potential is not enough, one should be sharp and dynamic

 

न जयाय स्वतः शौर्यं किं तु नित्योपबृंहितम्।

प्रयुक्तं हि जयत्यस्त्रं प्रयोक्त्रा न स्वतः क्वचित्॥

नीलकण्ठदीक्षितविरचिते सभारञ्जनशतके ५४

na jayāya svataḥ śauryaṁ kiṁ tu nityopabṛṁhitam|

prayuktaṁ hi jayatyastraṁ prayoktrā na svataḥ kvacit||

nīlakaṇṭhadīkṣitaviracite sabhārañjanaśatake 54

Possessing heroism, prowess and valour, by itself is not sufficient. Mere possession of skill and prowess will not by itself bring in victory. We should stoke the valour; we should hone up the prowess and enhance the same by practice on a regular basis. By constant honing up and encouragement alone the heroism and valour reaches its peak, and becomes ready for practical application, bringing in success.

An arrow, even if it is very powerful, even if it mounted on an imposing bow, would shoot out and do its job only when the archer aims and applies the weapon in the right manner and in the right direction.

Like energy, human capacity too have two ingredients. The potential and the kinetic. If one has the potential and if he is not active, he would not succeed. Of course, if he has no potential then he may not succeed even if he is very active and ebullient. That is altogether a different issue.

From Sabharanjana Shatakam or Neelakanta Deekshita

kva

जयाय for victory, to win शौर्यं heroism prowess valour स्वतः by itself न भवति does not become, not enough, not sufficient किं तु in addition, added to नित्य on a day to basis उपबृंहितं increased, buttressed, encouraged शौर्यं prowess, efficiency एव alone जयाय for victory वर्तते becomes effective, becomes useful प्रयोक्त्रा by the one who aims and shoots प्रयुक्तं अस्त्रं arrows shot हि जयति reaches the targe न not स्वतः by itself क्वचित् at any time.

darkness within us in the shape of ignorance disappears through guidance of the learned persons

उदयन्तु शतमादित्याः उदयन्तु शतमिन्दवः।

न विना विदुषां वाक्यैः नश्यत्याभ्यन्तरं तमः॥

सभारञ्जन शतकम्॥

udayantu śatamādityāḥ udayantu śatamindavaḥ|

na vinā viduṣāṁ vākyaiḥ naśyatyābhyantaraṁ tamaḥ||

sabhārañjana śatakam||

ഉദയന്തു ശതമാദിത്യാഃ ഉദയന്തു ശതമിന്ദവഃ।

ന വിനാ വിദുഷാം വാക്യൈഃ നശ്യത്യാഭ്യന്തരം തമഃ॥

സഭാരഞ്ജന ശതകം॥

We start our learning again symbolically after worshipping the mother of letters Saraswathi, in the form of Books, Tools and so on.

May mother Vani bless us all with renewed enlightenment today.

A quote from Sanskrit worth mentioning on this occasion:-

Hundreds of suns might rise,

Hundreds of moons might rise,

They would take turns to remove darkness all around.

However, we cannot expel the darkness residing within us in the shape of ignorance without the proper guidance of the learned persons.

Yes, the learned persons speak through books and words. They teach us and guide us through their works. It is our duty to receive as the holy manifestation of that Vag devata, and as sacred boon every word the gurus used, every word they uttered.

Of course, that can be possible only if we use them in the right manner

Regards, Pranams

k v ananthanarayanan

पूर्वमेवं परीक्ष्यं स्यात् व्रीडाकरमिदं न वा

 

पूर्वमेवं परीक्ष्यं स्यात् व्रीडाकरमिदं न वा। नृत्ते तु सम्प्रवृत्तस्य शिरः प्रावरणेन किम्॥ सभारञ्जक शतकम्

pūrvamevaṁ parīkṣyaṁ syāt vrīḍākaramidaṁ na vā| nṛtte tu sampravṛttasya śiraḥ prāvaraṇena kim|| sabhārañjaka śatakam

Before starting something one should consider whether the action is embarrassing or not. It is of no use to cover the face with cloth after stepping into the street to dance openly.

दृश्यं करगतं रत्नं दारुणं फणीमूर्धनि॥

शास्त्रेषु दुर्ग्रहोप्यर्थः स्वदते कविसूक्तिषु।

दृश्यं करगतं रत्नं दारुणं फणीमूर्धनि॥

सभारञ्जन शतके १४

śāstreṣu durgrahopyarthaḥ svadate kavisūktiṣu|

dṛśyaṁ karagataṁ ratnaṁ dāruṇaṁ phaṇīmūrdhani||

sabhārañjana śatake 14

Another very wise observation found in the anthology of Subhashitam.. called Sabhaaranjan Shatakam..

The meaning and sense of many subjects, would be impossible to be understood by people if they are just formally taught as Shastras ( as techinical subjects)

But when great poets explain the same subjects in their lucid and yet beautiful style, the ideas become clear to the reader.

The gems like Manikyam are found in the hood of a cruel snake.. When they are found there, they evoke only terror in us.

But the same gem, when extracted from the venomous creatures and are placed in our hands, we see them and enjoy their beauty and shine..

The function of a poet is to present things in such a way that the reader understands what is conveyed, and at the same time the readers mind and spirit are held captive by the words, cadence and music of the creation..

regards

kva

Was reading a book and copying the slokam to my journal.. Found it too beautiful so that I could not help sharing.

a mind to give and help ...

किं दातुरखिलैः दोषैः किं लुब्धस्याखिलैः गुणैः।

न लोभादधिको दोषः न दानादधिको गुणः॥

सभारञ्जनशतके॥

kiṃ dāturakhilaiḥ doṣaiḥ kiṃ lubdhasyākhilaiḥ guṇaiḥ।

na lobhādadhiko doṣaḥ na dānādadhiko guṇaḥ॥

sabhārañjanaśatake॥

What is the significance of some flaws in a person if he is a willing helper or others who would give and share things voluntarily with others

And

What is the use of a person if he is having almost all virtues and good qualities but is miserly and reluctant to help others?

There is no flaw or defect in a person worse to being stingy and selfish

and

There can be no greater virtue in a man than being benevolent and being prepared to give and share all he has..

This is from the famous collections of subhashitas... named Sabharnjana Shatakam.

The idea is nice..

Being gracious and benevolent to all is indeed a great quality.. And that quality can make a person look ideal in the eyes of all around him..The poet is perhaps exaggerating a bit when he says that no other quality is necessary..

Sure, all positive character traits are essential for a person to live a wholesome life individually and as a part of the social set up..

But being munificent and being prepared to share and enjoy is indeed a great trait.

In poetry the authors would exaggerate the importance of the core issue on hand but that has to be taken as only poetic licence..

Of course, let us be generous.. and be among generous people all around..

capacity to rise to the opportunity

सन्दर्भशक्तिहीनानां शास्त्राभ्यासो वृथा श्रमः।

मुग्धानि लब्द्वा पुष्पाणि मुण्डितः किं करिष्यति॥

सभारञ्जनशतके १३

sandarbhaśaktihīnānāṁ śāstrābhyāso vṛthā śramaḥ|

mugdhāni labdvā puṣpāṇi muṇḍitaḥ kiṁ kariṣyati||

sabhārañjanaśatake 13

Another great advise from Sabharanjana Shatakam of Nilakanda Deekshita

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If a person has no inherent capacity to think and act according to situations and circumstances, any amount of training in arts and science and in proper conduct will be of no use to him. Such education and training is just waste of energy for the trainer and would be of no value for the one who is trained.

If a persons who is permanently bald or has tonsured his hair as a matter of habit comes by a lot of fragrant flowers, what can he do with such flowers..?

================

( Of course, the context of the couplet is when even men would adorn their curly tufts with fragrant and attractive flowers.. The situation is different now..

They say the distinctive feature of an idiot is that he would wear flowers tucked to their earlobes..

காதுல பூ is a surname for the credulous fellow in Tamil..)