I started writing regularly when the lockdown commenced in March 2020. It is June 2022 now, and there has been a resurge of cases. A close friend of mine has also been affected. Here is something that I wrote in April 2021, and it is uncanny that a year more down the line, things are …
At first, there was a birthday. Then came Valentines Day. Then Mothers Day. Now Fathers Day. Don’t know if there is a sisters day or brothers day or in-laws day yet, but surely on the horizon if not there already. This arbitrary breaking down of thankfulness/celebration of a particular relationship with no basis in culture …
किं वाससा इत्यत्र विचारणीयंवासः प्रधानं खलु योग्यतायै ।पीताम्बरं वीक्ष्य ददौ स्वकन्यांदिगम्बरं वीक्ष्य विषं समुद्रः ॥ kiM vAsasA ityatra vichAraNIyaMvAsaH pradhAnaM khalu yogyatAyai |pItAmbaraM vIkShya dadau svakanyAMdigambaraM vIkShya viShaM samudraH || “What’s in one’s dress”—-is a point for contemplation;apparel is indeed important for appropriateness;Looking at the one dressed in bright yellow clothes (Mahāvishnu), the ocean gave …
Agni is a hot topic (pun intended) these days. Two instances of agni rocked conversations last week. The first was the trailer of Brahmastra – nine years and a marriage in the making. Not a superhero movie they said – but an “astraverse”. Fair enough. Marvel has infinity stones – we have Astras. Actually, it’s …
महाजनस्य सम्पर्कः कस्य नोन्नति-कारकः ।पद्म-पत्र-स्थितं तोयं धत्ते मुक्ता-फल-श्रियम् ॥ ६० ॥ mahājanasya samparkaḥ kasya nonnati-kārakaḥ |padma-patra-sthitaṃ toyaṃ dhatte muktā-phala-śriyam || 60 || Who does not shine in the company of great people? Even a drop of water that stays on a lotus leaf takes the shape of a beautiful pearl. “Respected king”, said Chiranjeevin. “Samsraya is the …
अणुभ्यश्च महद्भ्यश्च शास्त्रेभ्यः कुशलो नरः।सर्वतः सारमादद्यात् पुष्पेभ्य इव षट्पदः।। Skilled people learn from every source, be it big or small, much like honey bees, who collect nectar from all types of flowers. अन्नदानं परं दानं विद्यादानमतः परम् ।अन्नेन क्षणिका तृप्ति र्यावज्जीवं च विद्यया ॥ Food is of great importance, but the knowledge that we acquire …
रोहते सायकैर् विद्धं छिन्नं रोहति चासिना ।वचो दुरुक्तं बीभत्सं न प्ररोहति वाक्-क्षतम् ॥ १११ ॥ rohate sāyakair viddhaṃ chinnaṃ rohati cāsinā |vaco duruktaṃ bībhatsaṃ na prarohati vāk-kṣatam || 111 || Wounds caused by arrows can heal. Cuts made by sharp swords can heal. But wounds caused by harsh words never ever heal. अदेश-कालज्ञम् अनायति-क्षमं यद् अप्रियं लाघव-कारि …
Stress is not inborn nor is it inherited it does not even exist in nature except in your own mind… Yes that same monkey mind as they say that conjures up dreams and situations constructing an imaginary future that exists only in your mind… We get stressed about what may happen we stay stressed because …
Is determination good for you? Yes and no. Depends on your type of determination, says Sri Krishna. धृत्या यया धारयते मन:प्राणेन्द्रियक्रिया: |योगेनाव्यभिचारिण्या धृति: सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी || 33|| dhṛityā yayā dhārayate manaḥ-prāṇendriya-kriyāḥyogenāvyabhichāriṇyā dhṛitiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī The steadfast willpower that is developed through Yog, and which sustains the activities of the mind, the prānā, and …
यतो यतो निश्चलति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् ।ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥ २६ ॥ yato yato niścalatimanaś cañcalam asthiramtatas tato niyamyaitadātmany eva vaśaṁ nayet From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self. बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जित: ।अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् …
