Food for progeny

दीपो भक्षयते द्वान्तं कज्जलञ्च प्रसूयते |
यदन्नं भक्षयेन्नित्यं जायते तादृशी प्रजा  ||

Deepo bhakShayate dvaantam kajjalaincha prasooyate
yadannam bhakShayennityam jaayate taaddashee prajaa

Meaning: The lamp devours darkness and emits (dark) smoke. (Similarly), whatever food is consumed regularly, such progeny is born.

This shloka brings out the importance of giving sanskar to our children right when they are in the womb. Sanskar is different from education. Sanskars are the imprints on the mind that define our character. Education caters to the intellect while sanskars build character. Therefore, Indian culture focuses very strongly on Garbha Sanskar. In fact, the first 3 of the 16 sanskars are done before the child is born.
 
In Mahabharat, not only did Abhimanyu learn the Chakra Vyuha in the womb, but more importantly, valor and courage were instilled into him which led him to fearlessly take the decision of fighting out all the Kauravas all alone. The Chakra Vyuha was just the technique but it was his mother's sanskars that made him fight valiantly till the end.

What we consume has a very strong effect on our psyche. Our mind takes the shape of the food we eat. Thus, what we eat, when we eat, with what thoughts do we eat- all these factors have a very strong say in defining our character. Food can be sattvik, taamasik or raajasik. We become what we eat.
 
An other aspect to this idea, is that food is not limited to the physical food that we eat. Food is whatever we consume through all our senses.

• What we read, what we see on TV, what we see when we see other humans, is all food.
• The kind of music we hear, the gossip that we hear, and all other sounds, is also food.
• What we speak - to ourselves, to God, to people, about people, is all food for our mind.
• The kind of thoughts we get when we touch others, is also food.
• The different odours we smell, also contribute in building the environment of our mind.

So it's very important to make sure that we are giving the right kind of food to our mind through our 5 senses. The nature of our food will determine our character, and that will have very strong, intrinsic imprints on our children. And these imprints are much more emphatic than all the education given later on in life. The later education may color the outside of the child to some extent, but the basic character has already been defined to quite a large extent by the intrinsic values that the child inherits from his/her parents.

That is probably why in our Indian culture, when we look for a prospective bride or bridegroom, we have the convention of first checking on how the parents are, how the family is. We can get a very fair idea about the boy or girl by knowing the nature and character of the parents. That custom makes so much more sense now. We also apply the same convention while choosing or evaluating friends of our children.

Our rishis rock ! Cheers !

Acquiring knowledge

अनेकशास्त्रं बहुवेदितव्यम् अल्पश्च कालो बहवश्च विघ्नाः |
यत् सारभूतं तदुपासितव्यं हंसो यथा क्षिरमिवाम्भुमध्यात् || 

Aneka-shaastram bahuveditavyam alpashcha kaalo bahavashcha vighnaa-haayat saarbhootam tadupaasitavyam hanso yathaa kshiramivaambhu-madhyaat

Meaning: There are many shastras (bodies of knowledge/doctrines) and abundance of knowledge. But we have limited time (alpa kaala) and a lot of obstacles (bahu vighna).
As a swan (hansa) extracts milk (kshira) from a mixture of milk and water, one should study the essence (saarabhuta) of the shastras (rather than studying each and every shastra to great details).

There is a lot of knowledge scattered all across the world in various forms. But we do not have the time and luxury of studying everything in detail, due to our day to day responsibilities. And, its not even important to know each detail of everything. More important is to extract the cream which is going to be useful to us in life. More important is to understand the fundamental principles being propounded by any body of knowledge, rather than its intricate details. If we understand the fundamentals, then we would easily be able to intelligently deduce its details, if necessary.

For example, if a computer programmer tries to learn & use each and every programming language existent in the world, he would have to give so much time that he won't have any other life. But instead, if he knows the basic programming principles, then he can easily write programs in any current or new language by simple deduction. Same with doctors, or engineers or any other profession. We should definitely have detailed knowledge of our field, but if we try to go in details of everything, then we would be nowhere.

The swan has the capability to distinguish and extract milk from a mixture of milk and water. We also should have such a discriminatory power of determining what is important for us  and what is not; and then concentrating only on the significant aspects of anything. This applies equally to students, pundits, researchers, seekers of knowledge as well as common mortals like me or you. The essence of any knowledge is the real reason why we study that body of knowledge. Knowledge or gnyaan is supposed to improve our quality of life, enhance our meaning of life; that would happen only when we go beyond the written word and grab the substance beneath.

Today there are so many villages in India where illiterate villagers (men & women) nonchalantly speak of Shankaracharya or Socrates or Karl Marx. Neither have they read, nor do they know each and every concept in the Advaita Vedanta Darshan of Shankaracharya. But they know the basic principle of 'universality of one God' propounded by Shankara, and the efforts he undertook to establish that in the very blood of India. They do not know the detailed philosophy of Socrates, but they know Socrates' fight for truth. They have not read books of Marx or Lenin, but they know communism, and have created a much more egalitarian society than was envisioned by communism. Not just egalitarian, but a harmonious and progressive society ! They know the essence and are leading joyous, blissful lives by implementing the core philosophical principles in their own lives & of others.

This is a live example of this subhaashit. Cheers!

Praise

उष्ट्राणं च विवाहेषु गीतं गायन्ति गर्दभाः |
परस्परं प्रशंसन्ति अहो रूपम् अहो ध्वनिः ||

UShtraaNai cha vivaaheShu geetang gaayanti gardabhaa-haa
parasparam prashaun-santi aho roopam aho dhvani-hi

Meaning: In the wedding (vivaha) of camels (uShtra), donkeys (gardabha) sing songs (geet). They praise (prashansaa) each other (paraspara), 'what a (beautiful) form!', 'what a (sweet) voice!'

I really enjoyed this one. Camels are not particularly known for their beauty; similarly, donkeys are not known to have a melodious voice. It sounds quite funny when they would praise each other for such qualities. You must have surely laughed upon reading this subhaashit. But ironically, the situation is not very different in the human world. Amongst ourselves also, we usually praise others for qualities or assets that they do not possess, generally with a selfish motive. If we genuinely believe a non-existent quality to be present, then we are fools, and if we knowingly praise that which is not, then we are hypocrites. Either way, it's not a very desirable trait.

Most of the time, when our tongues are uttering sweet words of appreciation & praise, our minds are spitting the venom of jealousy and hate. Very rarely do we genuinely appreciate. And it is the lack of this genuine-ness and transparency that makes us tired. We do not get tired of hard work, but of remembering what to say when, where, and to whom... of keeping & maintaining our false identities. Instead of trying to look good on the outside, it would be a lot more easier just to be really good from the inside. We would be much more energetic and lively that way.

So we should be avoiding any kind of false praise, and also beware of people who try to fool us with false praise. When we are praised, we should check who is praising. Praise is significant only if it coming from someone worthy, or someone who doesn't want anything from you, or someone who genuinely values you. So next time when someone praises you, do check whether it's a donkey, or a camel, or a true well-wisher.

But at the same time, praise can be false yet genuine. If the praise is filled with a genuine sense of hope and good wishes, then even false praise becomes true. When you praise a person for qualities he or she doesn't possess, but has the potential to possess, then your intent is noble and virtuous. That praise is filled with positive hope and genuine love for that person... just as mothers always say that their child is not naughty even though he or she is the biggest problem-kid in the whole neighbourhood. Such praise pushes a person to become! But the intent should be pure, genuine and developmental.

Vidyaa - an amazing treasure

अपूर्वः कोपी कोशोयं विद्यते तव भारति |
व्ययतो वृद्धिम् आयाति क्षयम् आयाति संचयात् ||

Apoorva-ha kopee koshoyam vidyate tava bhaarati
vyayato vruddhim aayaati kShayam aayaati sanchayaat

Meaning: O Goddess Saraswati (Bhaarati), your treasure (kosh) is indeed amazing. If spent (vyay), it grows (vruddhi); and if hoarded (sanchay), it deprecates/reduces (kshay).

Most of us try to conceal knowledge with ourselves with a sense of creating & preserving our superiority over others; we take pride in possessing what others don't. Another reason why we do not share our knowledge is because we feel that it might be insignificant to the people around; or that we might lose esteem in society if our knowledge is less than the people around. And some of us are just happy with whatever knowledge we have.

Either way, that is exactly what makes us have less knowledge than what we could have. Whether it be our professional life or personal life, not sharing knowledge makes us have only that which we have already have, but sharing it with others increases our own, not only by way of getting inputs from others, but also by strengthening our own knowledge.

Even in Bhakti-Yoga, while the 1st step of Bhakti is Shravanam, the very next is Kirtanam. Kirtanam means to speak out what we have learnt. That's the best way to understand it more. When we speak out or write, we spend a lot more attentive time on it, and we also churn our minds.

Knowledge is really useful only if it can be applied in our life to enhance it. When we share our knowledge, we reinforce it on our own mind, making the print stronger, more firmer. Secondly, only that knowledge is true knowledge which brings about a positive change in our life, broadens our personality and fills our life with joy. The thought or attitude of hoarding knowledge itself is a sign of a constrictive, miserly mentality.

Let's go out in the world, and share the knowledge we have gained—the Vidyaa... let's share what has brought about a difference in our lives. Let's share the joy that we are experiencing; the bliss we are living in, and the reason for that bliss in our lives. 
What are we afraid of? Why are our voices so meek? Let's go out radiant, shining... proclaim to the world the knowledge of life, the true meaning of life!

Lions

न अभिषेको न संस्कारः सिंहस्य क्रियते वने |
विक्रमार्जित सत्त्वस्य स्वयमेव मृगेंद्रता ||

Na abhisheko na sanskaara-ha sinhasya kriyate vane
vikramaarjita sattvasya svayameva mrugendrataa
 
Meaning: No coronation (abhisheka) or ritual (sanskara) is done for a lion (sinha) in the forest (vana). His self-attained heroism naturally make him, the king of the jungle.

Positions do not create leaders; it is leaders themselves who create positions for themselves... naturally! People automatically give respect to those with the desired qualities. A lion doesn't need to be appointed as King. Innate qualities make a leader, not appointment. Only those leaders succeed in leading who earn the respect and love of their people.

Leaders are those who go beyond their own lives and make a difference in the lives of others. A majority of the population follows the few lions found in society. So it's very important that the virtuous lions outnumber the villains, and more importantly, stay united—united in principle, and united by emotion!

If we are to be those who make a positive difference in the lives of others, we have to develop our internal qualities. We ourselves have to become lions. By associating ourselves with powerful positive thoughts and with virtuous people, we can become such lions. Be it our career, our family, our society or any other aspect of life, we will be able to make a change only if we are internally pure and powerful. It's not our words or looks but our character that makes all the difference.

Lets be the lions of today, and make a difference!

Books

तैलात् रक्षेत् जलात् रक्षेत् रक्षेत् शिथिलबंधनात्  |
मूर्खहस्ते न दातव्यं एवं वदति पूस्तकम्       ||

Tailaat rakShet jalaat rakShet rakShet shithila-bandhanaat
Murkha-haste na daatavyam evam vadati pustakam

Meaning: Protect me (rakShet) from oil (taila), protect me from water (jala), protect me from loose-binding (shithila-bandhan); do not (na) give me (daatavyam) in the hands (haste) of a fool (murkha) - so says the book (pustaka).

Personifying a book, this shloka tells us various things to take care of a book from. Take care of books from oil, since they leave permanent marks on the pages. We usually have the habit of eating stuff with bare hands whilst reading. It's good to avoid that practice.
Protect books from water, since the pages get torn easily when wet. Also the pages become brittle and flimsy after they dry.
Make sure we handle books in a delicate manner so as not to loosen the binding. If the binding is already weak then we should repair it to make it strong again, or at least treat the book with enough care so as not to further loosen the pages.

Murkha over here means anyone who doesn't understand the value of the book. So we should avoid giving our books to anyone and everyone. This is really very important. Most of us lose our books by lending them to people who not only never read them, but also put them away in places that they themselves don't remember. Our books will stay protected only in the hands of those who value it. We have to be very careful about whom we lend our books and we should also ensure that we get them back.

Books are a symbol of literature, and also a symbol of knowledge. In essence, the poet is also telling us to value and protect knowledge since it's invaluable to our sustainance as well as progress.

VrukSha (tree)

छायाम् अन्यस्य कुर्वन्ति तिष्ठन्ति स्वयम् आतपे |
फलन्त्यपि परार्थाय वृक्षा: सत्पुरुषा इव ||
 
Chhaayaam anyasya kurvanti tiShThanti svayam aatape
phalantyapi paraarthaaya vrukshaa-haa sat-puruShaa iva

Meaning: (They) give shade (chhaayaa) to others (anya), while standing (tiShThanti) in the heat (sun) themselves. They bear fruits (phala) for the benefit of others (paraarthaaya),—trees are like (iva) the virtuous (sat-puruSha).

There are very, very few in this world who work like this. They work hard, day and night, every second of their life, just for the benefit of others. They take all the brunt on to their bodies, their minds, their hearts, but make sure that others around them are happy. Unmindful of any pains or troubles they have to bear, they work hard to make sure that we grow & we develop.

They provide shade & fruits even to those who throw stones at them. This is their greatness.

And all this time when they are taking all the heat and providing us shade, they are almost invisible. They make themselves unnoticeable. Even if noticed, they do not let themselves be acknowledged or thanked... passing on all the gratitude, fame and  attention to their higher authority.

Trees take nothing from men... only a little water from the ground and sunlight from the sun. Similarly, the virtuous (sat-purusha) take nothing from society, but derive their strength from the higher powers. And they grow strong, very strong... strong enough to bear the weight of fruits to provide for the people around them. They live only to give, and they strengthen themselves only to provide for others. Their only object in life is the growth and nourishment of others—others whom they know or do not know, others who behave well or otherwise, others who worship them or throw stones. They personify pure, unexpectational & unconditional love towards every creation of God. That is true virtue.

Some of us may have been fortunate to have heard about or seen such a vruksha in their lifetime, some even more fortunate may have met such a vruKsha, and some of us might have the good fortune of having such vrukShas around us even now. 

Let their untiring efforts, their unshakable strength and their loving shade, be an inspiration to us to become such a sat-purusha ourselves.

Best place to live

असारे खलु संसारे सारं श्वशुरमन्दिरम् ।

हरो हिमालये शेते हरिः शेते महोदधौ ॥

Asaare khalu saunsaare saaram shvashura-mandiram
Haro himaalaye shete hari-hi shete mahodadhau

Meaning: In this meaningless (asaare) world (samsaare), only one place is worth living in! And that place is the abode of father-in-law (shvashur-mandir) !
And therefore Lord Shankar stays in the Himalayas and Lord Vishnu stays in the Ocean !!

Himalaya is the father of mother Paarvati. And the Ocean is considered as the father of Goddess Lakshmi since she was born from the samudra-manthana.

I guess, the subhaashitkaar was in a very humorous mood whenever he wrote this; or he probably had recently visited his wife's parents. The father-in-law is always the object of so many jokes all around the world. Even the gods are not spared.

In general, men never can stay more than a few hours/days at their in-laws. Staying more than that is a feat that's rarely achievable by mortals. If these 2 can stay permanently at their father-in-laws' abodes, and stay comfortably, then they have to be Gods.

Enemies

अग्निः शेषं  ऋणः शेषं  शत्रुः शेषं तथैव च |
पुनः पुनः प्रवर्धेत तस्मात् शेषं न कारयेत् ||

Agni-hi sheSham RuNa-ha sheSham shatru-hu sheSham tathaiva cha
Puna-ha puna-ha pravardheta tasmaat sheSham na kaarayet

Meaning: Fire (agni), debt (ruNa) and enemy (shatru) —if they remain even in small traces, they will grow again (pravardhet), so finish them off completely.

All three of these have the potential to completely destroy us, if we allow them to exist. And they have the ability to grow back to enormous proportions if not contained at the bud. Whenever we douse a fire, there are always embers still burning beneath. We have to make sure, the fire's completely out.

As far as debt is concerned, I guess this saying seems pretty impractical in today's world. Credit is the order of the day & we just can not survive without debt, unless we are living off in a faraway island with no connection to the modern world. But the saying still holds true. Credit and debt is one of the biggest causes of economic crises, not just of individuals & corporations, but of powerful nations as well.

This holds true for enemies too. No trace of the enemy should be left, if we want to remove the threat from an enemy. On the face, it may seem to be in the violent sense of destroying an enemy, but there's a deeper meaning therein. It means that we have to destroy the enemy-ness or should I say, enmity from the enemy, not destroy the person. The person himself is not the real enemy. It is the enmity within that is the real enemy, irrespective of the reason for the enmity. When the enmity or the hate is destroyed, the person no longer remains an enemy—the enemy is thus destroyed.
Love so much so as to suffocate the hate to death. That is the only permanent solution!

Vidyaa (knowledge)

पठन्ति चतुरो वेदान् धर्मशास्त्राण्यनेकशः |
आत्मानं नैव जानन्ति दर्वी पाकरसं यथा ||

PaThanti chaturo vedaan dharma-shaastraaNyanekasha-ha
Aatmaanan naiva jaananti darvee paakarasam yathaa

Meaning: The clever (chatur) read (paThanti) all the Vedas and the scriptures, but they still do not know the soul (aatmaa), just as a ladle or spoon doesn't know the taste/flavor of the food.

Day in and day out, at every meal, the spoon is constantly in contact with food. But it has absolutely no idea about how the food tastes. Our  subhaashitkaar has used this analogy to explain the meaning of true education & true knowledge. Knowledge or vidyaa is a virtue of the inner self. Today we consider knowledge that, which we read, remember, memorize and to some extent, understand through the faculties of our brain. That will definitely fill up the infinite space in our brains but it doesn't bring happiness. Just as the spoon doesn't know what sweet means, we will not be able to relish the knowledge if we are simply using our brain to accumulate knowledge.


True knowledge is that which applies to our life. In fact, in Sanskrit, the word Vidyaa is derived from the root 'vid' which means "to know". Vid is the also the root verb for Veda. Many other languages have inherited this root; for e.g. English wit, witness, wizard (one who knows), German wissen (to know, knowledge), Swedish veta (to know), Latin video (I see), Dutch weten (to know), Czech veda (knowledge) etc etc. While all these talk about 'knowing', the Sanskrit vidyaa connotes 'knowledge of life'.

The knowledge of life is not meant to be collected and hoarded in the safe deposit boxes of our brains. Such knowledge can only be understood, realized and applied in our life. Vidyaa is not memorizing the books but knowing the heart of the literature and more importantly, applying it to our lives. Only then can we relish the knowledge!

But how can we know whether we are acquiring true knowledge or not? The test is that, true vidyaa brings about a change in our life. True vidyaa positively affects our personality, our character. If we can feel a progressive change coming over ourselves, then we are in the right direction. True vidyaa brings happiness in our life; it brings sweetness into our life. And that would happen only if we apply to our lives what we churn our minds on.

Let's stop being spoons and start relishing the taste of life!

Paapa-Punya

पुण्यस्य फलं इच्छन्ति पुण्यं नेच्छन्ति मानवा: |
न पाप फलं इच्छन्ति पापं कुर्वन्ति यत्नत: ||

PuNyasya phalam ichchhanti puNyam nechchhati maanavaa-haa
Na paapa phalam ichchhanti paapam kurvanti yatnata-ha

Meaning: People (maanavaa-haa) desire (ichchhanti) the fruits of virtuous acts or good deeds (punya). But they do not bring themselves to actually do such virtuous deeds.
On the other hand, they do not desire the fruits of their sinful acts. Yet, they knowingly (yatnataha) keep doing (kurvanti) sins (paapa).

Ironical yet true! We all want good to happen to us yet we do not have the time or the inclination to do good. And we do not want bad to happen to us yet we indulge in to sin, knowing very well what we are doing.
We somehow think that the most basic principle of the mortal world doesn't apply to us—Cause and Effect !
(Matrix fans - remember the Merovingian?)

We want everything good to come to us without efforts... for free... but we ourselves do not want to give time to any cause that gives us no material gains. Well, if no one's giving out free stuff, how will we receive it?

Pretty interesting that the most intelligent of all the species is unable to comprehend & act on such a basic logical truth!

Shyness

धन धान्य प्रयोगेषु विद्यासङ्ग्रहणेषु च
आहारे व्यवहारे च त्यक्तलज्जः सुखी भवेत्
- चाणक्य नीति

Dhana dhaanya prayogeShu vidyaasangrahaNeShu cha
aahaare vyavahaare cha tyakta-lajja-ha sukhee bhavet
- Chanakya Neeti

Meaning: In dealing with money and riches (dhana-dhaanya), earning knowledge (vidyaa), eating (aahaare) and in conduct (vyavahaare)—he prospers, who has discarded shyness (tyakta-lajja) or is not shy!

Very Interesting! If you are shy in business, you will never be able to recover your debts, or even sell your stuff. In fact, you can't conduct a profitable business at all, if you are shy.

Whilst gathering knowledge also, you can not afford to be shy. If you do not ask questions when you have doubts, you will be left with half-knowledge. Like they say, 'Ask the question, and you may feel stupid for a moment, but if you don't, then you will remain stupid for ever!' Even Lord Krishna says in the Bhagwad Geeta that the true method of education is Pari-prashnen sevyaa-haa.

Now this is my favorite—when you sit down to eat... never, never, never be shy! You may look awkward, greedy, brash and downright rude sometimes, but its best to get in your plate what you want, and avoid what you don't!

Even in general conduct, if we can not put forth the ideas that we believe in, then we won't be valued in society. Even though opposing, but people who present ideas are more valued, than people who remain silent and confirm to what others are saying. Shyness in all these situations hinders our prosperity and the resulting happiness.

Though not directly written in this subhaashit, I feel this is most applicable to the Soldiers of God. It's almost a prerequisite for being a loved one to God. It doesn't matter whether we are knowledgeable, rich or influential. What matters most is, can we go out and share our love for God?
Society today doesn't need the thoughts of God. The children of God are seemingly happy & contented in their cocooned cells which they call life. If the Soldiers of God are shy, if they are reticent, reserved, timid & bashful, how will they wake up the society from its slumber?
We have to go out, meet them, talk to them... again and again and again and again... and again, whether they want us or not, whether they welcome us or not, for it is not they whom we speak with, it is their Lord within!

So shun your shyness and speak up. There is no substitute to you!

broad-mind​edness

अयं निज: परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम् |
उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ||

Ayam nija-ha paro veti gaNanaa laghu-chetasaam
Udaara-charitaanaam tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam.

Meaning: Considerations like he's mine (nija) or he is another's (para) occur only to narrow-minded people. To the broad-minded people, the whole world is a family.

God created all humans in His form, and it is we humans who have created these divisions based on caste, creed, color, religion & nation. Sages & Rishis of India have always talked of Vasudhaiva Kutumb. Our culture has accepted each and every person, no matter what profession or religion he follows. That is true broad-mindedness. In fact, that's a trait we will find in holy men from anywhere in the world.

To accept another is different, and to honestly & wholeheartedly welcome and make that person a part of our family is way too different. It takes guts to include someone of a different religion or nation into the folds of our family and make that person feel home. That is a true implementation of the concept of Indwelling God—when you can see your beloved God even in a so-called another. Then, the other doesn't remain an other!

The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumb is not a theoretical or academic notion, but a living reality. The Swadhyay Parivar founded by the revered philosopher-scientist Pandurang Shastri Athavale is a concrete example of such a Divine family. Each and every member of the family looks upon each other as well as all of humanity as their divine brothers and sisters. They try to see not the people, but the God dwelling within them, and thus look upon all of humanity as one big family with God as their divine & common Father. That is the solution to probably any and every problem that humanity faces today. And it's possible, as is being demonstrated very beautifully by the Swadhyay Parivar even today. Our ancient Indian philosophical texts carry all the knowledge humanity needs; the responsibility is ours to open our eyes thereto.

May we all open ourselves to accept every being as our own and grow ourselves into a divine, universal family!

Strength

अश्वं नैव गजं नैव व्याघ्रं नैव च नैव च |
अजापुत्रं बलिं दद्यात् देवो दुर्बलघातक: ||

Ashvam naiva gajam naiva vyaaghram naiva cha naiva cha
Ajaaputram balim dadyaat devo durbala-ghaataka-ha.

Meaning:
Neither horse (ashva), nor elephant (gaja), nor tiger (vyaaghraa), none at all.
Only the baby goat (ajaa-putra) is sacrificed in rituals.
(Thus, even God doesn't protect the weak)

This shloka emphasizes the importance of strength. Be it an individual, a society or a nation, it is always the powerless that are exploited even when they are not at fault. We can not afford to remain weak. 

Indian culture, inspite of being the origin of the finest of philosophies; inspite of a glorious & divine inheritance, is looked down upon today. The only reason—her sons & daughters are spineless weak goats. Simply possessing the best doesn't help; we should be powerful enough a society, for the world to look up to us. Powerful thoughts need powerful heads to hold them, powerful legs to carry them around, and powerful mouths to assert them to one & all.

The use of power is not necessary but the knowledge, to us and to others, that the power exists, and can be used effectively when needed, is definitely a necessity. It's only the powerful who can promote peace. It's only the powerful who can create an environment conducive to growth and development. It's only the powerful who can make a change in this world. And it is the duty of the virtuous to acquire and wield power effectively, so as to make a positive impact on society.

Fame

उत्तमा: आत्मना ख्याता: पितुः ख्याताश्च: मध्यमाः |
अधमा: मातुलात् ख्याता: श्वशुरात् च अधमाधमा: ||

Uttamaa-haa aatmanaa khyaataa-haa 
     Pitu-hu khyaataashcha madhyamaa-haa
Adhamaa-haa maatulaat khyaataa-haa 
     Shvashuraat cha adham-aadhamaa-haa.

Meaning:
Superior (Uttam) are those who are famous on their own merit.
Average (Madhyam) are those who are famous due to their father.
Inferior (Adhama) are those who are famous due to their (maternal) uncle (maatula).
And worst of all (Adhamaadham) are those who are famous due to their father-in-law (shvashura).

This is an interesting subhaashit which tells us in a rather amusing manner, how we should be known in society. In India, we also have this saying that your standing is decided by whether you are known by your forefathers or your forefathers are known by you.

And if we extend this to Indians as a society, then we should be ashamed that we still bank on our historic golden past to sing praises of our culture or our prosperity. Whenever somebody criticizes India or tries to put it down, we start reminding them how we are the most ancient civilization, and how we had great inventors like Aryabhatt & Charaka etc etc. We glorify India only through its past... only through our ancestors. It's a big question whether we can proudly assert Durlabham Bhaarate Janma today!

But even at an individual level, it is important how we are known. The best fame is that which is self-earned—our efforts, our own achievements, howsoever small they might be. That recognition is better than one which has been inherited.

This shloka can also be interpreted in terms of wealth—superior being those who enjoy their own earned wealth and the worst being those who enjoy the wealth given by their father-in-law.

rememberin​g Hanuman dada

मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगम्
     जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम् |
वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यम्
     श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये ||

Manojavam maaruta-tulya-vegam
     Jitendriyam buddhimataam variShTham.
Vaataatmajam vaanara-yootha-mukhyam
     Shree Raama-dootaM sharaNam prapadye. 

— Ram Raksha Stotra

Meaning: I prostrate to Lord Hanuman, the son of wind God, who is swift like the mind and wind, mastered the senses, of very high intellect & wisdom, foremost among the Vaanaraas and is a devotee of Lord Rama.

Hanuman Jayanti is coming up pretty soon. We should remember this great personality from Indian history who is a symbol of true bhakti (devotion) and true samarpan (submission). Rev. Pandurang Shastri Athavale says that samarpan can only be done by those who have strength and power. There is no meaning to samarpan by the weak. It's almost akin to the Sanskrit phrase abhaave brahmachaari (अभावे ब्रह्मचारी —a bachelor who is a bachelor because he/she didn't get a spouse).

Hanuman is one of the best examples of intelligent samarpit power. Hanuman was one the most intelligent, dynamic and physically powerful warrior in the army of Sugriva. The very fact that he was chosen to go to Lanka, and his conduct over there, is a testament of his wit & strength. His power was unparalleled, and he knew it, and yet he was completely samarpit to Lord Ram. That is his noblest attribute.
 
May we imbibe these qualities from this great character and become samarpit soldiers of God.

Jay Veer Hanuman ! Jay Bajrang Bali !

India that is Bhaarat

एतद्देश प्रसूतस्य सकाशादग्रजन्मना |
स्वं स्वं चरित्रं शिक्षेरन् पृथिव्यां सर्वमानवा:  ||

Etad-desha prasootasya sakaashaad-agra-janmaa
svam svam charitram shiksheran prutivyaam sarva-maanavaa-haa.

Meaning: All people living on earth (prutivyaam sarva-manvaa-haa) should take lessons about living and building character from the ancestors who took birth in this land and have always lead others by character.

This shloka is in praise of the pious land of Bhaarat which has produced leaders who have led by character. The very name of Bhaarat has been derived from the great Bharat. India or Hindustan has a rich history and heritage of countless countrymen who have led in all fields of life. Even the incarnations of God took place in this holy land. This is the land which is most fertile for experiments in human development. With the rich foundation of its glorious ancient heritage, India has the potential to lead the world in every aspect of life.

But the most important gift it has to offer is 'character'. This is one quality which encompasses all other qualities. Character or शील is the prime quality needed in life. Throughout India's history, it is men and women of great character who have led the people through the example of their own life. From warrior-kings like Shivaji Maharaj & Rana Pratap to great politicians like Chanakya, Vidur & Sardar Patel, heroic women like Rani Laxmibai & Ahalyabai Hokar, freedom fighters like Tilak, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, & Savarkar, scientists like Jagdish Chandra Bose, writers like Ravindranath Tagore, mathematicians like Aryabhatt, physicians like Sushrut & Charak, gramaticians like Panini, emperors like Ashoka & Chandragupta, saints like Dnyaaneshwar, Tukaram, Narsi Mehta & Gandhi, innumerable sages, philosophers like Shankara & Vivekanand, litterateurs like Kalidasa & Bhavabhuti, social reformers like Mahatma Phule, Raja Ram Mohan Roy... I could go on & on in every aspect of human life. But the important point is that the 1 quality which is common in all these above personalities, and the unmentioned, is a pure & virtuous character. The people of India revered them because of who they were on the inside, not what they were.

Rev. Pandurang Shastri Athavale, the most iconic personality of modern India firmly emphasizes that, we can bring about a permanent internal change in other people, only and only by a strong & pure character of our own. India has the potential to lead the world as it did in its glorious past, and it can be realized only from within. Let's be the change we desire.

Jay Hind

Qualities of a Student (Vidyaarthee)

काकचेष्टा बकोध्यानं श्वाननिद्रा तथैव च |
अल्पाहारी ब्रह्मचारी विद्यार्थी पञ्चलक्षणम् ||

Kaaka-cheshTaa bakodhyaanam shvaana-nidraa tathaiva cha
Alpaahaari brahmachaari vidyaarthee pancha-lakshaNam

Meaning: Agility of a crow (kaaka), concentration of a crane (baka), light sleep like a dog (shvaana), light eater (alpaa-haari), brahmachaari—these are the 5 qualities of a vidyaa-arthee.

Basically, this shloka tells us the 5 essential qualities desired out of an ideal student. A student should be very agile, alert & energetic like a crow. At the same time, he should have concentration like a crane. A crane can sit still for hours together waiting & concentrating on his prey. Sleep should be a like a dog. A dog wakes up at the slightest of sounds and is ever alert. 
 
Also very important is the quality of alpaahaari... i.e. light eater. Students should not be stuffing their stomachs to the brim, since it affects their agility & concentration. 

Most importantly, a student should have the virtue of brahmachaari... not just in the sense of being not married but being of a pure, unadulterated mind. Revered Pandurang Shastri Athavale explains a much more wider perspective of brahmachaari as one who walks on the path of Brahma or God. 

Even the concept of vidyaa is a lot more broader than the English term 'education'. Vidyaa connotes an education which teaches why to live, how to live, and which guides you to actually live that life. Ancient Indian literature mention 14 vidyaas, the pursuit of which makes you a Vidyaarthee. The rest (which cover almost all our academics, occupations and professions) are just kalas or arts.

But even for people who are engaged in any form of education—whether life-oriented or bread-oriented—these 5 qualities are a must, to achieve success. This is the mantra for success in any field of life.
 

about Subhaashit

पृथीव्याम त्रीणि  रत्नानि जलम् अन्नम् सुभाषितम् |

मूढैः पाषाणखण्डेषु रत्नसंज्ञा परदीयते ||
 
Pruthivyaam treeNi ratnaani jalam annam subhaashitam
muDhai-hi paaShaaNa-khaNDeshu ratna-sangnyaa paradeeyate

Meaning:
There are 3 jewels on this earth. They are water, food & Subhaashita.
But fools call rocks as jewels.

The author is conveying that most men consider gems as jewels but they are mere stones & rocks. Whereas the real valuables are water, food and good thoughts in that order. Truly speaking, good thoughts and good writings are the most valuable assets but in order for the mind to even think about higher values of life, the basic necessities need to be fulfilled. A famous Marathi saint said, aadi pothobaa, nantar Vithobaa (आदि पोठोबा नंतर विठोबा), which means 'first let me take care of my stomach, then I'll look at God.'

Once the basic needs are fulfilled, we look forward to higher needs. In 1943, Abraham Maslow theorized the hierarchical structure of needs, wherein the final need is 'self-actualization'. It is this need—the need for internal growth & development, the need to become, the need for inner happiness that our subhaashit shlokas cater to. And that is the real and most valuable treasure.

Cheers!