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.