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!