Today's Beautiful Gem: `Knowledge and Education' by Bhartrhari.

"vidyaanaama narasya roopamadhikam pracchannaguptamdhanam |
vidyaabhogakaree yasassukhakaree vidyaaguroonaamguruh |
vidyaabandhujano videsagamane vidyaaparamlocanam |
vidyaaraajasupoojyate nahidhanam vidyaaviheenah pasuh ||

"To the human being, knowledge is beauty as well as a hidden treasure;
Education does offer wealth, fame, and, comfort; it is a teacher
among teachers;
It is like a friend in a foreign land; it is the inward eye;
It, not one's money, is respected by the kings; the uneducated is
indeed an animal!

"gnaatibhih vanchyate naiva | chorenaapi naneeyate |
daanena nakshayam yaati | vidyaaratnam mahaadhanam ||

"The brother cannot cheat you out of it; the thief cannot steal it;
it cannot be diminished by sharing; knowledge is indeed the
greatest wealth.

"sukhaarthee tyajate vidyaam | vidyaarthee tyajate sukham |
sukhaarthinah kuto vidyaa | kuto vidyaarthinah sukham ||

"The one who wants comfort has to forego education;
the one who wants education has to forego comfort;
How can the comfortable one get education?
how can the student be comfortable?"

"ratnair mahaarghaistutushur na deva
na bhejire bheemavishena bheetim |
sudhaam vinaa na prayayur viraamam
na nishchitaarthaad viramanti dheeraah ||

"The gods were not satisfied with the gems they churned from the ocean;
They did not turn back from fear when the deadly poison manifested;
They never took rest until they obtained the ambrosia;
The brave will never forsake their goals."

Om Santih! Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao

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