Sanskrit Made Simple

संस्कृतनाट्यस्तबकः प्रथमं  पुष्पम् Translation (Then enters Vaikhanas and other hermits) Vaikhanas : (obstructing the King) O King! This is a deer from the hermitage. It must not be killed, it must not be killed. Quickly take back the arrow. A king’s weapon is for the protection of the distressed and not to attack the innocent. Dushyant : This arrow is withdrawn. (Follows what is said) Vaikhanas : O King! We have set out for collecting wood (fuel) for solemn sacrifice. This hermitage seen on the banks of River Anumalini belongs to the head of the sages Kanva. Having entered (here), please accept the hospitality (towards it) Dushyant : Let there be no disturbance to the inmates of the penance grove. Keep the chariot here itself while I alight/ get down. Charioteer : The reins have been held. May the long living majesty descend. Dushyant : (Descending) O Charioteer! One must enter the hermitage with modest attire. So you take this. (Giving the ornament...

नदीसूक्तम्।  (On the stage- Keertankar presents the keertan, the audience is engrossed in listening to it.) Keertankar : O Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri, create a treasure (come together) on the Earth. The Ganga Dashahara Festival commences on the tenth day in the waxing (bright) phase of the moon in the month of Jyeshtha. The rivers should be worshipped during this festival. Audience : Worship of rivers? Why should we worship the rivers? Keertankar : Indeed, the river gives us life. Hence, on this occasion people offer lamps in the water to express their gratitude towards rivers. Having lit lamps in leaf bowls, they place (offer) them in the river water. Water is for consumption, for farming (agriculture), for generating electricity, water is for sustaining life. For living beings, the river is like a Goddess. The river is like a mother. Hence, today it is really worth listening and remembering the Nadisukta. Audience : ...

Translation of all verses of the poetry lesson  चित्रकाव्यम् in English  1) Whom did Lord Krishna kill? (Kansa)  Which part of Ganga flows coolly? (Ganga that flows at the base of Kashi)  Who are engrossed in nurturing the wife(family)? (Those who are engrossed in taking care of their fields and farms i.e. the farmers) Who are not affected by the cold?(Those who have a blanket) 2) O friend Chatak! Listen for a moment with an attentive mind. There are many clouds in the sky, but all are not similar (rain giving). Some moisten the Earth with rain, while some thunder in vain. Do not speak pitiful/ pitiable words in front of every cloud you see. 3) O great doctor! The real brother of Lord of death (Yama), salutations to you! Yama only takes life away, while you take away both, life as well as money. 4) Taking (abducting) the daughter of Janak from the demons, he went to the city or taking the daughter from the demons, he went to Janak’s city. Here the subject is ...

1) Just as gold is examined by four ways- rubbing, cutting, heating and pounding/ beating, similarly, man is examined by four ways- knowledge, character, virtues and deeds. 2) Where there is no scholar, there even a person with low intellect is worthy of praise; just as in a region with no trees, even a castor plant is considered to be a tree. 3) When I knew little, I became like an elephant, who is blinded by rut; then i felt that ‘I know everything’. (But) when I understood a little from the company of the wise, the knowing that I am a fool, my pride disappeared like fear. 4) As long as fear has not arrived (one is not caught in calamity), till then one should be scared of fear. But, having seen fear approaching, a man should do what is right. 5) An excellent person does not talk much (does not indulge in loose talk). An inferior person talks a lot (unnecessarily), just as bronze produces noise and gold does not. 6) The farmer having reached the field, obtains ...

वाचनप्रशंसा। शीलं सद्गुणसम्पत्तिः ज्ञानं विज्ञानमेव च । उत्साहो वर्धते येन वाचनं तद् हितावहम्॥  That reading is beneficial, which enhances a man’s character, treasure in the form of virtues, knowledge, conscience and enthusiasm(towards learning). मनुजा वाचनेनैव बोधन्ते विषयान् बहन ।  दक्षा भवन्ति कार्येषु वाचनेन बहुश्रुताः॥ People understand several subjects merely by reading, become alert in work and become well read(learned) by reading. वाल्मीकिव्यासबाणाद्याः प्राचीनाः कविपण्डिताः। तान् शिक्षयन्ति सततं ये सदा वाचने रताः॥ Ancient poets and scholars like Valmiki, Vyas, Bana, etc. teach those who are always engrossed in reading. अद्ययावद्धि ज्ञानाय वृत्तपत्रं पठेत्सदा सर्वविधसुविद्यार्थं वाचनमुपकारकम् ॥ Indeed, a man should always read the newspaper for proper updated knowledge. Reading is beneficial for proper knowledge of all types. वृथाभ्रमणकुक्रीडापरपीडापभाषणैः। कालक्षेपो न कर्तव्यो विद्यार्थी वाचनं श्रयेत् ॥ Students should n...

विद्या नाम नरस्य रूपमधिकं प्रच्छन्नगुप्तं धनम् विद्या भोगकरी यशः सुखकरी विद्या गुरूणां गुरुः । विद्या बन्धुजनो विदेशगमने विद्या परं दैवतम् विद्या राजसु पूज्यते न हि धनं विद्याविहीनः पशुः ॥  Knowledge is man’s best beauty, secret hidden wealth; knowledge allows enjoyment and gives success and comfort. Knowledge is the preceptor of preceptors. Knowledge is a relative while going to a foreign place. Knowledge is the ultimate deity. Knowledge, not wealth is worshipped by Kings. (Indeed) a person devoid of knowledge is a beast (animal). निन्दन्तु नीतिनिपुणा यदि वा स्तुवन्तु लक्ष्मीः स्थिरा भवतु गच्छतु वा यथेष्टम्। अद्यैव वा मरणमस्तु युगान्तरे वा न्याय्यात्पथः प्रविचलन्ति पदं न धीराः॥ The expert in ethics may criticise or praise, prosperity may stay or go away as per as will, death may be today itself or in another age; yet the courageous ones do not waver even a step from the righteous path.  आत्मनो मुखदोषेण बध्यन्ते शुकसारिकाः । बकास्तत्र न बध्यन्ते मौन...

Radanika: Come child! Let’s play with the cart. Child: (sadly) O Radanika! What do I do with this clay cart? Give me that gold cart only. Radanika: (sighing dejectedly) O child! From where can we deal with gold now? You will play with a gold cart when your father will become prosperous again. (To herself) Till then, I shall entertain him. I will approach Vasantsena. (Approaching) O noble lady! I salute you! Vasantsena: O Radanika! Welcome! Well, whose son is this? Even though his body is unadorned with ornaments, yet his moon-like (beautiful) face delights my heart. Radanika: This indeed is noble Charudatta’s son, named Rohasena. Vasantsena: (spreading her arms) Come, my child! (Indeed) he has his father’s looks. But for what purpose is he crying? Radanika: He was playing with the golden cart of his neighbours’ child. Later, it was taken away by him (by the neighbour’s child) Then he (Rohasena) wanted it (golden cart) again. So, I made this clay cart and gave i...

(Then enters Indra in the disguise of a beggar) Indra: (Having approached Karna) O Karna! I seek greater alms. Karna: O respected one! I am extremely pleased. I, Karna bow down to you. Indra: (To himself) Indeed, what should I say? If I shall say, ’May you be long living’, then he will be the long living one. If I shall not say so, then he will disregard me as a fool. Therefore, avoiding both, indeed, what shall I say? Let it be. Decided. (Aloud) O Karna! May you fame/ glory stand like the Sun, Moon, Himalayas and the ocean. Karna: O respected one! Why did you not say, ‘Be long living’? Or else, whatever you have said that too is fine, because though the bodies perish, virtues remain. O respected one! What do you wish for? What shall I give? Indra: I seek larger alms. Karna: I shall give greater alms, respected one. I shall give a thousand cows. Indra: A thousand cows? I rarely drink milk. I don’t want it, Karna, I don’t want it. Karna: What? You don’t ...

The first farmer Pruthuvainya      A kind named Pruthuvainya was the first coronated emperor on the Earth. King Pruthu’s capital was in the region of Prayag. At the time of his coronation, the bards were eager to sing songs in the praise of King Pruthu. Then the king ordered, “Wait, O Bards! I am not worthy of praise till my virtues become visible. Only the Almighty is praiseworthy.” Having known the selflessness of King Pruthu, the bards were pleased.      Once, King Pruthu was wandering in his kingdom. While wandering, he saw that his subjects had become very weak and incapable. The subjects were living like animals. They were eating food of inferior quality. Seeing that, the King got disturbed. Then the priest said, ”O King! All the things like wealth, grains, etc. are in the womb of the Earth itself. You must strive to obtain that.”      Then, King Pruthu got his bow ready. Having taken the form of a woman, the Earth appeare...

मानवताधर्म:। १) यथैव सकला नद्यः प्रविशन्ति महोदधिम् । तथा मानवताधर्मं सर्वे धर्माः समाश्रिताः॥ Just as all the rivers enter the ocean, likewise all religions resort to the virtue of humanity. २) षड्जमूला यथा सर्वे सङ्गीते विविधाः स्वराः। तथा मानवताधर्मं सर्वे धर्माः समाश्रिता:॥ Just as all the various musical notes (स्वरs) in music originated from the षड्ज स्वर (सा), similarly all the religions resort to the virtue of humanity. ३) एकीभूय यथा सर्वे वर्णा गच्छन्ति शुक्लताम् । तथा सम्भूय शंसन्ति धर्मा मानवतागुणम् ।। Just as all the colours mixed together become white, similarly, all religions coming together praise the virtue of humanity. ४) सर्वं व्याप्नोति सलिलं शर्करा लवणं यथा । एवं मानवताधर्मो धर्मान् व्याप्नोति सर्वथा॥ Just as sugar and salt pervades(diffuses into) water completely, likewise, the virtue of humanity pervades over all the religions. OR Just as water occupies everything, sweet as well as salty, similarly the vir...