What does “having it all” mean to you? Is it attainable? I believe the best answer to this question lies in a verse by the renowned poet Bhartṛhari, from his Nītiśataka: क्षान्तिश्चेत्कवचेन किं किमरिभिः क्रोधोऽस्ति चेद्देहिनांज्ञातिश्चेदनलेन किं यदि सुहृद्दिव्यौषधं किं फलम्।किं सर्पैर्यदि दुर्जनाः किमु धनैर्विद्याऽनवद्या यदिव्रीडा चेत्किमु भूषणैः सुकविता यद्यस्ति राज्येन किम्॥ kṣāntiścetkavacena kiṃ kimaribhiḥ… Continue reading

I hold everything I possess dear and don’t differentiate among my belongings. While certain gifts from family are especially precious to me, I generally take care of all my things, even an old shawl. नाहं पक्षपातिनी वस्तूनां विषये :) कदाचिदप्रियवस्त्वप्युपायनरूपेण प्राप्नोमि तदकिञ्चनेभ्यो ददे। अप्रयोगेन वस्तूनां परिक्षयं वा नाशं वा नेच्छामि। Continue reading