक्षा शीलपरीक्षा धनक्षये॥
āpadi mitraparīkṣā śūraparīkṣā raṇāṅgaṇe|
vinaye vaṁśaparīkṣā śīlaparīkṣā dhanakṣaye||

"A friend's test is in calamity; the test of a valiant person is on the battlefield.
The test of a family is in its humility and the test of one's character is in poverty."

नलिनीदलमिव विस्तारिता बुद्धिः

2006-01-22T11:19:00.000+05:30

यः पठति लिखति पश्यति परिपृच्छति पण्डितान् उपाश्रयति।
तस्य दिवाकरकिरणैः नलिनीदलमिव विस्तारिता बुद्धिः।
yaḥ paṭhati likhati paśyati paripṛcchati paṇḍitān upāśrayati|
tasya divākarakiraṇaiḥ nalinīdalamiva vistāritā buddhiḥ|

"One who reads, writes, sees, enquires, lives in the company of learned men,
His intellect expands like the lotus leaf does because of the rays of the sun."

भगवद्गीता द्वादशोऽध्यायः — केचित् श्लोकाः

2006-01-17T19:00:00.000+05:30

मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय।
निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संश्यः॥१२-८॥
mayyeva mana ādhatsva mayi buddhiṁ niveśaya|
nivasiṣyasi mayyeva ata ūrdhvaṁ na saṁśyaḥ||12-8||

"Fix your mind on Me, and establish your intellect in Me alone;
Thereafter you will abide solely in Me. There is no doubt about it."

अथ चित्तम् समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम्।
अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छप्तुम् धनञ्जय॥१२-९॥
atha cittam samādhātuṁ na śaknoṣi mayi sthiram|
abhyāsayogena tato māmicchaptum dhanañjaya||12-9||

"If you can not steadily fix the mind on Me, Arjuna;
Then seek to attain Me through the yoga of repeated practice."

अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्म परमो भव।
मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन् सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि॥१२-१०॥
abhyāse'pyasamartho'si matkarma paramo bhava|
madarthamapi karmāṇi kurvan siddhimavāpsyasi||12-10||

"If you are unequal even to the pursuit of such practice, be intent to work for Me;
you shall attain perfection (in the shape of My realization) even by performing actions for My sake."

अथेतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुम् मद्योगमाश्रितः।
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागम् ततः कुरु यतात्मावान्॥१२-११॥
athetadapyaśakto'si kartum madyogamāśritaḥ|
sarvakarmaphalatyāgam tataḥ kuru yatātmāvān||12-11||

"If, taking recourse to the yoga of My realization, you are unable even to do this;
Then, subduing your mind and intellect etc. relinquish the fruit of all actions."

श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्‌ध्यानम् विशिष्यते।
ध्यनात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छन्तिरनन्तरम्॥१२-१२॥
śreyo hi jñānamabhyāsājjñāanāddhyānam viśiṣyate|
dhyanātkarmaphalatyāgastyāgācchantiranantaram||12-12||

"Knowledge is better than practice ( without discernment ), meditation on God is superior to Knowledge, and renunciation of fruit of actions is even superior to meditation; for peace immediately follows from renunciation. "

[Posted on 22 JAN]

आदित्यहृदयम्‌

2006-01-14T17:49:00.000+05:30

॥अथ आदित्यहृदयम्‌॥
ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम्‌।
रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम्‌॥१॥
दैवतैश्च समागम्य द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम्‌।
उपागम्याब्रवीद्राममगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः॥२॥

Rama, exhausted and about to face Ravana ready for a fresh battle was lost deep in contemplation.
The all knowing sage agastya who had joined the gods to witness the battle spoke to Rama thus .. 1,2

राम राम महाबाहो शृणु गुह्यं सनातनम्‌।
येन सर्वानरीन्वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसि॥३॥

Oh Rama, mighty-armed Rama, listen to this eternal secret
Which will help you destroy all your enemies in battle. 3

आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम्‌।
जयावहं जपेन्नित्यं अक्षय्यं परमं शिवम्‌॥४॥

This holy hymn dedicated to the Sun deity will result in destroying all enemies
And bring you victory and never ending supreme bliss. 4

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्‌।
चिंताशोकप्रशमनं आयुर्वर्धनमुत्तमम्‌॥५॥

This hymn is supreme and is a guarantee of complete prosperity and is the destroyer of sin,
Anxiety, anguish and is the bestower of longevity. 5

रश्मिमंतं समुद्यन्तं देवासुरनमस्कृतम्‌।
पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तं भास्करं भुवनेश्वरम्‌॥६॥

Worship the One, possessed of rays when he has completely risen, held in reverence by the devas and asuras and who is the Lord of the universe by whose efflugence all else brighten. 6

सर्वदेवात्मको ह्येष तेजस्वी रश्मिभावनः।
एष देवासुरगणाँल्लोकान्‌ पाति गभस्तिभिः॥७॥

He indeed represent the totality of all celestial beings. He is self-luminous and sustains all with his rays. He nourishes and energizes the inhabitants of all the worlds and the race of Devas and Asuras. 7

एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः।
महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमः सोमो ह्यपां पतिः॥८॥

He is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skands, Prajapati.
He is also Mahendra, Kubera, Kala, Yama, Soma and Varuna. 8

पितरो वसवः साध्या ह्यश्विनौ मरुतो मनुः।
वायुर्वह्निः प्रजाप्राण ऋतुकर्ता प्रभाकरः॥९॥

He is the Pitrs, Vasus, Sadhyas, Aswini Devas, Maruts, Manu,
Vayu, Agni, Prana and, being the source of all energy and light, is the maker of all the six seasons. 9

आदित्यः सविता सूर्यः खगः पूषा गभस्तिमान्‌।
सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर्हिरण्यरेता दिवाकरः॥१०॥ or भानुर्विश्वरेता

He is the son of Aditi, creator of the universe, inspirer of action, transverser of the heavens. He is the sustainer, illumination of all directions, the golden hued brilliance and is the maker of the day. 10

हरिदश्वः सहस्रार्चिः सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान्‌।
तिमिरोन्मथनः शंभुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान्‌॥११॥ or मार्तण्ड

He is the Omnipresent One who pervades all with countless rays. He is the power behind the seven sense organs, the dispeller of darkness, bestower of happiness and prosperity, the remover of misfortunes and is the infuser of life. 11

हिरण्यगर्भः शिशिरस्तपनो भास्करो रविः।
अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रः शङ्खः शिशिरनाशनः॥१२॥

He is the primordial being manifesting as the Trinity. He ushers in the Day and is the teacher (of Hiranyagarbha),
The fire-wombed, the son of Aditi, and has a vast and supreme felicity. He is the remover of intellectual dull-headedness. 12

व्योमनाथस्तमोभेदी ऋग्यजुःसामपारगः।
घनवृष्टिरपां मित्रो विन्ध्यवीथी प्लवङ्गमः॥१३॥

He is the Lord of the firmament, dispeller of darkness. Master of all the vedas,
He is a friend of the waters and causes rain. He has crossed the Vindya range and sports in the Brahma Nadi. 13

आतपी मण्डली मृत्युः पिङ्गलः सर्वतापनः।
कविर्विश्वो महातेजाः रक्तः सर्वभवोद्भवः॥१४॥

He, whose form is circular and is colored yellow, is intensely absorbed and inflicts death.
He is the destroyer of all and is the Omniscient one being exceedingly energetic sustains the universe and all action. 14

नक्षत्रग्रहताराणामधिपो विश्वभावनः।
तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन्नमोऽस्तु ते॥१५॥

He is the lord of stars, planets and all constellations. He is the origin of everything in the universe
And is the cause of the lustre of even the brilliant ones. Salutations to Thee who is the One being manifest in the twelve forms of the Sun. 15

नमः पूर्वाय गिरये पश्चिमायाद्रये नमः।
ज्योतिर्गणानां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः॥१६॥

Salutations to the Eastern and western mountain,
Salutations to the Lord of the stellar bodies and the Lord of the Day. 16

जयाय जयभद्राय हर्यश्वाय नमो नमः।
नमो नमः सहस्रांशो आदित्याय नमो नमः॥१७॥

Salutations to the One who ordains victory and the prosperity that follows. Salutations to the one possessed of yellow steeds and to the thousand rayed Lord, and to Aditya. 17

नम उग्राय वीराय सारङ्गाय नमो नमः।
नमः पद्मप्रबोधाय मार्ताण्डाय नमो नमः॥१८॥ or मार्तण्डाय

Salutations to the Terrible one, the hero, the one that travels fast.
Salutations to the one whose emergence makes the lotus blossom and to the
fierce and omnipotent one. 18

ब्रह्मेशानाच्युतेशाय सूर्यायादित्यवर्चसे।
भास्वते सर्वभक्षाय रौद्राय वपुषे नमः॥१९॥

Salutations to the Lord of Brahma, shiva and Achyuta, salutations to the
powerful and to the effulgence in the Sun that is both the illuminator and
devourer of all and is of a form that is fierce like Rudra. 19

तमोघ्नाय हिमघ्नाय शत्रुघ्नायामितात्मने।
कृतघ्नघ्नाय देवाय ज्योतिषां पतये नमः॥२०॥

Salutations to he transcendental atman that dispels darkness, drives away all fear, and destroys all foes. Salutations also to the annihilator of the ungrateful and to the Lord of all the stellar bodies. 20

तप्तचामीकराभाय वह्नये विश्वकर्मणे। or हरये विश्वकर्मणे
नमस्तमोऽभिनिघ्नाय रुचये लोकसाक्षिणे॥२१॥

Salutations to the Lord shining like molten gold, to the transcendental fire, the fire of supreme knowledge, the architect of the universe, destroyer of darkness and salutations again to the efflugence that is the Cosmic witness. 21

नाशयत्येष वै भूतं तदेव सृजति प्रभुः।
पायत्येष तपत्येष वर्षत्येष गभस्तिभिः॥२२॥

Salutations to the Lord who destroys everything and creates them again.
Salutations to Him who by His rays consumes the waters, heats them up and sends them down as rain. 22

एष सुप्तेषु जागर्ति भूतेषु परिनिष्ठितः।
एष एवाग्निहोत्रं च फलं चैवाग्निहोत्रिणाम्‌॥२३॥

Salutations to the Lord who abides in the heart of all beings keeping awake when they are asleep. He is both the sacrificial fire and the fruit enjoyed by the worshippers. 23

वेदाश्च क्रतवश्चैव क्रतूनां फलमेव च।
यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्व एष रविः प्रभुः॥२४॥

The Sun is verily the Lord of all action in this universe. He is verily the vedas, the sacrifices mentioned in them and the fruits obtained by performing the sacrifices. 24

॥फलश्रुतिः॥
एनमापत्सु कृच्छ्रेषु कान्तारेषु भयेषु च।
कीर्तयन्‌ पुरुषः कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव॥२५॥

Raghava, one who recites this hymn in times of danger, during an affliction or when lost in the wilderness and having fear, he will not lose heart (and become brave). 25

पूजयस्वैनमेकाग्रो देवदेवं जगत्पतिम्‌।
एतत्‌ त्रिगुणितं जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसि॥२६॥

Raghava, worship this Lord of all Gods and the Universe with one-pointed devotion. Recite this hymn thrice and you will win this battle. 26

अस्मिन्क्षणे महाबाहो रावणं त्वं वधिष्यसि।
एवमुक्त्वा तदाऽगस्त्यो जगाम च यथागतम्‌॥२७॥

O mighty armed one, you shall slayRavana this very moment.
Having spoken thus, Agastya returned his original place. 27

एतच्छ्रुत्वा महातेजा नष्टशोकोऽभवत्तदा।
धारयामास सुप्रीतो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान्‌॥२८॥

Raghava became free from worry after hearing this.
He was greatly pleased and became brave and energetic. 28

आदित्यं प्रेक्ष्य जप्त्वा तु परं हर्षमवाप्तवान्‌।
त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भूत्वा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान्‌॥२९॥

Gazing at the sun with devotion, He recited this hymn thrice and experienced bliss.
Purifying Himself by sipping water thrice, He took up His bow with His mighty arms. 29

रावणं प्रेक्ष्य हृष्टात्मा युद्धाय समुपागमत्‌।
सर्व यत्नेन महता वधे तस्य धृतोऽभवत्‌॥३०॥

Seeing Ravana coming to fight,
He put forth all his effort with a determination to destroy Ravana. 30

अथ रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य रामं मुदितमनाः परमं प्रहृष्यमाणः।
निशिचरपतिसंक्षयं विदित्वा सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति॥३१॥

Then knowing that the destruction of the lord of prowlers at night (Ravana) was near, Aditya, who was at the center of the assembly of the Gods, looked at Rama and exclaimed 'Hurry up' with great delight. 31

[Thanks to sanskrit.gde.to for the ITX file!]
Wishing everyone a happy Makar Sankranthi

यद्गृहीतमविज्ञातम्

2006-01-08T14:13:00.000+05:30

यद्गृहीतमविज्ञातं निगदेनैव शब्द्यते।
अनग्नाविव शुष्कैधो न तज्ज्वलति कर्हिचित्॥
yadgṛhītamavijñātaṁ nigadenaiva śabdyate|
anagnāviva śuṣkaidho na tajjvalati karhicit||

What is received [and articulated] as mere sound without any understanding
Is like parched wood without fire, it will not glow anywhere

दातव्यं भोक्तव्यं धनविषये

2006-01-08T13:49:00.000+05:30

दातव्यं भोक्तव्यं धनविषये सञ्चयो न कर्तव्यः।
पश्येह मधुकरीणां सञ्चितार्थं हरन्त्यन्ये॥
dātavyaṁ bhoktavyaṁ dhanaviṣaye sañcayo na kartavyaḥ|
paśyeha madhukarīṇāṁ sañcitārthaṁ harantyanye||

[Money] should be given away or enjoyed [and spent] but never stocked up.
Look here, the collected savings of the bees [honey] is stolen by others.

दानं भोगो नाशस्तिस्रो गतयो भवन्ति वित्तस्य।
यो न ददाति न भुङ्क्ते तस्य तृतीय गतिर्भवति॥६४॥
— भर्तृहरेः नीतिशतकम्

dānaṁ bhogo nāśastisro gatayo bhavanti vittasya|
yo na dadāti na bhuṅkte tasya tṛtīya gatirbhavati||64||
— bhartṛhareḥ nītiśatakam

Being given away, enjoyed, destroyed: these are the three (possible) states for (one's) possessions.
What is neither given away nor enjoyed, that takes the third course (of destruction).

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः

2006-01-05T19:00:00.000+05:30

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम्॥
— भगवद्गीता १८-४७
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt|
svabhāvaniyataṁ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam||
— bhagavadgītā 18-47

Better is one's own duty, though devoid-of-merit, than the duty of another well performed;
For performing the duty ordained by his own nature man does not incur sin.

[Posted on 8 JAN]

आ नो भद्रा क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः

2006-01-01T09:00:00.000+05:30

आ नो भद्रा क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः।
ā no bhadrā kratavo yantu viśvataḥ|

May noble thoughts come to us from every side!
Happy New Year 2006!

[Posted on 9 JAN]

मनसि च परितुष्टे कोऽर्थवान् को दरिद्रः

2005-12-30T08:57:00.000+05:30

वयमिह परितुष्टा वल्कलैस्त्वं दुकूलैः
सम इह परितोषो निर्विशेषो विषेशः।
स तु भवतु दरिद्रो यस्य तृष्णा विशाला
मनसि च परितुष्टे कोऽर्थवान् को दरिद्रः॥
vayamiha parituṣṭā valkalaistvaṁ dukūlaiḥ
sama iha paritoṣo nirviśeṣo viṣeśaḥ|
sa tu bhavatu daridro yasya tṛṣṇā viśālā
manasi ca parituṣṭe ko'rthavān ko daridraḥ||

"O King! I am wearing clothes made of tree bark, while you are wearing fine silk clothes;
But both of us are happy and our contentment is the same — because no contentment is better than another!
Poor is the man who's desires are big;
There is no difference between the poor and rich, once the heart is content."

भवन्ति नम्रास्तरवः फलोद्गमैः

2005-12-30T08:38:00.000+05:30

भवन्ति नम्रास्तरवः फलोद्गमैः
नवाम्बुभिर्दूरविलम्बिनो घनाः।
अनुद्धताः सत्पुरुषाः समृद्धिभिः
स्वभाव एवैष परोपकारिणाम्॥
bhavanti namrāstaravaḥ phalodgamaiḥ
navāmbubhirdūravilambino ghanāḥ|
anuddhatāḥ satpuruṣāḥ samṛddhibhiḥ
svabhāva evaiṣa paropakāriṇām||

"Mango and othe trees bend down when they bear fruits;
Clouds hang low when they are full of water.
Gentle men become polite when they attain wealth.
Humility is the nature of generous people (those who help others)"

गुणान् गृह्णाति सज्जनः

2005-12-27T16:00:00.000+05:30

सन्त्यज्य शूर्पवद्दोषान् गुणान् गृह्णाति सज्जनः।
दोषग्राही गुणत्यागी पल्लोलीव हि दुर्जनः॥
santyajya śūrpavaddoṣān guṇān gṛhṇāti sajjanaḥ|
doṣagrāhī guṇatyāgī pallolīva hi durjanaḥ||

"The good people always receives the virtues and good qualities and leaves the bad qualities like a winnow;
Taking the bad and leaving the good, the bad men are like strainers (filters)!"

सज्जनः गुणग्राही

2005-12-23T08:31:00.000+05:30

दुर्जनो दोषमादत्ते दुर्गन्धमिव सूकरः।
सज्जनश्च गुणग्राही हंसः क्षीरमिवाम्भसः॥
durjano doṣamādatte durgandhamiva sūkaraḥ|
sajjanaśca guṇagrāhī haṁsaḥ kṣīramivāmbhasaḥ||

"The wicked people pick only the bad, similar to a pig [which eats garbage];
[On the other hand] Good people always receives the virtuous qualities [ignoring the vices] much like a swan that takes milk and leaves water behind!"

चित्ते वाचि क्रियायाञ्च साधूनामेकरूपता

2005-12-23T08:08:00.000+05:30

यथा चित्तं तथा वाचः यथा वचस्तथा क्रियाः।
चित्ते वाचि क्रियायाञ्च साधूनामेकरूपता॥
yathā cittaṁ tathā vācaḥ yathā vacastathā kriyāḥ|
citte vāci kriyāyāñca sādhūnāmekarūpatā||

"As is the thinking, so is the speech, as is the speech; so is the action;
In mind (thinking), in speech and in action, great men (saints) are consistent"

वचस्येकं मनस्येकं कर्मण्येकं महात्मनाम्।
vacasyekaṁ manasyekaṁ karmaṇyekaṁ mahātmanām|

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशम् पवित्रमिह विद्यते

2005-12-22T19:15:00.000+05:30

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशम् पवित्रमिह विद्यते।
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धिः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति॥
— भगवद्गीता ४-३८
na hi jñānena sadṛśam pavitramiha vidyate|
tatsvayaṁ yogasaṁsiddhiḥ kālenātmani vindati||
— bhagavadgītā 4-38

"On earth, there is no purifier as great as knowledge;
He who has attained purity of heart through a prolonged practice of karmayoga automatically sees the light of truth in the self in course of time."

[Posted on 23 DEC]

परोपदेशे पाण्डित्यम्

2005-12-19T20:33:00.000+05:30

परोपदेशे पाण्डित्यं सर्वेषां सुकरं नृणाम्।
धर्मे स्वीयमनुष्ठानं कस्यचित्तु महात्मनः॥
paropadeśe pāṇḍityaṁ sarveṣāṁ sukaraṁ nṛṇām|
dharme svīyamanuṣṭhānaṁ kasyacittu mahātmanaḥ||

"To advise others is a very easy task for all common people;
But to perform the proper duties in all necessary spheres is a matter of greatness of a few (great) people."

अयम् मम शतमः प्रेषणम् !!!

विद्यारत्नं महद्धनं

2005-12-18T08:36:00.000+05:30

ज्ञातिभिर्वण्ट्यते नैव चोरेणापि न नीयते।
दाने नैव क्षयं याति विद्यारत्नं महद्धनं॥
jñātibhirvaṇṭyate naiva coreṇāpi na nīyate|
dāne naiva kṣayaṁ yāti vidyāratnaṁ mahaddhanaṁ||

"It is not shared amongst relatives; it cannot be taken away by thieves;
Nor does it deplete by giving; the jewel of learning is the greatest wealth"

यस्य नास्ति स्वयं प्रज्ञा

2005-12-16T19:41:00.000+05:30

यस्य नास्ति स्वयं प्रज्ञा शास्त्रं तस्य करोति किम्।
लोचनाभ्यां विहीनस्य दर्पणः किं करिष्यति॥
yasya nāsti svayaṁ prajñā śāstraṁ tasya karoti kim|
locanābhyāṁ vihīnasya darpaṇaḥ kiṁ kariṣyati||

"For one who has no knowledge of his own, what is the use of all scriptures.
[Just as] for the one who has no eyes, the mirror is of no use"

गुणवज्जनसंसर्गात्

2005-12-13T22:56:00.000+05:30

गुणवज्जनसंसर्गात् याति नीचोऽपि गौरवम्।
पुष्पमालाप्रसङ्गेन सूत्रम् शिरसिधार्यते॥
guṇavajjanasaṁsargāt yāti nīco'pi gauravam|
puṣpamālāprasaṅgena sūtram śirasidhāryate||

"The company of virtuous people gathers respect even for the worst.
[Just like] the thread, due to its association with the flowers is worn on the head [respected]."

सर्वत्र देशे गुणवान् शोभते

2005-12-11T19:56:00.000+05:30

सर्वत्र देशे गुणवान् शोभते प्रथितः नरः।
मणिः शीर्षे गले बाहौ यत्र कुत्रापि शोभते॥
sarvatra deśe guṇavān śobhate prathitaḥ naraḥ|
maṇiḥ śīrṣe gale bāhau yatra kutrāpi śobhate||

"A famous man with good qualities is considered an asset anywhere in the country.
[Just as] A gem looks beautiful when worn anywhere — on the head, in the neck or on the arm."

सर्वस्य लोचनं शास्त्रम्

2005-12-09T19:21:00.000+05:30

अनेकसंशयच्छेदि परोक्षार्थस्य दर्शकम्।
सर्वस्य लोचनं शास्त्रं यस्य नास्त्यन्ध एव सः॥
anekasaṁśayacchedi parokṣārthasya darśakam|
sarvasya locanaṁ śāstraṁ yasya nāstyandha eva saḥ||

"It is the dispeller of several doubts; shows the way to unseen objects.
The laws are the eyes of all; those who don't have them are indeed blind"

[I guess this meaning needs some cleaning!]

गते शोको न कर्तव्यः

2005-12-08T09:20:00.000+05:30

गते शोको न कर्तव्यो भविष्यं नैव चिन्तयेत्।
वर्तमानेन कालेन वर्तयन्ति विचक्षणाः॥

"One should not be sorrowful about what is past, nor should one worry
too much about the future. The wise men operate by the present times."

सहसा विदधीत न क्रियाम्

2005-12-06T17:35:00.000+05:30

सहसा विदधीत न क्रियामविवेकः परमापदां पदम्।
वृणुते हि विमृश्यकारिणम् गुणलुब्धाः स्वयमेव सम्पदः॥
sahasā vidadhīta na kriyāmavivekaḥ paramāpadāṁ padam|
vṛṇute hi vimṛśyakāriṇam guṇalubdhāḥ svayameva sampadaḥ||

"One should not act in haste (without judgment). Bad judgment is the seat of greatest disasters.
Liking the virtue (of good judgment) wealth, itself, takes (goes) to them who think and act."

एते सत्पुरुषाः

2005-11-30T18:57:00.000+05:30

एते सत्पुरुषाः परार्थघटकाः स्वार्थान्‌ परित्यज ये
सामान्यास्तु परार्थमुद्यमभृतः स्वार्थाविरोधेन ये।
तेऽमी मानवराक्षसाः परहितं स्वार्थाय निघ्नन्ति ये
ये तु घ्नन्ति निरर्थकं परहितं ते के न जानीमहे॥
ete satpuruṣāḥ parārthaghaṭakāḥ svārthān parityaja ye
sāmānyāstu parārthamudyamabhṛtaḥ svārthāvirodhena ye|
te'mī mānavarākṣasāḥ parahitaṁ svārthāya nighnanti ye
ye tu ghnanti nirarthakaṁ parahitaṁ te ke na jānīmahe||

"These, who are engaged in benefitting others after sacrificing their own purposes are the great men. Those who benefit others without opposing their needs are the common men. Those who destroy others' well being for doing good to themselves are demons in human form. However those who destroy other peoples' well being without any cause whatsoever, we do not know who they are!"

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः

2005-11-29T20:22:00.000+05:30

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः। सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु। मा कश्चित् दुःख भाग्भवेत्॥
sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ| sarve santu nirāmayāḥ|
sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu| mā kaścit duḥkha bhāgbhavet||

"May all be happy. May all be free from disabilities.
May all see auspicious things. May none suffer sorrows. "

यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्वम्

2005-11-22T20:30:00.000+05:30

यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्वम् श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा।
तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोंशसम्भवम्॥
— भगवद्गीता १०-४१
yadyadvibhūtimatsatvam śrīmadūrjitameva vā|
tattadevāvagaccha tvaṁ mama tejoṁśasambhavam||
— bhagavadgītā 10-41

"Every such being as is glorious, brilliant and powerful, know that to be a part manifestation of My glory."

[Posted on 23 NOV]

सूर्योदये चास्तमिते शयनं

2005-11-21T15:07:00.000+05:30

कुचेलिनम् दन्तमलोपचरिणम् बह्वश्निनम् निष्ठुरभाषिणं च।
सूर्योदये चास्तमिते शयनं विमुञ्चति श्रीरपि चक्रपाणिनम्॥
kucelinam dantamalopacariṇam bahvaśninam niṣṭhurabhāṣiṇaṁ ca|
sūryodaye cāstamite śayanaṁ vimuñcati śrīrapi cakrapāṇinam||

"He who wears unwashed and unclean clothes, does not clean his teeth, eats too much, speaks harshly and unfeelingly, and sleeps at dawn and dusk is forsaken by Goddess Lakshmi even if he be Lord Vishnu [who is her own husband]."

जले तैलं खले गुह्यं

2005-11-20T22:08:00.000+05:30

जले तैलं खले गुह्यं पात्रे दानं मनागपि।
प्राज्ञे शास्त्रं स्वयं याति विस्तार वस्तुशक्तिः॥
jale tailaṁ khale guhyaṁ pātre dānaṁ manāgapi|
prājñe śāstraṁ svayaṁ yāti vistāra vastuśaktiḥ||
"Oil in water, a secret confined to the treacherous, donation to the deserving even in a small measure;
and knowledge in a wise person, expand by themselves because of inherent nature."

को लाभो

2005-11-18T22:17:00.000+05:30

को लाभो गुणिसङ्गमः किमसुखं प्राज्ञेतरैः सङ्गतिः
का हानिः समयच्युतिः निपुणता का धर्मतत्त्वे रतिः।
कः शूरो विजितेन्द्रियः प्रियतमा का अनुव्रता किं धनं विद्या
किं सुखं अप्रवासगमनं राज्यं किम् आज्ञाफलम्॥
ko lābho guṇisaṅgamaḥ kimasukhaṁ prājñetaraiḥ saṅgatiḥ
kā hāniḥ samayacyutiḥ nipuṇatā kā dharmatattve ratiḥ|
kaḥ śūro vijitendriyaḥ priyatamā kā anuvratā kiṁ dhanaṁ vidyā
kiṁ sukhaṁ apravāsagamanaṁ rājyaṁ kim ājñāphalam||

"What is gain? Company of the virtuous. What is grief? Company of fools [those other than the learned].
What is loss? It is the waste of time. What is prudence? Devotion to virtue.
What is valour? Conquest of the senses. Who is a beloved wife? One devoted to her husband. What is wealth? Knowledge.
What is happiness? To remain settled in one's own country [not going away from home]. What is rulership? To command obedience."

I have traded the poetry metres for clarity in writing this one.. क्षमस्व!

गुणवदगुणवद्वा कुर्वता

2005-11-17T13:02:00.000+05:30

गुणवदगुणवद्वा कुर्वता कार्यमादौ
परिणतिरवधार्यां यत्नतः पण्दितेन।
अतिरभसकृतानां कर्मणानां विपत्तेः
भवति हृदयदाही शल्यतुल्यो विपाकः।
guṇavadaguṇavadvā kurvatā kāryamādau
pariṇatiravadhāryāṁ yatnataḥ paṇditena|
atirabhasakṛtānāṁ karmaṇānāṁ vipatteḥ
bhavati hṛdayadāhī śalyatulyo vipākaḥ|

"Before taking any action, whether good or bad,
wise men should carefully ponder over its consequences.
[Or else], the results of acts done in haste
keep piercing the heart like an arrow even after death."

श्रोत्रं श्रुतेनैव

2005-11-16T22:44:00.000+05:30

श्रोत्रं श्रुतेनैव न कुण्डलेन दानेन पाणिर्न तु कङ्कणेन।
विभाति कायः करुणापराणां परोपकारैर्न तु चन्दनेन॥
śrotraṁ śrutenaiva na kuṇḍalena dānena pāṇirna tu kaṅkaṇena|
vibhāti kāyaḥ karuṇāparāṇāṁ paropakārairna tu candanena||

"Ears are [adorned] by listening to scriptures, not by earrings; hands are [adorned] by charity, not by bracelets. Similarly, the body is adorned by doing good to others and not by [smearing] sandalwood."

किं किं न साधयति कल्पलतेव विद्या

2005-11-15T23:29:00.000+05:30

मातेव रक्षति पितेव हिते नियुङ्क्ते
कान्तेव चापि रमयत्यपनीय खेदम्।
लक्ष्मीं तनोति वितनोति च दिक्षु कीर्तिम्
किं किं न साधयति कल्पलतेव विद्या॥
māteva rakṣati piteva hite niyuṅkte
kānteva cāpi ramayatyapanīya khedam|
lakṣmīṁ tanoti vitanoti ca dikṣu kīrtim
kiṁ kiṁ na sādhayati kalpalateva vidyā||

"It protects like the mother and it works for our good like father.
It delights and removed depression like a wife.
It brings wealth and spreads fame in all directions.
What can't knowledge achieve, like a wish-giving tree (कल्पलता)."

[Posted on 16 NOV]

विद्या परा देवता

2005-11-14T21:25:00.000+05:30

विद्या नाम नरस्य रूपमधिकं प्रच्छन्नगुप्तं धनं
विद्या भोगकरी यशः सुखकरी विद्या गुरूणां गुरुः॥
विद्या बन्धुजनो विदेशगमने विद्या परा देवता
विद्या राजसु पूज्यते न हि धनं विद्याविहीनः पशुः॥
vidyā nāma narasya rūpamadhikaṁ pracchannaguptaṁ dhanaṁ
vidyā bhogakarī yaśaḥ sukhakarī vidyā gurūṇāṁ guruḥ||
vidyā bandhujano videśagamane vidyā parā devatā
vidyā rājasu pūjyate na hi dhanaṁ vidyāvihīnaḥ paśuḥ||

"Knowledge is certainly a man's greatest beauty. It is a safe and hidden treasure.
It provides prosperity, fame and happiness. Knowledge is the teacher of all teachers.
It acts as one's friend in a foreign country. Knowledge is the Supreme God.
It is the knowledge, not wealth, which is adored by kings. Without knowledge one remains as animal."

परोक्षे कार्यहन्तारं

2005-11-13T09:31:00.000+05:30

परोक्षे कार्यहन्तारं प्रत्यक्षे प्रियवादिनम्।
वर्जयेत्तादृशं मित्रं विषकुम्भोपयोमुखम्॥
parokṣe kāryahantāraṁ pratyakṣe priyavādinam|
varjayettādṛśaṁ mitraṁ viṣakumbhopayomukham||

"Criticises in [your] absence and speaks sweetly in [your] presence.
Such a friend is to be abandoned, [for he is] like a pot of poison with an upper layer of milk."

ऋणशेषोऽग्निशेषश्च

2005-11-12T19:07:00.000+05:30

ऋणशेषोऽग्निशेषश्च शत्रुशेषस्तथैव च।
पुनः पुनः प्रवर्धन्ते तस्माच्छेषन्न रक्षयेत्॥
ṛṇaśeṣo'gniśeṣaśca śatruśeṣastathaiva ca|
punaḥ punaḥ pravardhante tasmāccheṣanna rakṣayet||

"Remainder of debt, fire and enemies are alike.
They keep growing repeatedly — so one must never maintain any balance!"

[Thanks to Kedar]

परोपकारार्थमिदम् शरीरम्

2005-11-11T17:16:00.000+05:30

परोपकाराय फलन्ति वृक्षाः परोपकाराय वहन्ति नद्यः।
परोपकाराय दुहन्ति गावः परोपकारार्थमिदम् शरीरम्॥
paropakārāya phalanti vṛkṣāḥ paropakārāya vahanti nadyaḥ|
paropakārāya duhanti gāvaḥ paropakārārthamidam śarīram||

"Trees give fruits for others; Rivers [too] flow for [the benefit of] others;
Cows give milk for helping others; [Similarly] this body of ours is also for helping others."

अष्टादशपुराणेषु व्यासस्य वचनद्वयम्।
परोपकारं पुण्याय पापाय परपीडनम्॥
aṣṭādaśapurāṇeṣu vyāsasya vacanadvayam|
paropakāraṁ puṇyāya pāpāya parapīḍanam||

छिन्नोऽपि रोहति तरुः

2005-11-10T22:14:00.000+05:30

छिन्नोऽपि रोहति तरुः क्षीणोऽप्युपचीयते पुनश्चन्द्रः।
इति विमृशन्तः सन्तः सन्तप्यन्ते न विप्लुता लोके॥८६॥
— भर्तृहरेः नीतिशतकम्
chinno'pi rohati taruḥ kṣīṇo'pyupacīyate punaścandraḥ|
iti vimṛśantaḥ santaḥ santapyante na viplutā loke||86||
— bhartṛhareḥ nītiśatakam

"When cut, a tree grows again; even after waning, the moon waxes again.
With this in mind, the great ones do not get perturbed in this world even when in distress."

वरमेको गुणी पुत्रो

2005-11-09T21:28:00.000+05:30

वरमेको गुणी पुत्रो न च मूर्खशतान्यपि।
एकश्चन्द्रस्तमो हन्ति न च तारागणोऽपि च॥
varameko guṇī putro na ca mūrkhaśatānyapi|
ekaścandrastamo hanti na ca tārāgaṇo'pi ca||

"Even one son who has good qualities is a boon, against even a hundred who are fools. [Just like] one moon that dispels darkness, but not even a barrage of stars!"

विद्याधनं सर्वधनप्रधानम्

2005-11-08T17:06:00.000+05:30

न चोरहार्यं न च राजहार्यं न भ्रातृभाज्यं न च भारकारी।
व्यये कृते वर्धत एव नित्यं विद्याधनं सर्वधनप्रधानम्॥
na corahāryaṁ na ca rājahāryaṁ na bhrātṛbhājyaṁ na ca bhārakārī |
vyaye kṛte vardhata eva nityaṁ vidyādhanaṁ sarvadhanapradhānam ||

"It cannot be stolen by thieves, cannot be taken away by the king, nor can be divided among brothers and does not cause a load. When spent, it always multiplies. The wealth of knowledge is the greatest among all wealths."

[Thanks to Kedar]

साहित्यसङ्गीतकलाविहीनः

2005-11-07T23:40:00.000+05:30

साहित्यसङ्गीतकलाविहीनः साक्षात्पशुः पुच्छविषाणहीनः।
तृणं न खादन्नपि जीवमानः तद्भागधेयं परमं पशूनाम्॥
sāhityasaṅgītakalāvihīnaḥ sākṣātpaśuḥ pucchaviṣāṇahīnaḥ|
tṛṇaṁ na khādannapi jīvamānaḥ tadbhāgadheyaṁ paramaṁ paśūnām||

"Those who are devoid of [interest in] literature, music and arts are really animals sans tail and horns. They live without eating grass though – that is indeed a great fortune for the animals!"

[Posted on 9 NOV]

मौनं सर्वार्थ साधनम्

2005-11-06T10:20:00.000+05:30

आत्मनः मुखदोषेण बध्यन्ते शुकसारिकाः।
बकाः तत्र न बध्यन्ते मौनं सर्वार्थ साधनम्॥
ātmanaḥ mukhadoṣeṇa badhyante śukasārikāḥ |
bakāḥ tatra na badhyante maunaṁ sarvārtha sādhanam ||

"By the fault of their own mouth, parrots and mynahs are caught.
Storks, however are not caught — silence is an instrument that achieves all ends."

[Thanks to Kedar]

अपि पौरुषमादेयं

2005-11-05T12:33:00.000+05:30

अपि पौरुषमादेयं शास्त्रं चेद्युक्तिबोधकम्।
अन्यत्त्वार्षमपि त्याज्यं भाव्यं न्याय्यैकसेविना॥
api pauruṣamādeyaṁ śāstraṁ cedyuktibodhakam|
anyattvārṣamapi tyājyaṁ bhāvyaṁ nyāyyaikasevinā||

"One who ever stands for reason must accept a science, though man made, if it stands to reason; and he must reject the other (the unreasonable) though it may be propounded by the sages (of yore). "

सत्सङ्गतिः कथय किं न करोति पुंसाम्

2005-11-04T10:33:00.000+05:30

जाड्यं धियो हरति सिञ्चति वाचि सत्यम्
मानोन्नतिं दिशति पापमपाकरोति।
चेतः प्रसादयति दिक्षु तनोति कीर्तिम्
सत्सङ्गतिः कथय किं न करोति पुंसाम्॥
jāḍyaṁ dhiyo harati siñcati vāci satyam
mānonnatiṁ diśati pāpamapākaroti|
cetaḥ prasādayati dikṣu tanoti kīrtim
satsaṅgatiḥ kathaya kiṁ na karoti puṁsām||

"[It] removes the inertia of one's intellect, nurtures truth in the speech;
Enhances prestige, expiates the sins;
Comforts the conscience, spreads fame in all directions.
Say! what [good] is there which the company of good does not bring to men!"

कुपितोऽपि गुणायैव

2005-11-03T18:18:00.000+05:30

कुपितोऽपि गुणायैव गुणवान् भवति ध्रुवम्।
स्वभावमधुरं क्षीरं क्वथितं हि रसोत्तरम्॥
kupito'pi guṇāyaiva guṇavān bhavati dhruvam|
svabhāvamadhuraṁ kṣīraṁ kvathitaṁ hi rasottaram||

"A man possessing good qualities surely serves only a good cause even when he gets angry;
Milk which is sweet by nature becomes all the more tasty when it is boiled."

प्रीणाति यः सुचरितैः

2005-11-02T20:37:00.000+05:30

प्रीणाति यः सुचरितैः पितरं स पुत्रः
यद्भर्तुरेव हितमिच्छति तत्कलत्रम्।
तन्मित्रमापदि सुखे च समक्रियं यत्
एतत्त्रयं जगति पुण्यकृतो लभन्ते॥
prīṇāti yaḥ sucaritaiḥ pitaraṁ sa putraḥ
yadbhartureva hitamicchati tatkalatram|
tanmitramāpadi sukhe ca samakriyaṁ yat
etattrayaṁ jagati puṇyakṛto labhante||

"[Indeed] a son is he who makes his father happy with his good deeds.
She who is a well-wisher of her husband is a wife [in the real sense].
He is a friend who remains alike in times of happiness and misery.
In the world, only the noble (those with good deeds) obtain these three."

आचारप्रभवो धर्मो

2005-11-01T09:34:00.000+05:30

आचारप्रभवो धर्मो नृणां श्रेयस्करो महान्।
इहलोके परा कीर्तिः परत्र परमं सुखम्॥
ācāraprabhavo dharmo nṛṇāṁ śreyaskaro mahān|
ihaloke parā kīrtiḥ paratra paramaṁ sukham||

"Dharma is born of good conduct, it is that which brings the highest welfare to man;
Great is the fame here that he gets by observing it, and supreme beatitude in the world yet to come."

आचारप्रभवो धर्मः धर्मस्य प्रभुरच्युतः
— श्रीविष्णुसहस्रनामस्तोत्रम् फलश्रुति-श्लोकः
ācāraprabhavo dharmaḥ dharmasya prabhuracyutaḥ
— śrīviṣṇusahasranāmastotram (phalaśruti-ślokaḥ)

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं

2005-10-31T21:09:00.000+05:30

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥
— भगवद्गीता ६-५
uddharedātmanātmānaṁ nātmānamavasādayet|
ātmaiva hyātmano bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ||
— bhagavadgītā 6-5

"One should lift oneself by one's own efforts and should not degrade oneself;
For one's own self is one's friend, and one's own self is one's enemy."

पुस्तकस्था तु या विद्या

2005-10-30T09:34:00.000+05:30

पुस्तकस्था तु या विद्या परहस्तगतं धनं।
कार्यकाले समायाते न सा विद्या न तद्धनम्॥
pustakasthā tu yā vidyā parahastagataṁ dhanaṁ|
kāryakāle samāyāte na sā vidyā na taddhanam||

"The knowledge that is in books [not studied] and the money that has been given to others
When the [hour of] need comes, neither is that knowledge [handy] nor the money."

महाजनस्य संसर्गः

2005-10-29T19:38:00.000+05:30

महाजनस्य संसर्गः कस्य नोन्नतिकारकः।
पद्मपत्रस्थितम् तोयम् धत्ते मुक्ताफलश्रियम्॥
mahājanasya saṁsargaḥ kasya nonnatikārakaḥ|
padmapatrasthitam toyam dhatte muktāphalaśriyam||

"Association with good people – whom does it not benefit (make progress).
The water droplet on a lotus leaf shines like a pearl!"

दुर्जनेन समं सख्यम

2005-10-28T21:06:00.000+05:30

दुर्जनेन समं सख्यं द्वेषञ्चापि न कारयेत्।
उष्णो दहति चाङ्गारः शीतः कृष्णायते करम्॥
durjanena samaṁ sakhyaṁ dveṣañcāpi na kārayet|
uṣṇo dahati cāṅgāraḥ śītaḥ kṛṣṇāyate karam||

"One must not have any association with a wicked man -- friendship or hatred.
When hot, coal burns, [and even] when cold, it blackens the hand!"

देवः तत्र सहायकृत्‌

2005-10-27T10:36:00.000+05:30

उद्यमस्साहसं धैर्यं बुद्धिश्शक्तिः पराक्रमः।
षड् एते यत्र वर्तन्ते देवः तत्र सहायकृत्‌॥
udyamassāhasaṁ dhairyaṁ buddhiśśaktiḥ parākramaḥ |
ṣaḍ ete yatra vartante devaḥ tatra sahāyakṛt ||

"Industriousness, adventure, courage, intelligence, strength and adventuorous accomplishment; where these six qualities exist, God provides assistance."
[Thanks to Kedar]

दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यः

2005-10-26T20:15:00.000+05:30

दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यः विद्यया अलङ्कृतोऽपि सन्।
मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किम् असौ न भयङ्करः॥
durjanaḥ parihartavyaḥ vidyayā alaṅkṛto'pi san|
maṇinā bhūṣitaḥ sarpaḥ kim asau na bhayaṅkaraḥ||

"One should stay away from the wicked, even if they are endowed with knowledge.
Is the snake any less fearful, when decorated with gems?"

पात्र अपात्रविशेष

2005-10-24T17:24:00.000+05:30

पात्र अपात्रविशेष अस्ति धेनुपन्नगयोरिव।
तृणादुत्पद्यते दुग्धं दुग्धात् उत्पद्यते विषम्॥
pātra apātraviśeṣa asti dhenupannagayoriva|
tṛṇādutpadyate dugdhaṁ dugdhāt utpadyate viṣam||

"The qualities of the one with character and one without is similar to that of a cow and a snake. [While one] derives milk out of grass, [the other] derives poison out of milk!"

क ख ग घ ङ ...

2005-10-23T16:38:00.000+05:30

कः खगौघाङ्चिच्छौजा झाञ्ज्ञौटौठीडडण्ढणः।
तथोदधीन् पफर्बाभीर्मायोरिल्वाशिषां सहः॥
kaḥ khagaughāṅcicchaujā jhāñjñauṭauṭhīḍaḍaṇḍhaṇaḥ |
tathodadhīn papharbābhīrmāyorilvāśiśiṣāṁ sahaḥ ||

"Who is he, the lover of birds, pure in intelligence, expert in stealing the strength of others, leader among the destroyers of the enemies, the steadfast, the fearless, the one who filled the ocean? He is the king Maya, the repository of the blessings that can destroy the foes."

Note that all the consonants are in order!!!

Thanks to Advitiya at Gaudiya Discussions.

न निश्चितार्थाद्विरमन्ति धीराः

2005-10-23T16:26:00.000+05:30

रत्नैर्महार्हैस्तुतुषुर्न देवा न भेजिरे भीम-विषेण भीतिम्।
सुधां विना न परयुर्विरामं न निश्चितार्थाद्विरमन्ति धीराः॥
ratnairmahārhaistutuṣurna devā na bhejire bhīma-viṣeṇa bhītim |
sudhāṁ vinā na parayurvirāmaṁ na niścitārthādviramanti dhīrāḥ||

"The Gods were not satiated by the immensely valued jewels [during the churning of the ocean]; Nor were they deterred by the terrible poison [that came forth]. Without nectar, rest they did not; the resolute do not abandon the [set] goal [ever].

http://www.jagat.wisewisdoms.com/articles/showarticle.php?id=24 has the nItishatakam in English with meaning.

वेदाङ्गशास्त्राणां गणितम् मूर्ध्नि स्थितम्

2005-10-23T15:21:00.000+05:30

यथा शिखा मयूराणां नागानां मणयो यथा।
तथा वेदाङ्गशास्त्राणां गणितम् मूर्ध्नि स्थितम्॥
yathāa śikhā mayūrāṇāṁ nāgānāṁ maṇayo yathā|
tathā vedāṅgaśāstrāṇāṁ gaṇitam mūrdhni sthitam||

"As are the crests on the heads of peacocks, as are the gems on the hoods of cobras;
So is mathematics at the top of all sciences."

तव गुणानां ईश पारं न याति

2005-10-23T15:05:00.000+05:30

असितगिरिसमं स्यात्‌ कज्जलं सिन्धु पात्रं
सुरतरुवरशाखा लेखनी पत्रमुर्वी।
लिखति यदि गृहीत्वा शारदा सर्वकालं
तदापि तव गुणानां ईश पारं न याति॥
asitagirisamaṁ syāt kajjalaṁ sindhu pātraṁ
surataruvaraśākhā lekhanī patramurvī |
likhati yadi gṛhītvā śāradā sarvakālaṁ
tadāpi tava guṇānāṁ īśa pāraṁ na yāti ||

"The ink may be like a black mountain, the sea – inkpot;
a branch of the tree of gods [as] pen, and the whole earth [as] paper.
If Goddess Sarasvati (Sharada) writes for all the time using all this material
Even then, O Lord, she will not complete describing your attributes."

(adapted from Kedar)

कर्मायत्तं फलं पुंसां

2005-10-22T10:44:00.000+05:30

कर्मायत्तं फलं पुंसां बुद्धिः कर्मानुसारिणी।
तथापि सुधिया भाव्यं सुविचार्यैव कुर्वता॥
karmāyattaṁ phalaṁ puṁsāṁ buddhiḥ karmānusāriṇī|
tathāpi sudhiyā bhāvyaṁ suvicāryaiva kurvatā||

The results are dependent on one's action, the intellect follows the action.
Even then, one acting after proper deliberation should use proper intellect."

(Thanks to shrI P. K. Ramakrishnan, UTAH Sanksrit Mailing List)

आचार्यात् पादमादत्ते

2005-10-22T10:35:00.000+05:30

आचार्यात् पादमादत्ते पादं शिष्यः स्वमेधया।
पादं सब्रह्मचारिभ्यः पादम् कालक्रमेण च॥
ācāryāt pādamādatte pādaṁ śiṣyaḥ svamedhayā|
pādaṁ sabrahmacāribhyaḥ pādam kālakrameṇa ca||

A student gets a quarter (knowledge) from his teacher,a quarter by his own intelligence.
A quarter from his fellow students and a quarter in due course of time.

उष्ट्राणाम् विवाहेषु

2005-10-22T10:33:00.000+05:30

उष्ट्राणाम् विवाहेषु गीतम् गायन्ति गर्दभाः।
परस्परं प्रशंसन्ति अहो रूपम् अहो ध्वनिः॥
uṣṭrāṇām vivāheṣu gītam gāyanti gardabhāḥ|
parasparaṁ praśaṁsanti aho rūpam aho dhvaniḥ||

"At the weddings of camels, donkeys sing songs.
[Further] they mutually congratulate each other, Oh! How beautiful! Oh! What a wonderful voice!"

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते

2005-10-21T20:36:00.000+05:30

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोस्त्वकर्मणि॥
— भगवद्गीता २-४७
karmaṇyevādhikāraste mā phaleṣu kadacana|
mā karmaphalaheturbhūrmā te saṅgostvakarmaṇi||
— bhagavadgītā 2-47

"Your right is to work only, but never to the fruit thereof.
Be not instrumental in making your actions bear fruit, nor let your attachment be to inaction."

आलस्यम्

2005-10-20T22:44:00.000+05:30

आलस्यं हि मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महारिपुः।
नास्त्युद्यमसमो बन्धुः कुर्वाणो नावसीदति॥
ālasyaṁ hi manuṣyāṇāṁ śarīrastho mahāripuḥ|
nāstyudyamasamo bandhuḥ kurvāṇo nāvasīdati||

"Laziness is man's greatest enemy, in his body.
There is no such friend as action, doing which one does not suffer."

मातृवत् परदारेषु

2005-10-19T08:47:00.000+05:30

मातृवत् परदारेषु परद्रव्येषु लोष्ठवत्।
आत्मवत् सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्यति सः पण्डितः॥
mātṛvat paradāreṣu paradravyeṣu loṣṭhavat|
ātmavat sarvabhūteṣu yaḥ paśyati saḥ paṇḍitaḥ||

"Other's wives as one's own mother, other's possessions as equivalent to stone.
Other beings as one's own self, who sees [thus] is [indeed] a learned man."

खलसज्जननानाम् मैत्री

2005-10-18T09:14:00.000+05:30

आरम्भगुर्वी क्षयिणी क्रमेण
लघ्वी पुरा वृद्धिमती च पश्चात्।
दिनस्य पूर्वार्द्धपरार्द्धभिन्ना
छायेव मैत्री खलसज्जननानाम्॥
— पञ्चतन्त्रम् – मित्रसम्प्राप्तिः – कथामुखम् ३९
ārambhagurvī kṣayiṇī krameṇa
laghvī purā vṛddhimatī ca paścāt|
dinasya pūrvārddhaparārddhabhinnā
chāyeva maitrī khalasajjananānām||
— pañcatantram – mitrasamprāptiḥ – kathāmukham 39

Starts on a high and declines thereon, small to begin with but grows thereafter.
Like the shadow of the morning and the evening, is the friendship with the bad and the good (respectively).

अरक्षितं तिष्ठति दैवरक्षितं

2005-10-17T20:48:00.000+05:30

अरक्षितं तिष्ठति दैवरक्षितं
सुरक्षितं दैवहतं विनश्यति।
जीवत्यनाथोऽपि वने विसर्जितः
कृतप्रयत्नोऽपि गृहे विनश्यति॥
— पञ्चतन्त्रम् – मित्रभेदः – कथामुखम् २०
arakṣitaṁ tiṣṭhati daivarakṣitaṁ
surakṣitaṁ daivahataṁ vinaśyati|
jīvatyanātho'pi vane visarjitaḥ
kṛtaprayatno'pi gṛhe vinaśyati||
— pañcatantram – mitrabhedaḥ – kathāmukham 20

"The helpless can survive if protected by destiny, while the secure may perish when ill-fated. The orphaned child abandoned in the forest can survive whereas, by contrast, another may perish at home in spite of all precautions and efforts."

शिवस्तुति - चाटुश्लोकाः

2005-10-16T16:59:00.000+05:30

स्वयं पञ्चमुखः पुत्रौ गजाननषडाननौ।
दिगम्बरः कथं जीवेत्‌ अन्नपूर्णा न चेद्गृहे॥
svayaṁ pañcamukhaḥ putrau gajānanaṣaḍānanau |
digambaraḥ kathaṁ jīvet annapūrṇā na cedgṛhe ||

"Five-mouthed himself , and sons the elephant-faced (गणेशः elephant-mouthed) and the six-faced (कार्तिकः, six-mouthed). How would Shiva (दिगम्बरः) survive if Annapurna (पार्वती) was not at home?"

पार्वती फणि बालेन्दु भस्म मन्दाकिनी युता।
अपवर्ग प्रदा मूर्तिः कथं स्यात्‌ तव शंकर॥
pārvatī phaṇi bālendu bhasma mandākinī yutā |
apavarga pradā mūrtiḥ kathaṁ syāt tava śaṁkara ||

"Shiva ! Your form is full of pa varga (पार्वती फणि बालेन्दु भस्म मन्दाकिनी).
How shall that form be the bestower of apavarga (मोक्ष)?
[He is known to be the bestower of मोक्ष but how can he give that?]"

पिनाक फणि बालेन्दु भस्म मन्दाकिनी युता।
प वर्ग रचिता मूर्तिः अपवर्ग प्रदास्तु नः॥
pināka phaṇi bālendu bhasma mandākinī yutā |
pa varga racitā mūrtiḥ apavarga pradāstu naḥ ||

"Equipped with a spear, snake, the crescent of the moon, ashes and the ganga
May this idol composed from the 'pa varga' (the consonants प फ ब भ म) lead us to heaven (अपवर्ग)."

(Thanks once again(!) to Kedar!)