आरम्भगुर्वी क्षयिणी क्रमेण लघ्वी पुरा वृद्धिमती च पश्चात् ।

दिनस्य पूर्वार्द्धपरार्द्धभिन्ना छायेव मैत्री खलसज्जनानाम् ॥

aaramBhagurvee kShayiNee krameNa laGhvee puraa vrdhDhimathee cha pashchaath ।

dhinasya poorvaardhDhaparaardhDhaBhinnaa Chaayeva maithree Khalasajjanaanaam ॥

Meaning: 

Starting off thick, wearing out over time

Light at the beginning, gaining strength later

Just as shadows before noon differ from those after noon

Friendships with the wicked differ from those with good people.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini and Madhavi Nadig explore friendships.

• This subhashitha is the 49th shloka from Bhartrihari’s Neeti Shatakam.
• Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar includes a large sundial that is used to tell time based on the length of shadows.
• Madhavi’s German Shepherd is both her shadow and her best friend.
• Krishna and Draupadi’s friendship is well documented. Draupadi once bandaged Krishna’s wounded finger by tearing her cloth. During the infamous vastraharana, Krishna ensured Draupadi had an endless supply of garments, while her 5 mighty husbands stood helpless.
• When Rishi Durvasa visited the Pandavas in the forest, Draupadi didn’t have anything to offer them, despite having an akshaya patra. Yet again, Krishna helped her out.
• The first Sunday of August is celebrated as International Friendship Day. UN backed this in 2011 too, to promote friendships between people and across countries, as a means of promoting world peace.
• Kalidasa, the famous poet, and Bhoja Raja, the king of Dhara, are another pair of famous friends. Bhoja Raja requested Kalidasa to compose a charama shloka (eulogy) for him while he was alive. Kalidasa refused since he believed it would kill his friend. 
• When Kalidasa was tricked into believing that his friend was dead, he composed

अद्य धारा निराधारा निरालम्बा सरस्वती ।

पंडिताः खंडिताः सर्वे भोजराजे दिवंगते ॥

Today Dhara has lost it’s support and so has Goddess Saraswati.

All the scholars are overcome with grief at the passing of Raja Bhoja.

• Since Bhoja Raja himself had tricked Kalidasa, he died as soon as Kalidasa recited this. Kalidasa modified the shloka to reflect his ideal vision and prayed to Goddess Kali to bring Bhoja Raja back to life.

अद्य धारा सदाधारा सदालम्बा सरस्वती ।

पंडिताः मंडिताः सर्वे भोजराजे भुवंगते ॥

Today and forever is Dhara supported, as is Goddess Saraswati.

All the scholars happily enjoy the benevolence of Raja Bhoja.

• Bharat Ratna Vidushi M. S. Subbulakshmi sang “Maitreem bhajata” on October 23, 1966 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. The song encourages people to cultivate friendship and seek the well-being of all.

What are your thoughts about friendship? When do you remember your friends?

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

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बहूनामप्यसाराणां समवायो हि दुर्जयः ।

तृणैरावेष्ट्यते रज्जुः येन नागोऽपि बद्ध्यते ॥

bahoonaamapyasaaraaNaam samavaayo hi durjayah ।

thrNairaaveShtyathe rajjuh yena naagoapi badhDhyathe ॥

Meaning: 

Many inconsequential things united become undefeatable. A rope made of straws can bind an elephant.

In this Silver Jubilee episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini and Madhavi Nadig appreciate the power in unity.

• This subhashitha is from the Panchatantra.

Do you have any stories of many entities coming together to create something glorious?

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केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषं हारा न चन्द्रोज्ज्वलाः 

न स्नानं न विलेपनं न कुसुमं नालङ्कृता मूर्धजाः ।

वाण्येका समलङ्करोति पुरुषं या संस्कृता धार्यते 

क्षीयन्ते खलु भूषणानि सततं वाग्भूषणं भूषणम् ॥

keyooraaNi na BhooShayanthi purooSham haaraa na chandhrojjvalaah

na snaanam na vilepanam na kusumam naalankrthaa moorDhajaah ।

vaaNyekaa samalankarothi purooSham yaa samskrthaa Dhaaryathe

kSheeyanthe Khalu BhooShaNaani sathatham vaagBhooShaNam BhooShaNam ॥

Meaning: 

Arm-bands do not embellish a person, nor do garlands and shiny jewellery. Nor baths, anointments, flowers and decorated hair-dos. Refined speech and culture make the person appealing. External ornaments fade with time, but the gift of speech shines forever.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini and Madhavi Nadig celebrate World Sanskrit Day in a freewheeling discussion about Sanskrit.

• This is the 20th shloka in Bharthrihari’s Neethi Shathakam.
• Every year, Shravana Poornima is observed as World Sanskrit Day, to promote the usage of Sanskrit. It is the birth anniversary of Panini—the greatest linguist and Sanskrit grammarian. This year, it was on 31st August, 2023.
• The Ashtadhyayi is the first known work of linguistics in the world. In the Aṣṭādhyāyī, Panini elaborated the rules of Sanskrit grammar. Most works produced since then adhere to these rules.
• European scholars discovered Ashtadhyayi in the 19th century. Since then, it continues to influence our modern languages as well.
• Sanskrit is written as it is spoken and allows conjoining words.
• The longest word ever to appear in any literary work, worldwide, is in Sanskrit. It has 195 Sanskrit letters (syllables in English):

निरन्तरान्धकारितदिगन्तरकन्दलदमन्दसुधारसबिन्दुसान्द्रतरघनाघनवृन्द-सन्देहकरस्यन्दमानमकरन्दबिन्दुबन्धुरतरमाकन्दतरुकुलतल्पकल्पमृ-दुळसिकताजालजटिलमूलतलमरुवकमिलदलघुलघुलयकलितरमणीय-पानीयशालिकाबालिकाकरारविन्दगलन्तिकागलदेलालवङ्गपाटलघनसा-रकस्तूरिकातिसौरभमेदुरलघुतरमधुरशीतलतरसलिलधारानिराकरिष्णुत-दीयविमलविलोचनमयूखरेखापसारितपिपासायासपथिकलोकान्  

from the Varadāmbikā Pariṇaya Campū by Tirumalāmbā.

• A prayer commonly heard in many a yoga class pays homage to Patanjali for his contribution to ancient Indian society.

योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचां ।

मलं शरीरस्य च वैद्यकेन ॥

योऽपाकरोत्तमं प्रवरं मुनीनां ।

पतञ्जलिं प्राञ्जलिरानतोऽस्मि ॥

Let us bow to the noblest of sages, Patanjali, who has given us serenity and peace of mind through yoga, purity of speech through grammar and good health through medicine.

• Patanjali was a great scholar, a Sanskrit grammarian, the compiler of the yoga sutras and a medical authority who wrote seminal texts in medicine.
• Many English words are derived from Sanskrit—candy (खण्डक, piece of sugar), loot (लोत्र, plunder, booty), cheetah (चित्रक, leopard, speckled or variegated), jungle (जाङ्गल, wild, feral, not tame), crimson (कृमिज, red dye produced by a worm), guru, neem (निम्ब, neem tree), pepper (पिप्पली, Indian long pepper), sugar (शार्कर, sugar, pebble), and trigonometry (त्रिकोणमिति, measurement of triangles).
• English has also adopted some Sanskrit words without distorting their pronunciation—dharma, karma, atma, etc.—but the cultural context and the true meanings are lost in translation.
• There are other words that do not have translations in English—Sanskrit non-translatables. 
• Many names used in the Chandrayaan-3 & Aditya L1 missions are Sanskrit words. Chandrayaan—voyage to the moon, the liquid-fuel engine Vikas—progress, the rover Pragyaan—quest for knowledge, and Aditya—the sun.
• Not all works in Sanskrit are holy or religious in nature, i.e. they’re not all scriptures. There are works about astronomy, mathematics, medicine, yoga, philosophy, ayurveda, chemistry, statecraft and many other subjects written in Sanskrit since it was the lingua franca of that era.
• The legend of Kalidasa says that he was born a simpleton and married off to a princess in deceit. When she discovered his ignorance, she rejected him. Scorned, he worshipped Goddess Kali who blessed him to become a scholar.
• Kalidasa has produced 41 literary works in Sanskrit, using various types of prose, poetry and drama. He is considered one of the greatest litterateurs. Abhijnanashakuntalam (अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तलम्) is his best known work.
• वाग्भूषणं, the gift of the gab, is essential for people in the entertainment industry—in comedy, poetry, avadhanam, drama and oration.
• Some of the world’s best orators are Martin Luther King Jr., George Bernard Shaw, Swami Vivekananda, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, Sushma Swaraj, S. Jaishankar—India’s foreign minister and Narendra Modi.
• There are some villages in India where all the residents speak Sanskrit fluently. In Karnataka, Mattur and Hosa Halli, are twin villages where Sanskrit is the mother tongues of the villagers. King Krishnadevaraya is said to have entrusted these two villages with the responsibility of propagating Sanskrit usage, in the 16th century.
• Subhashithas are examples of वाग्भूषणं, capturing pearls of wisdom in concise and eloquent lines.

What are some examples of witty or eloquent sayings you’ve come across?

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जलान्तश्चन्द्रचपलं जीवनं खलु देहिनाम् |

तथा विधिमिति त्वा शाश्वतं कल्याणम् आचरेत् ||

jalaanthashchandrachapalam jeevanam Khalu dhehinaam |

thaTha viDhimithi thvaa shaashvatham kalyaaNam aacharethi ||

Meaning: 

Our lives are as unsteady as the reflection of the moon in water. Since life is destined to be unpredictable, forever engage in doing good.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini and Madhavi Nadig discuss Indians’ obsession with the moon.

• This episode is a celebration of India’s Chandrayaan-3 Mission.
• The Vikram rover soft-landed on the south pole of the moon on 23 August 2023. India is the first nation to achieve this. 
• Henceforth, 23rd August will be celebrated as National Space Day.
• Vikram rover’s touchdown point is called “Shiv Shakti Point” while the Chandrayaan-2 crash landing site is named “Tiranga Point”.
• ISRO’s technology is completely home-grown—no help from any other country.
• In the Ramayana, baby Rama demands that his parents bring him the moon. Mother Kausalya shows him the reflection of the moon in a bowl of water and satisfies her child.
• Across India, why is the moon referred to only as a maternal uncle—Chanda mama?
• The lyrics of a popular Hindi nursery rhyme suggest that the child will visit his Chanda mama in a spacecraft. 

चंदा मामा दूर के…

उड़नखटोला बैठ के मुन्ना, चंदा के घर जायेगा

तारो के संग आँख मिचोली, खेल के दिल बहलायेगा“ 

• What appeared to be purely a flight of imagination, now seems attainable.
• In the Mahabharatha, Krishna once asked Karna for his oil bowl while Karna was massaging himself with oil. Karna instantly gave it to him using his left hand. He explained that he didn’t want to waste time in doing a good deed, nor take the chance of changing his mind while transferring it to his right hand.
• In the “Shatapatha Brahmana”, Yagnavalkya estimated that the distance from the earth to the moon is 108 times the sum of the diameters of the earth and the moon, based on observations with the naked eye. Today, we know it to be 110.6 times.
• Since the Hindu calendar follows the lunar cycle, the moon determines the dates of all festivals, except Sankranthi. Sankranthi marks Uttarayana, i.e. the sun’s march towards the north pole.
• When Daksha’s 27 daughters married Chandra, he asked him to love all his daughters equally. Since Chandra favoured Rohini, ignoring the others, Daksha cursed him that his strength and lustre would wane. Shiva came to his rescue, giving him a boon that he’d also regain his strength and lustre again. Thus, the cycle continues.
• Chandra’s 27 wives are Ashvini (अश्विनी) , Bharani (भरणी), Krittika (कृत्तिका), Rohini (रोहिणी), Mrigashira (मृगशिरा), Aardra (आर्द्रा), Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु), Pushya (पुष्य), Ashlesha (आश्लेषा), Pūrvaphalguni (पूर्वा फाल्गुनी), Uttaraphalguni (उत्तरा फाल्गुनी), Hasta (हस्त), Chitra (चित्रा), Svati (स्वाति), Vishakha (विशाखा), Anuradha (अनुराधा), Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठा), Mula (मूल), Purvashadha (पूर्वाषाढ़ा), Uttarashadha (उत्तराषाढ़ा), Shravana (श्रवण), Dhanishta (धनिष्ठा), Shatabhisha (शतभिषा), Uttarabhadrapada (उत्तराभाद्रपद), Revati (रेवती), Purvabhadrapada (पूर्वाभाद्रपद) and Magha (मघा)This story encapsulated an astronomical fact. The 27 wives of the moon are the names of the brightest stars in the 27 constellations that the moon traverses through.
• The moon spends the most time in the Taurus constellation where Rohini nakshatra (Aldebaran), a red giant, is the brightest star.
• The lyrics of a Kannada poem urge us to not delay good deeds. “ಇಂದಿನ ದಿನವೇ ಶುಭ ದಿನವು. ಇಂದಿನ ವಾರ ಶುಭ ವಾರ”. (Today is the most auspicious day. This is the most auspicious week.)
• “शुभस्य शीघ्रम” (Perform good deeds immediately) is a similar Sanskrit saying.
• “कल करे सो आज कर, आज करे सो अब” is one of Kabir’s famous dohas urging us to not procrastinate.

Which stories and beliefs define your relationship with the moon?

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

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निर्वनो वध्यते व्याघ्रो निर्व्याघ्रो छिद्यते वनम् ।

तस्माद्व्याघ्रो वनं रक्षेत् वनं व्याघ्रं च पालयेत् ॥

nirvano vaDhyathe vyaaGro nirvyaaGro Chidhyathe vanam |

thasmaadvyaaGro vanam rakSheth vanam vyaaGram cha paalayeth ||

Meaning: 

The tiger is dead without a forest. The forest is destroyed without a tiger. Thus, the tiger protects the forest and the forest too sustains the tiger.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini and Madhavi Nadig discuss the interdependence of everything in nature.

• We Indians are fascinated by our native Bengal tiger, also our national animal.
• Of the 9 subspecies of tigers, 3 are extinct. Through sustained conservation efforts, India is home to the most tigers in the world.
• The white tigers in Bannerghatta National Park are individuals expressing a recessive gene.
• As Asian animals, tigers get a lot of prominence in the folklore of these countries. They were not part of Europe, Africa or the Americas.
• The markings on each tiger are unique and used to track their activities.
• It’s said that tigers attack humans from the back. Hence people in Sunderbans wear human-faced masks on the back of their heads in an attempt to fool them.
• Millennials grew up watching the antics of Mowgli and his wolf family in the Jungle Book series on Doordarshan. As kids, they feared or hated Sher Khan, the wilful tiger.
• In the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon series, Calvin’s best friend and partner-in-crime is Hobbes—a tiger that's alive and kicking. But when anyone else enters the picture, Hobbes transforms into a mere stuffed toy.
• Does Goddess Durga ride a tiger or a lion? The debate continues. But Goddess Durga controls the wildest of the cats and the most brutal among beasts.
• Since tigers live in forests while lions inhabit grasslands, their territories don’t overlap. Thus, there is no conflict—each cat is the master of its territory.
• The Disney movie The Lion King explains the circle of life beautifully in a conversation between Mufasa, the Lion King, and Simba, his young cub.
• Farmers extirpated wolves from Yellowstone National Park in the US. Many decades later, conservationists reintroduced wolves. This is a case study showing the unforeseen ways in which a top predator supports its ecosystem.
• In a circular economy, by design, there is minimal waste and pollution, things are used, transformed and reused for as long as possible, and natural systems are regenerated.
• Many UN member nations have adopted the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They aim to improve living conditions on our planet by 2030.
• As individuals, we can repair our clothes, gadgets and appliances, invest in reusable products and transform broken items into something usable, becoming more sustainable.
• By transforming flowers used for puja into agarbattis, Phool is tackling a part of the land and water pollution problem.
• The song “The Circle of Life” from the Lion King movie has a beautiful message for all of us—“You should never take more than you give.”

What are the sustainable habits you practice? Please share them as suggestions to all of us.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

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यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः ।

यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वस्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः ॥

yathra naaryasthu poojyanthe ramanthe thathra dhevathaah |

yathraithaasthu na poojyanthe sarvasthathraaPhalaah kriyaah ||

Meaning: 

Where women are treated with respect, the gods too are peaceful and benevolent. Where women are ill-treated or not honoured, the best of deeds fail to yield good results.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Archith Narasimhan discuss the widespread impact women create in the world when they put their skills to use.

• This subhashitha is from the Manu Smriti
• Who is the divine voice of India? One who won the Padma Bhushan in 1954, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Carnatic classical music in 1956, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service through music. She was the first musician to win the Padma Vibhushan in 1976. Also, the first musician to win the Bharat Ratna!
• Many shopkeepers start their business by worshipping Goddess Lakshmi
• Did you know that Goddess Lakshmi has an older sister called Alakshmi, also known as Jeshta Devi?
• The Samudra Manthana, the churning of the cosmic ocean, yielded a number of good things and an equal number of bad things—the cosmic balance is always maintained. Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune, appeared first. Next came Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune.
• Lakshmi and Alakshmi always follow each other. Alakshmi’s visit brings misfortune to us. When we work hard and for the right things, Alakshmi leaves and Lakshmi blesses us by paying a visit.
• Bertha Benz was the first to use, introduce and popularize horse-less carriages—cars. She undertook a historic 12-hour journey of over 106 kms in the automobile built by her husband Carl Benz, to get her sick son to the doctor. This journey changed everything and set off the craze for cars.
• On their wedding day, the just-married Hindu bride and groom are shown the Arundhathi and Vasishta stars, known to the West as Alcor and Mizar. These are in the Saptha Rishi Mandala or the Great Bear or Ursa Major constellation. It symbolizes that Arundhathi was considered just as great as the Seven Sages, who included Vasishta.
• Arundhathi-Vasishta stars are unique—both stars revolve around one another, unlike the typical binary star system where one star is stationary while the other revolves around it. It is a reminder to the couple that the partners are equal. While spouses must be in sync with each other, they must maintain their individual identities as well.
• Maitreyi and Gargi were highly intelligent and erudite scholars who appear in the upanishads.
• Ubhaya Bharathi was the mediator for the historic debate between Adi Shankaracharya and Mandana Mishra. When her husband Mandana Mishra was defeated, she challenged Shankaracharya to continue the debate with her. Eventually, she lost to him too and both of them became disciples of Shankaracharya.
• Amelia Earhart was the first woman to become a pilot and won many laurels. Also, the first lady to try to circumnavigate the world. She was a strong-willed, independent woman who chose to follow her ambitions.
• The most frequently worshipped goddesses these days are those in the entertainment industry—actors and musicians.
• Beyonce’s tour of Sweden drew thousands of foreign fans. It generated so much economic activity from tourism that it increased Sweden’s GDP.
• Taylor Swift’s tour of the US caused hotels in the cities she’s visiting to be fully booked, spurring the US economy.
• If you came across this episode on YouTube, Spotify or in your social media feed, an algorithm recommended it to you. Thank Ada Lovelace—an English mathematician, writer and the mother of algorithms.
• Admiral Grace Hopper was a computer scientist, mathematician and US Navy Admiral. Also well-known for creating compilers and coining the term ‘bug’. The annual Grace Hopper conference is a celebration of technology, research and women’s contributions in this field.
• Lakshmi and Alakshmi put Rishi Narada in a fix when they asked whom he liked the most. Diplomatically, he told them Alakshmi looks good when she’s leaving while Lakshmi looks good when she’s entering.
• Although Ravana started life as a nobleman and a scholar, he brought his downfall upon himself by dishonouring Sita.

Do you have any stories of women who have outdone themselves and those around them?

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

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यस्तु सञ्चरते देशान् सेवते यस्तु पण्डितान् । 

तस्य विस्तारिता बुद्धिः तैलबिन्दुरिवाम्भसि ॥

yasthu sancharathe dheshaan sevathe yasthu pandithaan |

thasya visthaarithaa budhDhih thailabindhurivaamBhasi ||

Meaning: 

When one travels the world and continuously serves scholars, their knowledge expands just as a drop of oil rapidly spreads on water.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Archith Narasimhan discuss the beauty and the benefits of travelling and how it expands our horizons.

• Ibn Battuta was an Islamic scholar who visited India during his 30-year-long international journey and documented his observations in his travelogue The Rihla.

What have you learned during your travels? Where do you plan to go next?

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अरणीमन्थने जातु यो विरन्तुं न चेष्टते ।

स एव लभते वह्निमेवं सिद्धेरपि प्रथा ॥

araNeemanThane jaathu yo viranthum na cheShtathe |

sa eva laBhathe vahnimevam sidhDherapi praThaa ||

Meaning: 

To start a fire, one must constantly rub dry sticks until a spark is kindled. Similarly, one must persevere to attain their goals.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Smt. Uma Rajashekhar discuss fire and the importance of persevering until one attains their goal.

Which skill are you trying to acquire now? Do share it with us.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

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विद्या ददाति विनयम् विनयाद् याति पात्रताम् ।

पात्रत्वात् धनमाप्नोति धनात् धर्मं ततः सुखम् ॥

vidhyaa dhadhaathi vinayam vinayaadh yaathi paathrathaam |

paathrathvaath Dhanamaapnothi Dhanaath Dharmam thathah suKham ||

Meaning: 

Knowledge gives us humility. Humility bestows capabilities on us. Capabilities lead to wealth. Wealth permits us to do good to society which in turn leads to our happiness.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Archith Narasimhan discuss the interdependence of knowledge, humility, skill, wealth, social welfare and happiness.

• Archith shares his experience of taking on different roles and acquiring diverse skills while working with people from varied professional backgrounds.
• Madhavi is reminded of ikigai. Ikigai is a Japanese term for what gives people a strong purpose in their lives. When a person’s passion, mission, vocation and profession intersect, their knowledge and skills are utilized to their full potential and their work leads to their contentment.
• When a young man was struggling with his luggage, an older fellow traveler helped him by carrying some of it. The next day, the young man was stunned to see the same person leading the conference that he was attending. It was none other than Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a renowned educator and social reformer from Bengal. Also, well known for his humility.
• Archith believes that the fictional Detective Gordon, a police officer in Gotham City from the Batman universe, embodies the values of this subhashitha.
• Effective Altruism urges us to use data and evidence to figure out the best way to use our knowledge, skills, money and resources to help society in the most impactful way. The moral philosopher William Mackaskill wrote about this in his book “Doing Good Bettter”. Thanks to him, several billionaires have pledged significant chunks of their wealth to charitable causes.
• The Kannada saying “ತುಂಬಿದ ಕೊಡ ತುಳುಕುವುದಿಲ್ಲ” translates to “Water cannot slosh in a filled pot”. The English saying “Empty vessels make more noise” is similar. A learned person, full of knowledge, does not make a noisy show of their knowledge, i.e. they are humble.
• Archith is fascinated that one subhashitha has brought out so many diverse ideas among the three of us.
• Archith narrates the story of the woodcutter and his axe, which he learnt as a child. When a poor woodcutter’s axe fell into the river, the river goddess took pity on him. She tried to help him since he had lost the only means to his livelihood. She tempted him by first pulling out a silver axe and then a golden axe. But he refused both. He knew that both those axes could not cut trees and ensure his long-term livelihood. When she pulls out his axe, he happily claims it. Pleased by his honesty, she gifts him the other two axes as well.

विद्या ददाति विनयम् विनयाद् याति पात्रताम् ।

पात्रत्वात् धनमाप्नोति धनात् धर्मं ततः सुखम् ॥

vidhyaa dhadhaathi vinayam vinayaadh yaathi paathrathaam |

paathrathvaath Dhanamaapnothi Dhanaath Dharmam thathah suKham ||

Meaning:

Knowledge gives us humility. Humility bestows capabilities on us. Capabilities lead to wealth. Wealth permits us to do good to society which in turn leads to our happiness.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Archith Narasimhan discuss the interdependence of knowledge, humility, skill, wealth, social welfare and happiness.

* Archith shares his experience of taking on different roles and acquiring diverse skills while working with people from varied professional backgrounds.

* Madhavi is reminded of ikigai. Ikigai is a Japanese term for what gives people a strong purpose in their lives. When a person’s passion, mission, vocation and profession intersect, their knowledge and skills are utilized to their full potential and their work leads to their contentment.

* When a young man was struggling with his luggage, an older fellow traveller helped him by carrying some of it. The next day, the young man was stunned to see the same person leading the conference that he was attending. It was none other than Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a renowned educator and social reformer from Bengal. Also, well known for his humility.

* Archith believes that the fictional Detective Gordon, a police officer in Gotham City from the Batman universe, embodies the values of this subhashitha.

* Effective Altruism urges us to use data and evidence to figure out the best way to use our knowledge, skills, money and resources to help society in the most impactful way. The moral philosopher William Mackaskill wrote about this in his book “Doing Good Better”. Thanks to him, several billionaires have pledged significant chunks of their wealth to charitable causes.

* The Kannada saying “ತುಂಬಿದ ಕೊಡ ತುಳುಕುವುದಿಲ್ಲ” translates to “Water cannot slosh in a filled pot”. The English saying “Empty vessels make more noise” is similar. A learned person, full of knowledge, does not make a noisy show of their knowledge, i.e. they are humble.

* Archith is fascinated that one subhashitha has brought out so many diverse ideas among the three of us.

* Archith narrates the story of the woodcutter and his axe, which he learnt as a child. When a poor woodcutter’s axe fell into the river, the river goddess took pity on him. She tried to help him since he had lost the only means to his livelihood. She tempted him by first pulling out a silver axe and then a golden axe. But he refused both. He knew that both those axes could not cut trees and ensure his long-term livelihood. When she pulls out his axe, he happily claims it. Pleased by his honesty, she gifts him the other two axes as well.

What brings you the most happiness? Tell us your stories.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

Music: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/calm-reveal-logo-154643/ 

काले वर्षतु पर्जन्यः पृथिवी सस्यशालिनी ।

देशोऽयं क्षोभरहितः सज्जनास्सन्तु निर्भयाः ॥

kaale varShathu parjanyah prThivee sasyashaalinee |

dhesho ayam kShoBharahithah sajjanaassanthu nirBhayaah ||

Meaning: 

Let there be timely rains and Mother Earth be covered with plants. Let this land be free of misery and the good citizens live without fear.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Chidu Nadig discuss what it takes for people to live contentedly, without fear.

• Chidu narrates a story from the Bhagavatha. When Indra was angry with the residents of Vrindhavana, he made it rain incessantly for 7 days. Krishna lifted the Govardhana mountain with the little finger of his left hand and sheltered the residents, until Indra was pacified.
• Dr. Hema Malini explains the cycle that leads to the formation of rains.
• Global warming has given rise to unnatural heat waves, floods and droughts.
• Reforestation and carbon sequestering techniques are being used to remove the excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, reducing our individual carbon footprints and lowering our dependence on dairy farming are some ways to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we introduce into the atmosphere.
• For people to feel secure and live without fear, they need job opportunities. Currently, the US is suffering. Thousands of people have lost their jobs in this depression.
• The first gods workshipped in ancient civilizations were usually nature gods.
• In India, our ancestors worshipped Surya (sun), Agni (fire), Varuna (water), Vayu (wind), Prithvi (Mother Earth) and Indra (space/sky).
• The ancient Greeks worshipped Helios (sun), Hephaestus (fire), Poseidon (sea), Boreas (northern winds), Notus (southern winds), Gaia (the ancestral mother) and Uranus (space/sky).
• Similarly, the Egyptians worshipped Ra as the god of sun and fire, Tefnut (water), Amun (wind/air), Geb (Earth) and Shu was the supporter of the sky.
• Unseasonal and unnatural rains are currently causing flash floods and landslides in North India in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi.
• Heat in February made tomato crops wither. Heavy rains and flooding during in recent months have damaged more tomato crops this year.
• Tomato prices are at an all-time high due to severe shortage in suppl and are causing unusual incidents across India.
• In North India, a vendor is said to have hired bouncers to protect his tomatoes.
• In Bengaluru, a truck was waylaid and stolen because it carried 2,000 kg of tomatoes.
• Madhavi believes that Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “Where the mind is without fear” perfectly captures the essence of this subhashitha.
• This subhashitha is a universal prayer that capture the timeless human aspirations of living freely, contentedly and without fear.

What does living freely mean to you? Let us know your thoughts.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

Music: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/calm-reveal-logo-154643/ 

उद्यमं साहसं धैर्यं बुद्धिः शक्तिः पराक्रमः ।

षडेते यत्र वर्तन्ते तत्र देवः सहायकः ॥

udhyamam saahasam Dhairyam budhDhih shakthih paraakramah | 

Shadethe yathra varthanthe thathra dhevah sahaayakah ||

Meaning: 

Where the six qualities of industriousness, bravery, courage, intelligence, strength and valour thrive, God, destiny or luck is favourable too.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Archith Narasimhan discuss the qualities that make us successful and lucky.

What thoughts did this subhashitha arouse in your mind? Share them with us.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

Music: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/calm-reveal-logo-154643/ 

नाभिषेको न संस्कारः सिंहस्य क्रियते वने ।

विक्रमार्जितसत्वस्य स्वयमेव मृगेन्द्रता ॥

naaBhiSheko na samskaarah simhasya kriyathe vane | 

vikramaarjithasathvasya svayameva mrgendhrathaa ||

Meaning: 

There is no coronation or any other ceremony in the forest. The lion is the king of the animals through its own strength and valour.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini and Madhavi Nadig discuss the value of merit.

What did this subhashitha bring to your mind? Share it with us in a comment.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

वृथा वृष्टि: समुद्रेषु वृथा तृप्तेषु भोजनम् ।

वृथा दानम् धनाढ्येषु वृथा दीपो दिवाऽपि च ॥

vrThaa vrShtih samudreShu vrThaa thrptheShu Bhojanam | 

vrThaa dhaanam DhanaaDyeShu vrThaa deepo divaa api cha ||

Meaning: 

Rain is wasted on the ocean. Food is wasted on a satiated one. Gifts are wasted on the wealthy. A burning lamp is useless in the presence of daylight.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Archith Narasimhan discuss how the perceived value of things changes according to the context.

• This subhashitha is also from Chanakya Neeti, Chapter 5.
• Dr. Hema Malini believes “appropriateness” is the thread connecting the 4 thoughts in this subhashitha.
• Rains are welcome and beneficial on arid and arable lands. Hungry people are grateful for the food they receive. The needy appreciate the gifts and donations they get.
• In creating clouds, the ocean loses some of its water. In showering the ocean with rain, the clouds lose themselves. But during this cycle, does the ocean lose itself?
• Archith quotes Amitabh Bachchan’s dialogue from the movie Sharaabi. “समुंदर में से दो चार लोटा पानी अगर निकाला जाए तो समुंदर को कोयि फरक नहि पडता |” (If you take out a few buckets of water from the ocean, it makes no difference to the ocean.)
• Humans have pumped out so much of the groundwater that it’s changed the earth’s tilt. We do not understand the full impact of our actions!
• Mahatma Gandhi said, “The world has enough for everyone's needs, but not enough for everyone's greed.”
• Serve yourself as much as you need, but don’t waste any of the food on your plate.
• When Ratan Tata and his friends wasted a lot of food at a restaurant in Germany they had to pay a hefty fine. Germans believe that resources belong to the country and nobody should waste any.
• Archith disapproves of buying multiple items, simply because they were on discount, when there was a need for only one item. Even though the per unit cost of each item may be low, you end up spending more overall. Plus, you need to dispose of the extra items by gifting, donating or discarding.
• Money can be a great motivator. But only up to a certain point. Beyond that point, the value of money diminishes rapidly. Other forms of appreciation assume greater value.
• Dr. Hema Malini talks about the virtue called अस्तेय, astheya or non-stealthiness. 
• Seeing that his friend DVG was very poor, Sir. M. Visvesvaraya frequently gave him work to do for the Mysore maharajas. After each task, he sent DVG a cheque with a handsome payment. It was only after DVG’s death that he realised DVG never cashed any of those cheques. DVG believed he was always helping out his friend, Sir M.V. Hence he did not think he was entitled to the maharaja’s payment.
• When Sudhama, Krishna’s childhood friend, comes to visit him, the only gift he can afford to give Krishna is a handful of avalakki (beaten rice). But Krishna is thrilled that his friend, despite his poverty, took the pain of travelling and brought him a gift!
• It's not the price tag of the gift that matters. It’s the thought, the emotion and the bond between the gifter and the recipient that is more valuable.
• Archith believes that the act of showing up and spending time with a person is more valuable than a material gift.
• Overdoing anything is overkill. Drinking too much water, indulging in food or spending fortunes on gifts to impress the world are all examples of wasteful actions that drain you. This subhashitha teaches us that everything has to be in moderation.
• The timing and context of actions matter. Many investors pump money into the stock market during a bull run and pull money out when the market melts down. These ill-timed actions do not help them make money.
• When people donate to charity, funds do not get distributed appropriately across causes. Some causes attract more funds, while others suffer.
• If all the money donated to NGOs in India were used effectively, we may have been able to eliminate hunger within India at least.
• Even though we may not have perfect data to make our resource utilisation the most efficient, let’s try to make it as equitable as possible.
• People light lamps in places of worship, not to illuminate the space, but to symbolise the removal of darkness from their minds.
• In Kannada, people may mock your actions saying, “ಸೂಯ೯ನಿಗೇ ಟಾಚ್೯ ಆ?” (Will you shine a torch for the sun?) 
• At times your actions may seem insignificant. But persistence yields great results.
• We cannot give up on our efforts just because there are bigger fish in the pond, or the world would go to the dogs.
• Of what use is the ocean to a thirsty person? The rain is better to quench their thirst. 
• It is better to find out what the recipients need and gift/donate those items, rather than give away random items as charity.
• It’s not just the quantity of something, but the quality of what is offered that matters. The situation has to be appropriate for a person to be satisfied.
• After a hearty meal, if someone offered Madhavi her favourite sweet as a dessert or a hot cup of coffee, she would feel even more content.

What did this subhashitha bring to your mind? Share it with us in a comment.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

तैलात् रक्षेत् जलात् रक्षेत् रक्षेत् शिथिलबंधनात् ।

मूर्खहस्ते न दातव्यं एवं वदति पुस्तकम् ॥

thailaath raksheth jalaath raksheth raksheth shiThilabanDhanaath | 

moorKhahasthe na dhaathavyam evam vadhathi pusthakam ||

Meaning: 

Protect me from oil, protect me from water and protect me from loose binding too. Do not hand me over to ignorant folks, so pleads the book.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini and Madhavi Nadig discuss the need to protect knowledge and valuable resources.

मात्रा समं नास्ति शरीर पोषणं |

चिन्ता समं नास्ति शरीर शोषणं ||

मित्रं विना नास्ति शरीर तोषणं |

विद्या विना नास्ति शरीर भूषणं ||

maathraa samam naasthi shareera poShaNam |

chintha samam naasthi shareera shoShaNam || 

mitram vinaa naasthi shareera thoShaNam |

vidhyaa vinaa naasthi shareera BhooShaNam ||

Meaning: 

Nothing like moderation to nourish your body. Nothing like worrying to decimate your body. None better than a friend to bring satisfaction to our lives. No ornament other than knowledge makes us look good in life.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini and Madhavi Nadig discuss what’s essential for us to lead fulfilled lives.

• We need moderation in all aspects of our lives to nourish our bodies.
• Worries make our bodies wither. 
• Even deadly diseases affect those who don’t worry to a lesser extent.
• Happiness requires that we stay in touch with our friends—people we trust and enjoy spending time with.
• Knowledge is the best ornament we can adorn ourselves with.
• Nikhil Kamath, Co-Founder and CTO of Zerodha, recently posted about a US-based survey about Friendship Recession. In the US, the number of men without friends had increased over the years, while women had fewer friends than previously.
• Madhavi believes the results might have been different if Indians were surveyed. We typically have stronger social ties. Also, many of us have relatives who stand in for friends.
• Madhavi also believes that we need friendships with people of different ages and generations.
• Dr. Hema Malini believes that friendships with contemporaries are the most important.
• The Kannada proverb “ಮಾತು ಬಲ್ಲವನಿಗೆ ಜಗಳವಿಲ್ಲ, ಊಟ ಬಲ್ಲವನಿಗೆ ರೋಗವಿಲ್ಲ” tells us that having control over our speech and diet ensures we live a good life. One who speaks well doesn’t get into fights; one who eats right doesn’t suffer from diseases.
• Dr. Hema Malini advises choosing a diet that suits your body, not blindly following fad diets or a diet chart given by a dietician.
• The English saying “Empty vessels make more noise” describes how people without knowledge are easily swayed and react mindlessly to situations.
• Film stars and sports people who go on extreme diets or take up extreme forms of exercise, throwing moderation out of the window, unwittingly invite diseases and illnesses.
• This subhashitha talks about different kinds of thoughts. Thinking about one’s lifestyle, food and exercise habits keeps us healthy. Thinking of our friends and growing those relationships keeps us happy. Learning and applying our learning makes us look good and keeps us away from trouble. But worrying causes our decline.
• At the peak of his acting career, Dilip Kumar, the Bollywood actor, was once on a plane with an older gentleman. Dilip Kumar tried to impress his co-passenger with his acting career. After the plane landed, he learned that the older gentleman was J.R.D. Tata and felt embarrassed and humbled.

What does this subhashitha makes you think of? Share your story in a comment.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

प्रथमवयसि पीतं तोयमल्पं स्मरन्तः

शिरसि निहितभाराः नारिकेलाः नराणाम् ।

ददति जलमतल्पास्वादम् आजीवितान्तं

न हि कृतमुपकारं साधवो विस्मरन्ति ॥

praThamavayasi peetham thoyamalpam smaranthah 

shirasi nihithaBhaaraah naarikelaah naraaNaam | 

dhadhathi jalamathalpaasvaadam aajeevithaantham

na hi krthamupakaaram saaDhavo vismaranthi ||

Meaning: 

A coconut sapling remembers those who gave it a little water to grow. Even as a tree, it retains the water (within the coconuts that grow) in its head. Throughout its life, it repays them with its sweet, tasty coconut water. Similarly, saintly folks never forget the benevolence of folks who have helped them.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Chai Nadig discuss how one shouldn’t forget the folks who helped them in their initial days.

• Remember those who helped you in your younger days—parents, teachers, siblings, neighbours and friends. 
• Always give them their due credit, no matter how high a position you’ve reached today.
• Chai thinks this subhashitha illustrates how startups grow. Seed-stage startups start with a little funding from initial investors and repay them by growing 10x. They consume very little resources in their early years but produce a lot more as they mature.
• Rajinikanth embodies the philosophy of his subhashitha. Even when he received the Dada Saheb Phalke award, he acknowledged how his bus-driver friend Raj Bahadur shaped his acting career.
• In this age when people typically kick the ladder that helped them reach their loft, this subhashitha reminds us to be grateful to those who held the ladder steady as we climbed it.
• Dhirubhai Ambani started his business with 15,000 rupees. He urged small traders and retail investors to invest in his company and ensured that he made them rich too, as his company grew.
• Chai believes this subhashitha illustrates the qualities of leaders. Leaders give more than they take.
• When Spotify decided to go public, it opted for a Direct Listing for the benefit of its early investors and the employees who built it up. Instead, had it chosen to do an IPO, it would have had to shell out hefty fees to banks. Slack, LinkedIn, TripAdvisor and Pandora have also chosen Direct Listing.
• A dejected entrepreneur once shared the story of his sinking company with an old man who sat with him on the same park bench. The old man introduced himself as Warren Buffett. He wrote the entrepreneur a cheque for $10,000 and asked him to return it to him at the same place the next year. Inspired, the entrepreneur worked hard and turned his company around, without encashing the cheque. The next year, he saw the old man in the park again, but followed by nurses this time. The nurses told him that the old man was only a Warren Buffett look-alike who lived in an asylum and wrote such useless cheques to several people. Source: Unverifiable.
• As a leader, Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, puts his employees first, since their efforts contribute to his company’s success. Chai is impressed with the philosophies he has outlined in his book “Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman”.
• This subhashitha encourages us to believe in those who helped us come up, remember their favours and repay them whenever possible.

Who helped you when you started something new? Share your story in a comment.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

यावद्-वित्तोपार्जन सक्तः

तावन्-निजपरिवारो रक्तः ।

पश्चाज्जीवति जर्जर देहे

वार्तां कोऽपि न पृच्छति गेहे  ॥

yaavad viththopaarjana saktah taavan nijaparivaaro raktah |

paschaajjeevathi jarjara dehe vaartaam kopi na prchChathi gehe ||

Meaning: 

As long as one is strong and capable of earning money, their kith and kin want them in their lives. When one is old and lives with an unhealthy, battered body, there’s none to enquire about their well-being.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Chai Nadig discuss how one should plan for their old age and retirement.

• This sholka is the 5th shloka in Bhaja Govindam, a devotional poem composed by Adi Shankaracharya and his disciples.
• The 30th shloka in Bhaja Govindam is similar

अर्थमनर्थं भावय नित्यं

नास्ति ततः सुख लेशः सत्यम् ।

पुत्रादपि धनभाजां भीतिः

सर्वत्रैषा विहिता रीतिः

arthamanarTham Bhaavaya nithyam naasthi thathah suKha leshah sathyam |

puthraadapi DhanaBhaajaam Bheethih sarvathreShaa vihithaa reethih ||

• Wealth and materialistic attachments become the source of one’s miseries. Neither brings peace in life. Even the bliss of having children comes with the threat of them trying to deprive the parents of their wealth. Such are the ways of the world.
• “Bhaja Govindam” is also known as “Moha Mudgara” (Destroyer of Illusion).
• Adi Shankaracharya once noticed an old man studying Sanskrit grammar. He was so engrossed in it that he was almost run over by a chariot. Shankara was horrified that the old man was wasting the little life he had studying something that would be useless in his afterlife. 
• At that moment, Shankara composed the first 13 verses of Bhaja Govindam, advising the old man to pursue the path of devotion. It is said that each of his 14 disciples composed 1 verse after that. Finally, Shankara composed the last 4 verses. Thus Bhaja Govindam is a series of 31 shlokas.
• In most of his works, Adi Shankaracharya advises people to adopt the gnaana marga, the path of knowledge, for self-realization. This is one of the rare works where he promotes the bhakti marga, the path of devotion, instead.
• At first glance, these 2 shlokas may sound depressing. But Dr. Hema Malini shares a different perspective.
• Plan your old age such that you continue to have income throughout your life. Since you will be independent, you can maintain good relations with everyone. With a healthy lifestyle and keeping yourself fit throughout, you will be healthy in your old age as well and can also recover better from illnesses.
• She considers these shlokas as warnings.
• Money should not be the primary interest in one’s life. Lead enriched lives with hobbies and other pursuits. Stay in control of your own finances, without handing over everything to your children. This way you can ensure you lead a good life in your retirement as well.
• Chai believes that possession leads to clutter. Clutter is restrictive. Eliminating clutter is liberating.
• There’s a tradition of cleaning up our houses before Deepavali—eliminating clutter and getting rid of misfortune.
• Dr. Hema Malini appreciates Mr. Amitabh Bachchan who continues to work in his 80s as well. He is aging gracefully, working, earning and inspiring millions. Despite having health issues, he’s keeping himself as fit as possible.
• She feels sad for Mr. Vijaypat Singhania, the former chairperson of the Raymond Group, who lost all his wealth to his son Gautam Singhania and now faces hardship in his old age.
• The second shloka reminds Chai of Minimalism. Minimalists believe in leading stress-free lives with few possessions.
• Madhavi appreciates the billionaire Warren Buffett who gave some of his wealth as an inheritance to his children during his life. Buffett has set up foundations in the names of each of his children to ensure they will get enough money to lead simple lives, but not lavish ones.
• Warren Buffett believes that people should create their own wealth. He has pledged to give away 99% of his wealth to charity and has already donated tens of billions of dollars. 
• Adi Shankaracharya composed these verses in the 8th century. Isn’t it amazing that they continue to be relevant today?

Which incidents and whom did these shlokas remind you of? Share it with us in a comment.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

यथा चित्तं तथा वाचो यथा वाचस्तथा क्रिया ।

चित्ते वाचि क्रियायां च साधूनामेकरूपता ॥

yaThaa chiththam thaThaa vaacho yaThaa vaachasthaThaa kriyaa | 

chiththe vaachi kriyaayaam cha saaDhoonaamekaroopathaa ||

Meaning: 

Thoughts transform into words which result in actions. There is alignment in the thoughts, words and actions of good people.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Chai Nadig discuss the interdependence of thoughts, words and actions.

• A similar subhashitha is

मनस्येकं वचस्येकं कर्मण्येकं महात्मनाम् ।

मनस्येकं वचस्येकं कर्मण्येकं दुरात्मनाम् ॥ 

manasyekam vachasyekam karmaNyekam mahathmanaam | 

manasyekam vachasyekam karmaNyekam durathmanaam ||

• Dr. Hema Malini interprets this as, “There is alignment in the mind, words and actions of great people. But, wicked folks' thoughts, words, and deeds vary from one another, without congruity."
• Chai introduces another variant of this subhashitha.

मनस्येकं वचस्येकं कर्मण्येकं महात्मनाम् ।

मनस्यन्यत्  वचस्यन्यत्  कर्मण्यन्यत्  दुरात्मनाम् ||

manasyekam vachasyekam karmaNyekam mahathmanaam | 

manasyanyath vachasyanyath karmaNyanyath durathmanaam ||

• He interprets this as, “While the thoughts,words and actions of the good people follow each other, the thoughts, words and actions of the wicked differ from those of the good people.”
• The former Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdum Kalam embodied the philosophy of unity in mind, words and action. He had the same goal before, during and after his presidency—promoting the education of children and the advancement of science.
• Chai recalls a poster that hung in room during his childhood with Lao Tzu’s quote:

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words.

Watch your words, they become your actions.

Watch your actions, they become your habits.

Watch your habits, they become your character.

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

• Thoughts influence words, which in turn influence actions and thus determine the character of a person.
• The reverse can be true too. Chai has seen this at work with volunteering.
• After doing something, one may speak about it to share it with others. In the process, they start thinking more about the topic and it influences their nature.
• Dr. Hema Malini recalls that her surgery professor made his students do exercises in psycho cybernetics. They had to mentally rehearse and visualize each step of a surgery and share the steps with him. Only then he permitted them to operate on the patient.
• Chai shares his journey as a new entrepreneur. Talking to multiple people about his idea, evolved the idea, brought his team to work on turning it into a reality and culminated in a usable product.
• Madhavi has a completely different take on the second subhashitha. “The very same person, with their single-minded, focused thoughts, words and actions can turn out to be good or bad or a bit of both.” 
• She shares the story of German chemist Fritz Haber as an example.
• By inventing a process for industrial production of ammonia and ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer, Fritz Haber solved the centuries-old problem of reintroducing nitrogen into the soil and increasing agricultural yields. Haber was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1918. Today, 4 billion people benefit from the Haber-Bosch process. 
• Did you know that Fritz Haber is also the father of chemical warfare? He produced explosives from the very same ammonium nitrate. He introduced chlorine gas and other poisonous gases as weapons, killing thousands in World War I. His technology was used to kill millions of Jews during the Holocaust in World War II.
• Is Fritz Haber a mahatma for saving billions of people from hunger or a duratma for causing the death of millions?
• The Brahmabindu Upanishad says, “मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः ।”. The mind is the tool that either binds a person to materialism or evil, or grants them salvation through spirituality.

What did this subhashitha make you think of? Share it with us in a comment.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः।

न हि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगाः।।

udhyamena hi siDhyanthi kaaryaaNi na manoraThaih |

na hi supthasya simhasya pravishanthi muKhe mrgaah ||

Meaning: 

Success is achieved with effort, not merely by wishing for it. Just as no animal enters a sleeping lion’s mouth and offers itself as prey, without effort, one does not gain success through dreams alone.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Chai Nadig discuss how consistent, coordinated and focused efforts lead to success.

• A similar subhashitha is

यथा ह्येकेन चक्रेण न रथस्य गतिर्भवेत् |

एवं परुषकारेण विना दैवं न सिद्ध्यति ||

yaThaa hi ekena chakreNa na raThasya gathirBhaveth | 

evam puruShakaareNa vinaa daivam na siDhdhyathi ||

Meaning: Just as a chariot does not move ahead with a single wheel, if a person doesn’t work towards their goal, destiny does not favour them.”

• “Luck is the residue of hard work”. One becomes “lucky” as the result of all the work they’ve previously put in.
• The popular English saying “Man proposes, God disposes” captures the essence of the second subhashitha.
• As a dog trainer, Madhavi has observed that dogs usually choose to work for their food vs eating what’s offered freely in their bowl. This is called “contra freeloading”.
• Big plans materialize through a series of small steps.
• There is a similar Kannada saying: "ಎತ್ತು ಏರಿಗೆ, ಕೋಣೆ ಗದ್ದೆಗೆ ಎಳೆದಂತೆ."
• When a bullock and a bison (male buffalo) are tied together to pull a cart, the bullock pulls towards the land while the bison pulls towards the muddy waters. Each animal is exhibiting its inherent nature. But the cart goes nowhere since they pull in opposite directions.
• One needs support to make progress.
• The Divide and Conquer algorithm in computing is used to complete complex tasks. The task is split into smaller bits, distributed to different workers (machines, processes, or threads) and their results are combined at the end. Thus the complex task is completed sooner than if a single worker had to do it all.
• In Kannada, you could say “ಕಣ್ಣು ಹೇಡಿ, ಕೈ ರಥ”. It means, “Even though the eyes balk seeing a large or complex task, once you start working hands-on, the task gets done, sooner or later.”
• Both subhashithas urge us to work towards achieving our goals. And so does the Karma theory. If one does the right thing, they acquire some good karma. If one chooses to do nothing when an action is needed, they lose some of their good karma.
• In the book called “The Alchemist”, Paulo Coelho writes, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” But, for the universe to hand it to you, your “want” should extend from mere wishes to focused efforts.

What did this subhashitha make you think of? Share it with us in a comment.

@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube

गुणैरुत्तमतां याति नोच्चैरासनसंस्थितः।

प्रासादशिखरस्थोऽपि काकः किं गरुडायते॥

guNairuththamathaam yaathi nochchairaasanasamsThithah |

praasaadhashiKharasThopi kaakah kim garoodaayathe ||

Meaning: 

Excellence, greatness and mastery are acquired by one’s inherent nature, not merely by acquiring a position of power or authority through any means. Even though a crow sits on the highest point of a castle, it is not considered the king of birds, like an eagle.

In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini and Madhavi Nadig discuss the qualities of those we hold in high esteem.

• We chose this sutra from Chanakya Neeti since Karnataka State elections are around the corner.
• Chanakya was an ancient Indian polymath and a versatile diplomat, who lived from 375–283 BCE.
• He was a teacher, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, king-maker, and royal advisor to Chandragupta Maurya and his son Bindusara, of the Mauryan Dynasty.
• He authored 2 books - Arthashastra and Chanakya Neeti.
• Arthashastra is a book on statecraft, political science, economic policy, and military strategy. Many of his ideas are relevant even today, 2,300 years later.
• Chanakya Neeti is a collection of 455 sutras (aphorisms or sentences that hold deep meaning) with practical lessons for living an ideal life and ideas for ruling a kingdom.
• The sutras give all of us, irrespective of our professions, guidelines to live good lives.
• Greatness does not necessarily mean the most intelligent. Crows are the most intelligent among birds. They are one of the few species of birds and animals that use tools in their daily lives. But the eagle is called the “King of birds” since it has both intelligence, physical strength and courage. Eagles are the only species of birds to fly into a storm, while all others flee. 
• The right person for a job is not necessarily the one with the longest list of titles or degrees. When a newspaper company was brought to a standstill by a mechanical issue that no one else could solve, an old retired employee solved the problem by turning a screw.
• It’s not the skills or the potential, it’s the results that matter. Both mechanics and cardiac surgeons repair engines and fix their valves. Do they deserve to be paid the same amount?
• In our democratic country, let’s make conscious choices and elect capable leaders in polls.
• Happy voting!

What story came to mind when you heard this subhashitha? Share it with us in a comment.

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