Sunday, August 13, 2006
सुभाषितम् - मन्त्रः
द्विकर्णस्य तु मन्त्रस्य ब्रह्माप्यन्तं न गच्छति ॥
षट्कर्णः - heard by six ears (overheard) भिद्यते - destroys मन्त्रः - the mantra (or counsel). चतुष्कर्णः - heard by four ears स्थिरो भवेत् - would remain steadfast. मन्त्रस्य (मन्त्रः, ६) - The mantra द्विकर्णस्य (द्विकर्णः, ६) - heard by two ears (not imparted) न गच्छति - does not go ब्रह्मा-अपि-अन्तम् - near to brahma.
A mantra (or counsel) is broken when overheard by an extra set of ears; It remains stead-fast when imparted in private. When it is only self-imparted, it surely does not take one to heaven (near brahma).
Image Source -- http://chitrapurmath.net/i8.jpg
सुभाषितम् - शास्त्रसारम्
तथा सर्वेषु शास्त्रेषु सारं गृह्ण्न्ति पण्डिताः ॥
यथा - just as षट्पदः (१) - the six-footed one (a bee) पुष्प-मध्यस्थः - sitting in the middle of a flower समुद्धरेत् - draws out सारम् (सारः/सारम्, २) - its essence. तथा - so also पण्डिताः (पण्डितः, १, बहु) - the learned ones गृह्णन्ति - take सारम् (२) - the essence सर्वेषु (सर्व, ७, बहु) - in all शास्त्रेषु (शास्त्रः, ७, बहु) - the shastras.
The wise ones take away the essence of all the shastras, just as the six-footed bumble bee seated in the midst of a flower draws out its very essence.
सुभाषितम् - सकृत् सकृत्
सकृत् कन्याः प्रदीयन्ते त्रीण्येतानि सकृत्सकृत् ॥
राजानः (राजन्, १, बहु) - kings जल्पन्ति - speak (order) सकृत् - once. साधवः (साधुः, १, बहु) - renunciates जल्पन्ति - speak (advice) सकृत् - once. कन्याः (कन्या, १, बहु) - daughters प्रदीयन्ते - are given [in marriage] सकृत् - once. एतानि (एतत्, २, बहु) - these त्रीणी - three [should be done] सकृत्-सकृत् - once and only once.
Kings speak their orders but once;
Sadhus speak their advice but once;
Daughters are given in marriage but once;
These three should be once and only once.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
सुभाषितम् - सहोदरः
तं तु देशं न पश्यामि यत्र भ्राता सहोदरः ॥
देशे-देशे (देशः, ७)- in all places कलत्राणि (कलत्रम्, 1, बहु) - wives [can be found] च - and बान्धवाः (बान्धवः, १, बहु) relatives [can be found] देशेदेशे - everywhere. [but] न पश्यामि - I cannot see तं देशं - that [other] place यत्र - where सहोदरः भ्राता (भ्रातृ, १) - a true blood-brother [can be found].
Wives and relatives--these can be found everywhere; but a brother, a true blood-brother, in no other place can I see him.
सुभाषितम् - विवेकः
गुणतः संग्रहं कुर्याद् दोषतस्तु विसर्जयेत् ॥
विनिश्चित्य (ल्यप्) - having deliberated upon अर्थानर्थौ (अर्थः अनर्थः च) - the advantages and disadvantages, व्यवसायं (व्यवसायः, २) - pursue it भजेत् - appropriately . कुर्यात् - Do संग्रहं - seize गुणतः - the meritous, and विसर्जयेत् - dismiss दोषतः - the fault-ridden.
Having deliberated upon both the advantages and disadvantages, pursue the decision relentlessly. Pursue the meritous actions, while rejecting the fault-ridden actions.
सुभाषितम् - रामायणम्
स याति ब्रह्मणः स्थानं ब्रह्मणा पूज्यते सदा ॥
यः - he who भक्त्या (भक्तिः, ३) - with bhakti, शृण्वन् (शतृ) - is listening रामायनं - to the ramayana पादं (पादः, २) - [or just] a quarter of a verse पदम् (पदम्, २) - [or just] a syllable. सः - he याति - goes to ब्रह्मणः (ब्रह्मन्, ६) - brahma's स्थानम् (२) - abode, [where he is] सदा - always पूज्यते - worshipped ब्रह्मणा (ब्रह्मन्, ३) - by brahma.
He who listens to the ramayana, a portion of its verse, or even just a syllable; He enters brahma-loka itself where he is ever worshipped by the creator.
Friday, August 11, 2006
विवाह-चित्रगुच्छः
Thursday, August 10, 2006
श्लोकः -- गोविन्दः कृष्णः
श्रीवत्साङ्कमुदारकौस्तुभधरं पीताम्बरं सुन्दरम् ।
गोपीनाम् नयनोत्पलार्चिततनुम् गोपाल-सङ्घावृतं
गोविन्दं कलवेणुवादनपरं दिव्याङ्गभूषं भजे ॥
कान्तिम् (कान्ति, स्त्री, २) - splendour of the इन्दीवरः - blue lotus पुल्लम् - flower. वदनम् (२) - face of the इन्दुः - moon. अवतंस (अवतंस्, पुम्) - garland of बर्ह् (पुम्) - tail feather. श्रीवत्साङ्कम् (अङ्कः) - the one with the mark called श्रीवत्सः. उदारम् (उदारः, २) - noble. कौस्तुभः-धरं - the one bearing the कौस्तुभ [gem]. पीत-अम्बरम् (२) - the one with yellow clothes. सुन्दरम् (२) - charming one. तनुम् - the delicate one who is अर्चित - worshipped by the उत्पल - blossoming नयनं - eyes गोपीनाम् - of the gopis. सङ्गावृतम् - he who is ever encircled by a group of गोपाल - shepherds. गोविन्दम् - to that protector of cows. परम् - to him who [produces] the best कल - melodious वादनम् - sound of the वेणुः flute. भजे - I propitiate [him] with the भूषः - bejewelled दिव्यः - divine अङ्गम् - limbs.
I propitiate him,
who captures the very splendour of the blue lotus;
whose face is verily the beautiful moon itself;
who wears a garland of divine tail feathers;
who is the noble one marked by the residence of Lakshmi;
who wears the kaustubha gem;
who is the charming delicate yellow-clothed one;
who is verily worshipped the blossoming eyes of the gopis;
who is ever encircled by cowherds;
who produced the most melodious tunes from the flute,
played by divine bejewelled limbs.
Him, I do ever propitiate.
सूर्यास्तः
मातृभाषा
चन्द्र-चलनम्
संस्कृत-भाषा अति-पुरातना एव. तदर्थम् अन्य-देशीय-जनाः (एतस्मिन् काले भारतीय-जनाः च) पृच्छन्ति--किमर्थं मृता भाषा पठितुम् इच्छति इति. ते एतस्याः भाषायाः महिमा न जानन्ति. अस्माकं ऋषयः देहेन चन्द्रभूमौ न अगच्छन्. परन्तु, मनसि, ते सर्वत्र गतवन्तः. कुत्र गतवन्तः, किं दृष्टवन्तः, कथं दृष्टवन्तः.....एतत् सर्वं संस्कृतेन विना वयं न अवगन्तुं शक्नुमः. पुरातनकाल-पत्रानि, अन्यभाषया अनुलेखितुं कोऽपि न शक्नोति यतः एकैक-वाक्यस्य नानार्थाः सन्ति. अपि च, रमणीया-भाषा तु रमणीया भाषा एव.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
श्लोकाः - आवाहनार्थं विसर्जनार्थं च
Original Image
हृत्पद्मकर्णिकामध्यात् उमया सह शङ्कर ।
आगच्छत्वं महादेव सर्वैरावरणैः सह ॥
महादेव! (महादेवः, सं) - O Lord of the universe. शङ्कर! (शङ्करः,सं) - O Shankara उमया सह (उमा, ३) - along with Uma! सर्वैः सह (सर्व) - With all. [your] आवरणैः (आवरणः, ३, बहु) retinue (coverings), त्वं आगच्छ - please come. हृत्-पद्म-कर्णिका-मध्यात् (मध्यः, ५) - from the middle of the pericarp (कर्णिका) of the lotus (पद्मं) of [my] heart (हृद्, नपुं).
O Shankara accompanied with Uma! O Lord of the universe! From the middle of the lotus in my heart [where you reside], please come, along with your entire retinue.
देवदेव जगन्नाथ यावत्पूजाऽवसानकम् ।
तावत्त्वं प्रीतिभावेन बिम्बेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु ॥
देवदेव! (देवदेवः, सं) - O Lord of Lords! जगन्नाथ! - O Lord of the universe. य़ावत् - Until पूजा-अवसानकम् - the conclusion of this puja, तावत् - Until that time, संनिधिं कुरु - please take a seat, अस्मिन् (अयम्, ७) - in this, बिम्बे (बिम्बः, ७) - image, प्रीति-भावेन (प्रीतिः. भावः, ३) - with a pleased state of mind.
O Lord of Lords! O Lord of the univese! As long as this puja takes place, please come, with a pleased state of mind, and take a seat, in this image.
देव देव जगन्नाथ हृदये मम निर्मले ।
यागदेशात् समागत्य निवासं कुरु लीलया ॥
सं-आगत्य - Having come मम - [into] my निर्मले (निर्-मलः, ७) pure, clean हृदये (हृदयम्, ७) heart यागदेशात् (याग-देशः, ५) - from the yaga-shala, निवासं कुरु - please make your residence, लीलया (लीला, ३) - in a sportive, joyous mood.
O Lord of Lords! O Lord of the univese! [At this conclusion of the puja], having returned from the yaga-shala, please make your residence [once again] in my pure, unsullied heart, with sport and joy.
हृत्पद्मकर्णिकामध्ये देव्यासहमहेश्वर ।
प्रविशत्वं महादेव सर्वैरावरणैः सह ॥
महादेव! (महादेवः, सं) - O Lord of the universe. महेश्वर! (शङ्करः,सं) - O Maheshvara! देव्या सह (देवी, ३) - along with Devi! सर्वैः सह (सर्व) - With all. [your] आवरणैः (आवरणः, ३, बहु) retinue (coverings), त्वं प्रविश - please enter. हृत्-पद्म-कर्णिका-मध्ये (मध्यः, ७) - into the middle of the pericarp (कर्णिका) of the lotus (पद्मं) of [my] heart (हृद्, नपुं).
O Mahadeva accompanied by Devi! O Great Lord! Into the middle of the lotus in my heart, please [re-]enter, along with your entire retinue.
सुभाषितम् - दुष्टा भार्या
ससर्पे च गृहे वासो मृत्युरेव न संशयः ॥
भार्या - wife. दुष्टा - spoilt / wicked. मित्रं - friend. शठं - wicked. च - and. भृत्यः - servant. उत्तर-दायकः - impertinent / backtalker. गृहे (गृहम्, ७) in the house. ससर्पे (ससर्पः, ७) - infested by serpents. च - and. मृत्युः - death. वासः - dwells. एव - only. न - without a. संशयः - doubt.
A spoilt wife, wicked friend, and impertinent servant, are all like a house infested by serpents. Without a doubt, death resides there.
03 Aug 06: http://www.geocities.com/prashanth_k_blr/Subhashitani/
सुभाषितम् - कुलस्यार्थे
ग्रामम् जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीम् त्यजेत् ॥
त्यजेत् - sacrifice / abandon. अर्थे - for the sake of. कुलस्य (कुलम् ६) - of a family. एकम् (२) - one person. ग्रामस्य (ग्रामम्, ६) - of a village. कुलम् (२) - a family. जनपदस्य (जनपदः, ६) - of a nation. ग्रामम् (२) - a village. आत्मार्थे (आत्मनः अर्थे) - for the sake of oneself. पृथिवीम् (२) - the world.
For the well-being of the family, forsake one person;
For the well-being of the village, forsake a family;
For the well-being of the nation, forsake a village;
but . . .
To save oneself, forsake the world
31 May 05: http://www.geocities.com/prashanth_k_blr/Subhashitani/
सुभाषितम् - कोऽन्धः
को मूको यः काले प्रियाणि वक्तुं न जानाति ॥
कः - who. अन्धः - blind man. यः - he. अकार्यतः - who performs improper deeds. बधिरः - deaf man. न - does not शृणोति - listen to. हितानि (हितम्, २, बहु) - advice. मूकः - mute. काले - at the right time. न - does not जानाति - know. वक्तुम् - to say. प्रियाणि [वाक्यानि] - sweet [words].
Who is blind? He who acts improperly.
Who is deaf? He who does not listen to advice.
Who is mute? He who does not know how to speak sweetly when the time arises.
16 May 05 - http://www.geocities.com/prashanth_k_blr/Subhashitani/
सुभाषितम् - अलि-शुक-भ्रान्तिः
सोऽपि जम्बूफलभ्रान्त्या तमलिं धर्तुमिच्छति ॥
भ्रान्त्या (भ्रान्तिः, ३) - mistaking it to be. मुकुल (मुकुलम्) - the bud. पलाश (पलाशः) - of the palasha tree. अलिः - a scorpion. पतति - falls. तुण्डे (तुण्डम्) - into the beak शुक (शुकः) of a parrot. सः अपि - he (the parrot) also. भ्रान्त्या (भ्रान्तिः, ३) - mistaking it to be. फल (फलम्) - the fruit. जम्बू - of the jambu tree. इच्छति - wants. धर्तुम् - to eat (support) it.
A scorpion falls into the beak of a parrot, mistaking it to be the bud of the palasha tree; the parrot wants to eat this scorpion, mistaking it to be the fruit of the jambu tree! thus, all is not always what it seems!
05 July 06 - http://www.geocities.com/prashanth_k_blr/Subhashitani/
सुभाषितम् - बुद्धिः
तस्य दिवाकरकिरणैर्नलिनीदलमिव विकासते बुद्धिः ॥
यः - that person who. पठति - reads. लिखति - writes. पश्यति - observes. परिपृच्छति - enquires. उपाश्रयति - leans upon. पण्डितान् (पण्डितः, २, बहु) - scholars. तस्य - his. बुद्धिः - intellect. विकासते - blooms. इव - like. नलिनी-दलम् - the petals of a lotus flower. किरणैः (किरणः, ३, बहु) - by the rays. दिवाकर (दिवाकरः) - of the sun.
He who reads and writes; observes and enquires; and leans upon [the knowledge of] scholars. His intellect ever blossoms, like the petals of the lotus which open spontaneously in sunshine.
10 Feb 06 - http://www.geocities.com/prashanth_k_blr/Subhashitani/
सुभाषितम् - त्रीणि रत्नानि
मूढैः पाषाणखण्डेषु रत्नसंज्ञा विधीयते ॥
पृथिव्याम् (पृथिवी, ७) - in the world, [सन्ति - there are] त्रीणि - three. रत्नानि (रत्नम्, बहु) - jewels. जलम् - water. अन्नम् - food. सुभाषितम् - wise sayings. पाषाण-खण्डेषु (खण्डः, ७, बहु) - pieces of stone (diamonds). विधीयते - are said to be. रत्नसंज्ञा - on par with these jewels. मूढैः (मूढः, ३, बहु) by fools.
Water, food and subhashitas are the three jewels of this world.
Only fools claim pices of stone (diamonds) to be on par with these.
2 May 05 - http://www.geocities.com/prashanth_k_blr/Subhashitani/
सुभाषितम् - आद्यभाषा
मन्त्राणां तन्त्रसूत्राणामाद्यभाषाऽस्ति संस्कृतम् ॥
वेदान्तानाम् (वेदान्तः, ६, बहु) - for the upanishads. पुराणानाम् (पुराणः, ६, बहु) - for the ancient stories. शास्त्राणाम् (शास्त्रः, ६, बहु) - for the sciences. तथा एव च - and so also, मन्त्राणाम् (मन्त्रः, ६, बहु) - for the mantras. तन्त्र-सूत्राणाम् (मन्त्रः, सूत्रः, ६, बहु) - for the tantras & sutras. आद्य-भाषा - the first/unparalleled language. अस्ति - is. संस्कृतम् - sanskrit.
That unparalled language of vedanta, purana and shastra;
also the unparalled language of mantra, tantra and sutras;
that ancient, unparalleled, most excellent language is . . . . ;
samskritam (sanskrit).
26 July 06 - http://www.geocities.com/prashanth_k_blr/Subhashitani/
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Writing Sanskrit Unicode Documents
- Click on http://www.baraha.com/download/baraha70.exe
- Run the link from (1) and follow the prompts
- From the start menu, open "Baraha Direct 7.0". A taskbar icon will appear
- Find the new icon, and set the language to "Sanskrit" --> "Unicode"
- Use F11 to toggle Sanskrit mode on & off
The Baraha transliteration map is quite intuitive, and is given below:
- oum a A i I u U [[ Ru RU ~Lu ~LU ]] e ai o au aM aH
- ka kha ga gha ~ga
- ca Cha ja jha ~ja
- Ta Tha Da Dha Na
- ta tha da dha na
- pa pha ba bha ma
- ya ra la va
- sha Sha sa ha
- kSha La j~ja
You can now type directly into unicode aware applications such as Internet Explorer, Word etc. Some users (like me) have problems directly typing in Microsoft Office applications. Text will appear as boxes. Select the Text, and change the font to 'CDAC-GISTYogesh' (If you don't have this font install, please see http://kalidasa.blogspot.com/2006/08/reading-sanskrit-unicode-documents.html). Sanskrit text should now appear! Now you can continue direct editing / typing directly.
However, this direct entry works quite well with Internet Explorer and Firefox (and thus, web-mail applications including hotmail, yahoo mail and gmail) as well as online blogs (including live spaces, blogger), and IM software (including MSN Messenger, Google Talk).
Note: Direct entry into Internet Explorer is broken in Vista. I am informed that this is due to the way in which the Baraha author chose to implement the keyboard hooks. Hopefully baraha will be updated with Vista support shortly.
Reading Sanskrit Unicode Documents
Following the steps in this post will allow you to view sanskrit documents written in unicode (including this blog!). If you are using Windows 2000, you may need to install the optional windows unicode support to get this to work. Some versions of windows come with the 'Mangal' font, but it is really quite ugly. By following the steps below, you will have a *much* better experience !
Step 01: Install the yogesh font
- Install yogesh font from http://tdil.mit.gov.in/download/GISTYogeshN.zip
- Unzip the contents of the zip file to a temporary folder (not the desktop)
- Start Menu --> Control Panel (Classic View) --> Fonts
- Open My Computer. Go to the location from (2) where the files were unzipped
- Drag and Drop the files from (4) into the 'Fonts' windows from (3)
Step 02: Regional Language Support (sometimes necessary)
- Control Panel -> Regional and Language Options -> Languages.
- Check the box which says Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages (including Thai)
- Click OK
Step 03: Change Default Devanagari Font (Internet Explorer)
- Tools --> Internet Options
- Click 'Fonts' button
- Next to 'Language script', select 'Devanagari'
- Under 'Web page font', select 'CDAC-GISTYogesh'
- Now, sanskrit unicode documents should display correctly using new font
- If some pages still do not display correctly
(a) Open the web page in Internet Explorer
(b) View --> Encoding --> Unicode (UTF-8)
Step 04: Firefox Users Only: Change Default Devanagari Font:
- Tools --> Options --> Content
- Fonts & Colors --> Click 'Advanced' button
- Next to 'Fonts For', select 'Devanagari'
- Set Serif, Sans-serif and Monospace options to 'CDAC-GISTYogesh
- Now, sanskrit unicode documents should display correctly using new font
- If some pages still do not display correctly
(a) Open the web page in firefox
(b) View --> Character Encoding --> Unicode (UTF-8)