Lesson 60

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• upasarga-s

Home Work:

• Write 10 words that have upasarga-s, with meanings

Topic Details:

upasarga-s are nothing by prefixes.  There are 22 upasarga-s in the language.  By adding these to the verb roots, the meaning of the word changes completely!

उपसर्गेण धात्वर्थो बलादन्यत्र नीयते
upasargeNa dhaatvartho balaadanyatra nIyate

Due to a upasarga, the meaning of the dhaatu (verb root) is forcefully taken elsewhere.

Below is the list of upasarga-s

उपसर्ग	prefix meaning, in general
प्र	more, higher
परा	opposite, against
अप	away, separation
सम्	coincide
अनु	after, according to
अव	downward
निस्	low
निर्	low
दुस्	wicked, cruel
दुर्	bad, difficult
वि	more, intense
आ	on this side
नि	to empty
अधि	in, on, above
अपि	moreover
अति	very much
सु	good, best
उत्	on, above, over
अभि	in front of
प्रति	contrary to
परि	everywhere
उप	near, more

These meanings give an overview and specific meanings will become more evident according to context.

Some examples are -
प्रहार - blow
संहार - kill/slay
विहार - pastime
परिहार - remedy
निर्गमन - leaving
दुरन्तः - bad ending

The below subhaaShita uses a couple such words -

चिन्तनीया हि वीपदामादावेव प्रतिक्रिया
न कूपखननं युक्तं प्रदीप्ते वह्निना गृहे
- समयोचितपद्यमालिका

chintanIyaa hi vipadaamaadaaveva pratikriyaa
na kUpakhananaM yuktaM pradIpte vahninaa gRuhe
- samayochitapadyamaalikaa

The remedy to a problem should be thought of ahead of time. It is not appropriate to dig a well when the house is on fire.

Elucidation:
Fire hydrants! It is not a smart idea to start digging a well when the house is ablaze. The problem should be anticipated well ahead of time and appropriate plans should be made in case of a crisis. This is called planning. Without planning, no job can be accomplished to its fullest potential. Crisis management should be given enough thought or the effort put into the actual job might go waste.

Get pro-active!

चिन्तनीया हि विपदाम् आदौ एव प्रतिक्रिया
chintanIyaa hi vipadaam aadau eva pratikriyaa

न कूप खननं युक्तं प्रदीप्ते वह्निना गृहे
na kUpa khananaM yuktaM pradIpte vahninaa gRuhe

Happy learning!

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - om pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 59

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• visarga sandhi

Home Work:

• Find 3 shlokas with examples of visarga sandhi

Topic Details:

The visarga sandhi has many variations and needs to be established with more examples -
Click here for detailed variations of visarga sandhi.

पतिः + अयम्
पतिरयम्

नमः + तिरुमलेश
नमस्तिरुमलेश

अर्जुनः + उवाच
अर्जुन उवाच

समः + स्थितिः
समस्स्थितिः

गुरुः + ब्रह्म
गुरुर्ब्रह्म

गजः + चलति
गजश्चलति

रात्रिः + रात्रिः
रात्रीरातिः

स्वस्तिः + अस्तु
स्वस्तिरस्तु

चतुरः + भीमः
चतुरो भीमः

patiH + ayam
patirayam

namaH + tirumalesha
namastirumalesha

arjunaH + uvaacha
arjuna uvaacha

samaH + sthitiH
samassthitiH

guruH + brahma
gururbrahma

gajaH + chalati
gajashchalati

raatriH + raatriH
raatrIraatiH

swastiH + astu
swastirastu

chaturaH + bhImaH
chaturo bhImaH

Happy practicing and finding more new examples.

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - om pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 58

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Verbs - future tense
• visarga sandhi

Home Work:

• Write 10 examples of visarga sandhi

Topic Details:

Building on the future tense verbs, let's see one more example -
रात्रिर्गमिष्यति भविष्यति सुप्रभातम्
भास्वानुदेष्यति हसिष्यति पङ्कजश्रीः ।
इत्थं विचिन्तयति कोशगते द्विरेफे
हा हन्त हन्त नलिनीं गज उज्जहार ॥
- कुवलयानन्द

raatrirgamiShyati bhaviShyati suprabhaatam
bhaaswaanudeShyati hasiShyati pa~nkajashrIH |
itthaM vichintayati koshagate dvirephe
haa hanta hanta nalinIM gaja ujjahaara ||
- kuvalayaananda

Meaning of the subhaaShita:
"The night shall pass, dawn shall arrive, sun shall rise and the lotus shall bloom" - even as the bee, stuck in the lotus bud, was thinking; alas, alas, an elephant uprooted the lotus!!

Exposition:
Timing is everything... or... destiny has the final say!  This is the story of a busy little bee, who, was anxious to get the last sip of nectar before the fall of the day.  He hovered over a lotus and settled down for the sip.  But since it was almost dusk, the lotus closed its petals to rest for the day and the bee got stuck inside the petals.  There was no way it could get out from the grasp of the tender petals of the closed lotus!  So, the bee consoled itself thus, "the night shall pass, daybreak shall arrive, the sun shall rise and the lotus shall bloom...", so that when the flower opened the petals, it could fly away.  But alas, what luck!  Even as the bee was thinking thus, a rut elephant uprooted the closed lotus bud!!  Now that it wasn't rooted anymore, neither the rise of the sun nor the midday scorch can make a difference.  The bud shall never ever open again, hence trapping the bee inside, to draw its last breath :(.

Like they say, 'it is in your moments of decision, your destiny is shaped'!  Perhaps, the outcome would have been different if the bee had judged the time of the day better.  Perhaps, the bee would have been spared if he wasn't greedy for a one more sip.  Perhaps the consequence would have been different if the bee was swift enough to fly out when the bud was closing up.... perhaps... perhaps... But these can only be speculations.

Many a times in life, one would never know what would have happened  if only he made his choices differently.  Or perhaps, it is the choices, not chances, that determine one's destiny?!!  It is probably for oneself to decide...

pada vigrahaH:
रात्रिः गमिष्यति भविष्यति सुप्रभातम्
raatriH gamiShyati bhaviShyati suprabhaatam

भास्वान् उदेष्यति हसिष्यति पङ्कजश्रीः ।
bhaaswaan udeShyati hasiShyati pa~nkajashrIH |

इत्थं विचिन्तयति कोश-गते द्विरेफे
itthaM vichintayati kosha-gate dvirephe

हा हन्त हन्त नलिनीं गज उज्जहार ॥
haa hanta hanta nalinIM gaja ujjahaara ||

Due to the constant differences in the pronunciation, as well as, transformation of the visarga in many verses, it is a good time to revisit the whole concept of visarga sandhi.  For the complete exposition of the different cases of visarga sandhi, click here, for it needs to be archived under it's own heading for future reference :).

Happy practicing.

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - om pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 57

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Verbs in present tense and future tense

Home Work:

• Find a verse with future tense verb/verbs

Topic Details:

Once the verb forms are learnt, now comes the part of learning all the different tenses.  Future tense (lRuT lakaara), being the easiest 2nd group.  Just by adding 'इष्य' (iShya), between the dhaatu (verb root) and the verb ending, one can create the matrix for future tense!  To establish that further, below are some examples -

भवति becomes भविष्यति
पठति becomes पठिष्यति
हसति becomes हसिष्यति
क्रीडति becomes क्रीडिष्यति
खादति becomes खादिष्यति
अटति becomes अटिष्यति

Rest of the person and numbers follow the same pattern and generate the following matrix -

पठ् धातु, लृट् लकार रूपाणि

पुरुष	एकवचनम्	द्विवचनम्	बहुवचनम्
प्रथम	पठिष्यति	पठिष्यतः	पठिष्यन्ति
मध्यम	पठिष्यसि	पठिष्यथः	पठिष्यथ
उत्तम	पठिष्यामि	पठिष्यावः	पठिष्यामः

                       
paTh dhaatu, lRuT lakaara rUpaaNi

puruSha	Ekavachanam	dwivachanam	bahuvachanam
prathama	paThiShyati	paThiShyataH	paThiShyanti
madhyama	paThiShyasi	paThiShyathaH	paThiShyatha
uttama	paThiShyaami	paThiShyaavaH	paThiShyaamaH

Let's see the usage of one such future tense lRuT lakaara word in a verse :

मर्कटस्य सुरापानं मध्ये वृश्चिक दम्शनम्
तन्मध्ये भूतसञ्चारो यद्वा तद्वा भविष्यति
- समयोचितपद्यमालिका

markaTasya suraapaanaM madhye vRushchika damshanam
tanmadhye bhUtasa~nchaaro yadvaa tadvaa bhaviShyati
- samayochitapadyamaalikaa

Meaning of the subhAShita:
A monkey who is drunk, in between stung by a scorpion, amidst all this invaded by ghosts - anything can happen!

Exposition:
To begin with, he is a monkey. Then he is given alcohol to make him tipsy. (Like he needs alcohol to get jumpy :). On top of it, he gets stung by a scorpion. As if these were not sufficient, there is an invasion of ghosts!! What can be expected but catastrophic chaos!!! No one can predict the outcome of such a situation and it will be different each time too!

This is a satire on the mind. The mind is very unstable already. What if it is provided with an ambiance to splurge on all of its whims and fancies? On top of it, it is provided with the means to fulfill them and no hurdles anywhere! Nobody to ask nor to question! What will be the outcome of such an individual. Just as the verse says, 'totally unpredictable' :).

Put a saddle on the mind and direct it in the right direction. Don't let it run wild and then repent when situations get out of hand.

pada vigrahaH:
मर्कटस्य सुरापानं मध्ये वृश्चिक दम्शनम्
markaTasya suraapaanaM madhye vRushchika damshanam

तत् मध्ये भूतसञ्चारः यत् वा तत् वा भविष्यति
tat madhye bhUtasa~nchaaraH yat vaa tat vaa bhaviShyati

Funny scenario, isn't it :).  Now, happy practicing - samskRutam that is, not getting tipsy ;).

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - om pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

____________________________________________________

Lesson 56

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Introduction to verbs

Home Work:

• Find your 4 verbs and write the 3 x 3 verb matrix for them

Topic Details:

We have briefly visited the topic of verbs, but still have used them extensively so far, without even realizing it!  Now, let's visit it a little more in detail.  Verbs are formed from 'roots'.  They are called 'dhaatu' in samskRutam.  By adding different endings to the dhaatu, we get different persons (1st, 2nd, 3rd), number (singular, dual, plural) as well as tenses.

There are 10 different tenses in the language and about 2200 dhaatu-s!  Let us see the easiest and most used tense - present tense, with the example of the dhaatu पठ् (paTh - read)

पठ् धातु, लट् लकार रूपाणि

पुरुष	एकवचनम्	द्विवचनम्	बहुवचनम्
प्रथम	पठति	पठतः	पठन्ति
मध्यम	पठसि	पठथः	पठथ
उत्तम	पठामि	पठावः	पठामः

paTh dhaatu, laT lakaara rUpaaNi

person	singular	dual	plural
prathama	paThati	paThataH	paThanti
madhyama	paThasi	paThathaH	paThatha
uttama	paThaami	paThaavaH	paThaamaH

• What we call as 3rd person in English, is referred to as 'prathama puruSha' (technically meaning 1st person).  So, when speaking of someone other than the person involved in the conversation, these forms are used, as per the singular, dual or plural required.
• The 2nd person of English, would be 'madhyama puruSha'.  When the subject is 'you', this person is used.
• The 1st person, that is, when referring to oneself, it would be called as 'uttama puruSha' in samskRutam.  Obviously, this is used while referring to oneself.

Only exception would be, when one is referring to another person respectfully (teachers, elders, peers), as in भवान्/भवती (bhavaan/bhavatI), prathama puruSha verb forms have to be used.

Let's see some examples to understand this better.

सा पठति।  (She reads)

त्वं पठसि।  (You read)

अहं पठामि।  (I read)

but, भवान् पठति।  (He (respectful addressing) reads)

saa paThati|

tvaM paThasi|

ahaM paThaami|

but, bhavaan paThati|

On learning this one matrix, one can suitably change the dhaatu to get the corresponding verb forms!

Happy practicing!

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - om pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

____________________________________________________

Lesson 55

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Simple text comprehension 

Home Work:

• Write the meanings of at least 25 different words in the paragraph given below

Topic Details:

Read and comprehend the paragraph below -

बालशुनक बालशुनक किं करोति रे?
चोरस्य आगमने किं करोति रे?
भौ भौ भषामि चोर आगते
तस्य पादं गृह्णामि ॥

मार्जार मार्जार किं करोति रे?
मूषकस्य आगमने किं करोति रे?
तूष्णीं तिष्ठामि शब्दं न करोमि
मूषकं खादामि म्याँव् म्याँव् म्याँव् ॥

चिक्रोड चिक्रोड किं करोति रे?
फलस्य दर्शने किं करोति रे?
शीघ्रं धावामि सर्वं खादामि
उदरं पूरयितुं चिल् चिल् चिल् ॥

कृष्णकाक कृष्णकाक किं करोति रे?
मालिन्यदर्शने किं करोति रे?
सूक्ष्मं पश्यामि सर्वं खादामि
काहलं घोषयामि का का का ॥

बालसूर्य बालसूर्य किं करोति रे?
सर्वं दृष्ट्वा किं करोति रे?
किरणस्य स्पर्शनेन तोषयामि भोः
मोदेन हसामि हा हा हा ॥

baalashunaka baalashunaka kiM karoti re?
chorasya aagamane kiM karoti re?
bhou bhou bhaShaami chora aagate
tasya paadaM gRuhNaami ||

maarjaara maarjaara kiM karoti re?
mUShakasya aagamane kiM karoti re?
tUShNIM tiShThaami shabdaM na karomi
mUShakaM khaadaami myaa~Mv myaa~Mv myaa~Mv ||

chikroDa chikroDa kiM karoti re?
phalasya darshane kiM karoti re?
shIghraM dhaavaami sarvaM khaadaami
udaraM pUrayituM chil chil chil ||

kRuShNakaaka kRuShNakaaka kiM karoti re?
maalinyadarshane kiM karoti re?
sUkShmaM pashyaami sarvaM khaadaami
kaahalaM ghoShayaami kaa kaa kaa ||

baalasUrya baalasUrya kiM karoti re?
sarvaM dRuShTvaa kiM karoti re?
kiraNasya sparshanena toShayaami bhoH
modena hasaami haa haa haa ||

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - om pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 54

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• shloka antyaakSharI game

Home Work:

• Practice more shlokas and play antyaakSharI with someone else or yourself!

Topic Details:

Nice antyaakSharI rounds played!  Keep up the good work and practice more shlokas similarly.  That will reinforce the verses learnt and reiterate the meanings as well.  There are many power-packed subhaaShita-s that can be useful in day to day lives.  Learning them will not only increase the vocabulary, but also give excellent wisdom in small nuggets!  It sure is a win win situation!!

Happy practicing.

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 53

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Verses regarding the glory of Mother

Home Work:

• Learn lots and lots of shlokas, of all kinds!  Will be having a fun antaakSharI time next class :)

Topic Details:

Mother and motherhood are glorified in cultures across the world and celebrated!  Let's see some verses in her praise.

1.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

yaa devI sarvabhUteShu maatRurUpeNa saMsthitaa |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaH ||

Meaning:
To that Goddess, who is residing in all beings, in the form of the mother, I bow, salute, pray and prostrate to her!

Exposition:
Once when a little girl was asked where her home was, she gave a matter-of-fact-ly answer, 'where my mom is!'  What a simple, yet profound answer!  'A home is where the heart is' and 'the heart is where mother is', isn't it!  'Mother' is the name of God in the hearts and lips of little children! My mother always said that, since God Himself could not be present physically at all places, He created mothers!  It is the mother who, not only gives birth to her offspring, but nestles and nourishes when young, then on, nurses and nurtures forever.  A new born knows not, the whims and fancies of the world.  It is the mother (or a motherly figure), who takes the child by the hand and accustoms it to its surroundings!  It is she who teaches the first words, it is she who inculcates values, it is she who teaches the child right from wrong.  A mother's heart is a beacon of love, not just for her own children, but for children in general.  This phenomenon of a mother is prevalent not just in human beings, but in all forms of beings in general!  Yes, even in those that lay eggs and leave, even in those that leave young cubs behind to fend for themselves!  How?  Well, even the mother of those species makes sure she lays her eggs in the safest place that she can find, she leaves the cubs only when she has made sure she has taught them the tricks of trade for survival!  Hence, that divine element of nurturing, is present in all mothers, invariably.  For that matter, whatever be the gender of the being giving that tending affection, it is considered 'motherly love'!  Doesn't that make her synonymous with nurturing?!!  The author of the verse is hence prostrating and saluting, again and again, to that divinity present in all mothers universally.

Reverence to thee O mother!  Reverence to thee!

2.
Click here to revisit a verse which we had learnt a while ago.  This is a nice verse to go with the above one.

Happy practicing and memorizing shlokas!

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 52

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• More verses on 'daanam'

Home Work:

• Learn all the 4 verse by heart, dealt in the last couple weeks.

Topic Details:

1.  Let's see the first verse for today -

शतेषु जायते शूरः सहस्रेषु च पण्डितः
वक्ता दशसहस्रेषु दाता भवति वा न वा
- व्यासस्मृति

shateShu jaayate shUraH sahasreShu cha paNDitaH
vaktaa dashasahasreShu daataa bhavati vaa na vaa
- vyaasasmRuti

Meaning:
In a hundred a brave is born and in a thousand a scholar; in ten thousand an orator, does a giver (even) exist or not.

Exposition:

Not everyone born is brave enough to tackle all kinds of tasks. People have phobias ranging from claustrophobia(fear of enclosed small spaces), to hydrophobia(fear of water), to a simple tricadecaphobia (fear of # 13)! A very brave person, is one in a hundred.

Everyone gets educated, but a true scholar is found one in a thousand.

Oratory, is a skill in itself. One could be the most knowledgeable person, but when asked to present his ideas, he could become speechless! Not everyone has the talent for public speaking. One in ten thousand, is born a good orator.

But the poet suspects if a true giver is even born. A true giver is one who 'gives and forgets', without any prejudices. If such people are born so rarely, then, how can one write any statistics as to - one in how many is born :).

No one has ever become poor by giving! So, give. This is one verse where the poet would be pleased to be disproved :).

pada vigrahaH:
शतेषु जायते शूरः सहस्रेषु च पण्डितः
shateShu jaayate shUraH sahasreShu cha paNDitaH

वक्ता दशसहस्रेषु दाता भवति वा न वा
vaktaa dashasahasreShu daataa bhavati vaa na vaa


2.  Now for the 2nd verse -

अन्नदानं महादानं विद्यादानमतः परम्
अन्नेन क्षणिका तृप्तिः यावज्जीवंच विद्यया

annadaanaM mahaadaanaM vidyaadaanamataH param
annena kShaNikaa tRuptiH yaavajjIvancha vidyayaa

Meaning:
Giving food to a person is a great deed, but giving vidyaa (education) is even better. The satisfaction (obtained) from food is momentary, but that from from vidyaa lasts a lifetime.

Exposition:
This probably was the source for the saying 'Give the man a fish, you feed him once. Teach him to fish and you feed him for life'. Indeed there is great satisfaction in giving. Giving food to the needy is essential, but a better daanam (giving) is the giving of education. One which is given selflessly, for the sake of giving knowledge to the other person. That way, the vidyaa doesn't end with us and is carried on to the generations to come. That was how our scriptures were passed down through the generations to us today. vidyaa daanam indeed is deemed as the greatest form of giving.

pada vigrahaH:
अन्न दानं महा दानं विद्या दानम् अतः परम्
anna daanaM mahaa daanaM vidyaa daanam ataH param

अन्नेन क्षणिका तृप्तिः यावत् जीवं च विद्यया
annena kShaNikaa tRuptiH yaavat jIvaM cha vidyayaa

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 51

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Importance of 'giving' established through a verse on 'daanam'

Home Work:

• Learn by heart, the verse below and write in your own words, the exposition of the verse

Topic Details:

'Giving' truly depends on the attitude!  Giving with the wrong attitude negates the act of giving, where as, the right attitude, even towards loss beyond one's limitation shall be accredited as daanam!

अग्नौ दग्धं जले मग्नं हृतं तस्करपार्थिवैः |
तत्सर्वं दानमित्याहुः यदि क्लैब्यं न भाषते ||
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार

agnau dagdhaM jale magnaM hRutaM taskarapaarthivaiH |
tatsarvaM daanamityaahuH yadi klaibyaM na bhaaShate ||
- subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara

Meaning:
(Anything) burnt in the fire, drowned in water, snatched by the thieves or the kings - all these would be called 'daana' (giving), only if (one) doesn't speak woefully of it.

Exposition:
It is all in the attitude!

When an act of giving is performed, it is debited into one's account of virtues immediately. Giving is not necessarily what is donated. Even something lost to natural calamities like fire and water can be accounted for sacrifice, provided the approach is right. Even if possessions were stolen or annexed by the kings or law enforcers (could be as tax or in any other form), when tackled with grace, that could be accredited as giving too.

When a material possession is lost for any reason - if one doesn't lament about it and instead thinks that it was not meant to be his anymore - he gains more than he lost, in the form of virtues for his share! On the contrary, even if one gives generous charities but is emotionally attached to the object, his act of giving goes futile. Hence, attitude is what defines everything and every action in this world.

Bygones are bygones. Do not fret about them. Better times are yet to come!

pada vigrahaH:
अग्नौ दग्धं जले मग्नं हृतं तस्कर पार्थिवैः |
agnau dagdhaM jale magnaM hRutaM taskara paarthivaiH |

तत् सर्वं दानम् इति आहुः यदि क्लैब्यं न भाषते ||
tat sarvaM daanam iti aahuH yadi klaibyaM na bhaaShate ||

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 50

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Importance of 'giving' established through a verse on 'daanam'

Home Work:

• Learn by heart, the verse below and write in your own words, the exposition of the verse.

Topic Details:

Giving is par none other deed one can do in one's life!  To establish that, let's see the verse below -

गौरवं प्राप्यते दानात् न तु वित्तस्य सञ्चयात्
स्थितिरुच्चैः पयोदानां पयोधीनामधः स्थितिः
- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय

gauravaM praapyate daanaat na tu vittasya sa~nchayaat
sthitiruchchaiH payodAnAM payodhInaamadhaH sthitiH
- subhaaShitaratnasamuchchaya

Meaning:
Respectability comes from giving and not collecting. Clouds (attain) a higher position and the oceans, a lower position.

Exposition:
What kinds of teachings hasn't God given us? He has left us hints to all kinds of essentials, in the nature itself! Even the code of conduct is given to us in nature!

Naturally clouds exist high up in the sky and the oceans are down below. The reason, according to the poet is, because anyone who 'gives' attains a higher respect than one who 'collects' all for himself. The clouds give away all the water they contain and disintegrate themselves in the due course. Once they shower the rain in them, then even cease to exist. Whereas, the oceans collect all the water that come their way (even turning the fresh water, salty). That is why they haven't reached heights!

The essence here is, giving has more value than accumulating or pooling. It could be money, resources, knowledge, wealth or anything of the like. Sharing our knowledge, resources and wealth with our fellow beings, brings a higher permanence to the giver, as well as, what he is giving. For example, if one shares knowledge with others, the knowledge gets passed down for generations to come and will live for ever. If one shares his wealth, it not only benefits the receiver, it instills the spirit of giving in him too. Greed and stinginess have never been approved in any culture.

Giving is always an honorable act.

pada vigrahaH:
गौरवं प्राप्यते दानात् न तु वित्तस्य सञ्चयात् |
gauravaM praapyate daanaat na tu vittasya sa~nchayaat |

स्थितिः उच्चैः पयोदानां पयोधीनां अधः स्थितिः ||
sthitiH uchchaiH payodAnAM payodhInaaM adhaH sthitiH ||

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 49

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• 'daasyasi' shloka interpretation
• vocab 'antyaakSharI'

Home Work:

• Play vocab antyaakSharI with yourself!  Write 20-25 words along with their meanings.

Topic Details:

Let us see another example of how a different interpretation can change the entire meaning of the verse with another example -

पानीयं पातुमिच्छामि त्वत्तः कमललोचने ।
यदि दास्यसि नेच्छामि न दास्यसि पिबाम्यहम् ॥

paanIyaM paatumichChaami tvattaH kamalalochane |
yadi daasyasi nechChaami na daasyasi pibaamyaham ||

If we take the straight forward meaning of the words here, it would mean - 

Oh, Lotus eyed one, I would like to have a drink of water from you.  If you give, I don't want it.  If you won't give, I shall drink!  

Well, that doesn't make any sense!  How can one drink without giving and on giving, he doesn't want it?!!  The trick here is, the word

दास्यसि has to be split as दासी असि (servant, thou are).  Then the meaning of the verse would change to - 

Oh, Lotus eyed one, I would like to have a drink of water from you.  If you are a daasI (a servant woman), I don't want it.  If you are not a daasI, I shall drink!  

These were the days when untouchability and caste systems were very prevalent.  It was a taboo to take food and water from someone who was from a lower caste or a servant.  Hence, the person was making sure of the lady's status.  He said he would accept the drink from her hands if she was not a maid and wouldn't accept if she was one.

Now, that makes more sense :).

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 48

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• 'aadi shloka of the aadi kaaya' - the first verse of the first poetry (raamaayaNa's first verse)

Home Work:

• Write the meaning of the verse - 

            दक्षिणे लक्ष्मणो यस्य वामे च जनकात्मजा ।

            पुरतो मारुतिर्यस्य तं नमामि रघुनन्दनम् ॥

            dakShiNe lakShmaNo yasya vaame cha janakaatmajaa |

            purato maarutiryasya taM namaami raghunandanam ||

Topic Details:

Let us see how taking different meanings of different words, changes the entire meaning of a verse!!

Sage vaalmIki was delighted to see a pair of krauncha birds. A hunter came and killed the male bird. On seeing this, vaalmIki got angry and cursed the hunter saying:-

मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः ।
यत् क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकम् अवधीः काममोहितम् ॥

Word translations:-
nishaada - O hunter
tvam – (may) you
pratiShThaam - good reputation
maa agamah - not get
shaashvateeH samaaH  - for several years
yat - because
krauncha mithunaat - out of the kranucha pair
ekam - one
avadheeH - you killed
kaama mohitam - filled with passionate feelings

Thus the verse translates as: -
O hunter, may you not get any good reputation (or may you get ill-reputation) for several years because, out of the pair of krauncha birds, you killed one, when it was full of passionate feelings.

vaalmiki uttered this as a curse. But it became a beautiful verse with perfect metric composition. This verse could be sung beautifully on a stringed musical instrument.   vaalmiki himself was amazed at the beauty of the composition. He called it श्लोक  (shloka) because it was uttered out of शोक (shoka - grief). But at the same time he was feeling bad that he cursed somebody.

Lord brahma arrived there and told Valmiki to compose the life-story of raama, treating that shloka as the basis. But how could a curse be considered as the basis for a sacred composition like raamaayaNa?
Let’s see…
maa - mother (specifically lakShmI)
nishaada - place of residence
pratiShThaam - good reputation
tvam - you
aagamah - get
shaashvateeH samaaH - for several years
yat – (due to) that
krauncha - crooked
mithunaat - out of the pair
ekam - one
avadheeH - you killed
kaama mohitam - filled with lust

As above, mother lakShmI is referred as maa and nishaada means place of residence. Mother lakShmI resides in the heart of Lord viShNu. Thus maa-nishaada means lakShmIpati, viShNu.  The word maa can also be used for mother sItaa. So, maa-nishaada can mean Lord raama too.

Thus the translation of the shloka becomes: -
O viShNu/raama, may you get reputation for several years because, out of the couple (raavaNa and maNDodarI), you killed the crooked (raavaNa) one, who was filled with lust.

Hence, one meaning of the shloka is a curse and another is glorification to Lord raama!  Isn't this so unbelievably beautiful!!

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 47

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Cases usage with a shloka example

Home Work:

• Find a shloka and decipher its meaning

Topic Details:

Review of cases using a verse -

करारविन्देन पदारविन्दम्
मुखारविन्दे विनिवेशयन्तम् ।
वटस्य पत्रस्य पुटे शयानम्
बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥

karaaravindena padaaravindam
mukhaaravinde viniveshayantam |
vaTasya patrasya puTe shayaanam
baalaM mukundaM manasaa smaraami ||

Upon splitting the words, we get -

कर-अरविन्देन पद-अरविन्दम्
मुख-अरविन्दे विनिवेशयन्तम् ।
वटस्य पत्रस्य पुटे शयानम्
बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥

kara-aravindena pada-aravindam
mukha-aravinde viniveshayantam |
vaTasya patrasya puTe shayaanam
baalaM mukundaM manasaa smaraami ||

Word meaning, as per context -
aravinda - lotus
kara - hand
pada - foot
mukha - mouth
viniveshaya - put
vaTa - banyan
patra - leaf
puTa - fold
shayana - sleep
baala - young
mukunda - kRuShNa (muktiM dadaati, iti mukunda - one who give mokSha)
manas - mind
smara - remember

On applying the cases we have already learnt, the meaning of the verse comes to -

He who, with his lotus like hand, puts his lotus like foot, into his lotus like mouth, sleeping on the fold of a banyan leaf, I heartily remember that young kRuShNa.

The oral test went well!  Keep adding new words to your vocabulary treasure!

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 46

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Continuation of the story 'aamlam draakShaaphalam'

Home Work:

• Write all new words from the story with meanings

Topic Details:

Good going with the reading and interpreting meanings!  Keep up the good work everyone.  Practice saying the shabda-s (masculine and neuter gender) regularly.

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 45

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Story 'aamlam draakShaaphalam'

Home Work:

• Write the 'draakShaaphalam' shabdam in all 7 cases, 3 numbers

Topic Details:

Homework of the 'mUrkhaH anucharaH' - impressively done!  Keep up the good work.  Remember the new words and continue building your vocabulary.

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 44

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Revision of vocabulary

Home Work:

• Write the story 'mUrkhaH anucharaH' in your own (samskRutam) words.

Topic Details:

There was a spontaneous vocab quiz on the new words learnt in the 'mUrkhaH anucharaH' panchatantra story.  It is impressive how everyone is able to remember and connect the words!  Keep up the good work.

Happy practicing.

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 43

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Vocabulary building 
• panchatantra story - mUrkhaH anucharaH

Home Work:

• Make 5 sentences using 5 different animal names

Topic Details:

The panchatantra story mUrkhaH anucharaH was read.  Vocabulary building, as well as learning and reinforcing the concepts already learnt, can be done well by doing this.

We have discussed the very basic aspect of 'maaheshwara sUtraaaNi'.  Will build a little bit of the introduction in the future lessons.

Happy practicing until next week.

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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