शिशुपालवध - म्रदिमन्

तुल्येऽपराधे स्वर्भानुर्भानुमंतं चिरेण यत् ।
हिमांशुमाशुग्रासते तन्म्रदिम्नःस्फुटं फलम् ॥

- शिशुपालवध

Mythology believes eclipses are means of punishing the sun and the moon for some sins they committed long ago. Both committed the same sin. But, solar eclipses are much rarer than lunar eclipse. It clearly shows what people get if they are soft.

- Shishupalavadha

याज्ञ्वल्क्य - दण्डार्हः

तुलाशासनमानानां कूटकृन्नाणकस्य च ।
एभिश्च व्यवहर्ता यः स दाप्यो दममुत्तमम् ॥

- याज्ञ्वल्क्य

People who cheat when dealing with balances, documents, other measuring devices, people who counterfeit money all must be punished harshly. Such punishment must be meted out to people who deal with them also.

- Yajnavalkya

शिशुपाल वध - मनस्वि

तुङ्गत्वमितरा नाद्रौ नेदं सिंढावगाधता ।
अलङ्घनीयताहेतुरुभयं तन्मनस्विनि ॥

- शिशुपालवध

A mountain is very high, but is not deep. An ocean is very deep, but not high. Even if you have one such quality (high or deep), it becomes very difficult for people to overcome you. People who are mentally strong have both of them. They thoughts can be very high (in ideals) at the same time being deep (in sensitivity).

- Shishupalavadha

सुभाशितसुधानिधि - क्रोधान्धाः

तिरस्कुर्वन्ति कृतिनस्तापयन्ति तपस्व्नः ।
आत्मानमपि हिंसन्ति क्रोधान्धाः किमतःपरम् ॥

- सुभाशितसुधानिधि

They will dismiss (ridicule) the people who accomplish goals. They will hurt the people who lead a life as if it were a penance. They some times evern hurt themselves. These are the people who are blinded by anger - what else can it be?

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

पञ्चरात्र - योध

ताडितस्य हि योधस्य श्लाघनीय कर्मणा ।
अकालांतरिता पूजा नाशयत्येव वेदनाम् ॥

- पञ्चरात्र

When a soldier comes home after being wounded in battle, all his pain will go away if you decorate him with praises (and medals) without delay.

- Pancharatra

पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद - धैर्यं

त्याज्यं धैर्यं विधुरेऽपि काले
    धैर्यात्कदाचिद्गतिमाप्नुयात्सः ।
यथा समुद्रेऽपि च पोतभङ्गे
    सांयात्रिको वांछति तर्तुमेव ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

Even when one is faced with adversity, he must not abandon courage. If one has courage, he will one day meet a good end. Even when a ship is sinking, the sailors still look forward to being saved (or swim to the shore).

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda

भागवत माहात्म्य - कलिः

तरुणीप्रभुता गेहे श्यालको बुद्धिदायकः ।
कन्याविक्रयिणो लोभाद्दंपतीनां च कल्कनम् ॥

- भागवत माहात्म्य

In the time of Kali (the present age) the following sins will be prevalent: women will have control of the family, the wife will listen to husband's brother more than her husband, girls will be sold for money, husband and wife will fight with each other a lot due to greed.

- Bhagavata Mahatmya

मनुस्मृति - तपः

तयोर्नित्यं प्रियं कुर्यात् आचार्यस्य च सर्वदा ।
तेष्वेव त्रिषु तुष्टेषु तपः सर्वं समाप्यते ॥

- मनुस्मृति

One must do all he can to keep his parents and teacher happy. If they are satisfied it is equivalent to any (all) penance.

- Manu Smriti

महावीरचरित - सकृत्संवादेऽपि

तमांसि ध्वंसन्ते परिणमति भूयानुपशमः
    सकृत्संवादेऽपि प्रथत इह चामुत्र च शुभम् ।
अथ प्रत्यासङ्गः कमपि महिमानं वितरति
    प्रसन्नानां वाचः फलमपरिमेयं प्रसुवते ॥

- महावीरचरित

The benefits of association with virtuous people is immense. It destroys all your bad habits. They have a calming effect on your mind. Even if they speak to you once, it will help you in this world and after life too. Their association will spread greatness to every body involved. If they happily talk to you, it will bear lot of sweet fruits.

- Mahaveera Charita

पराशर स्मृति - दान

तपः परं कृतयुगे त्रेतायां ज्ञानमुच्यते ।
द्वापरे यज्ञमित्यूचुः दानमेकं कलौ युगे ॥

- पराशर स्मृति

Religious austerity is the way to attain salvation in Kruta yuga. Knowledge is the key in Treta yuga. Rituals is the convenient way in Dwapara yuga. In Kali yuga (present), charity is the only way to attain inner peace.

- Parashara Smriti

भागवत - कलिः

ततोऽनृतं मदं कामं रजो वैरं च पंचमम् ।
अमूनि पंचस्थानानि ह्यधर्मप्रभवः कलिः ॥

- भागवत

Kali's influence is usually wicked. His wickedness is usually expressed in five ways - dishonesty, intoxication, lust, impurity (of thought and action), enemity.

- Bhagavata

बृहत् पराशर स्मृति - साहसं किमतः

ज्यौतिषं व्यवहारं च प्रायश्चित्तं चिकित्सितं ।
अजानन् यो नरो ब्रूयात् साहसं किमतः परम् ॥

- बृहत् पराशर स्मृति

There is no felony greater than pretending to know astrology, be a judge, suggesting ways of redemption and practicing medicine without having enough knowledge in the matter.

- Bruhatparashara Smriti

समयोचितपद्यमालिका - मिथ्या

ज्यौतिषं जलदे मिथ्या मिथ्या श्वासिनि वैद्यकं ।
योगो बह्वशने मिथ्या मिथ्या ज्ञानं च मद्यपे ॥

- समयोचितपद्यमालिका

Astrology is irrelevant when one tries to predict the movement of clouds (and there by the rains). The entire field of medicine is irrlevant when it comes to gastic problems. Yoga can not do any good if a person routinely over eats. Knowledge is useless for a drunkard.

- Samayocitapadyamalika

महाभारत - तृष्णा

जीर्यन्ति जीर्यतः केशा दन्ता जीर्यन्ति जीर्यतः ।
चक्षुःश्रोत्रे च जीर्येते तृष्णैका तु न जीर्यते ॥

- महाभारत, अनु

The hair, the teeth, the eyes and the ears show signs of aging by getting weaker and weaker. It is only greed in a man that just does not get weaker (older).

- Mahabharatha, Anu

बृहत्पराशरश्मृति - वरे गुणाः

जातिवुद्यावयःशक्तिरारोग्यं बहुपक्षता ।
अर्थित्वं वित्तसंपत्तिरष्टावेते वरे गुणाः ॥

- बृहत्पराशरश्मृति

The following are the eight characteristics one must look for in a bridegroom - he must belong to a virtuous family, well educated, young (youthful), strength, healthy, liked by many (not hated by majority), willingness to start a family and wealth (at least a drive to earn money)

- Bruhat Parashara Smriti

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तला - कोपात् महिमानं

ज्वलति चलितेन्धनोग्निः विप्रकृतः पन्नगः फणां
                                          कुरुते ।
प्रायः स्वं महिमानं कोपात् प्रतिपद्यते जन्तुः ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तला

If one moves the wood in the ritual fire, it burns with greater vigor. If you provoke a serpent it will get agitated and open its hood. A little bit of anger becomes a catalyst for people to exhibit their power to the fullest extent.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

मृच्छकटिक - न्यायाधीश

छन्नं दोषमुदाहरन्ति कुपिता न्यायेन दूरीकृताः
स्वान् दोषान् कथयन्ति नाधिकरणे सन्तोऽपि नष्टा
                                                ध्रुवम् ।
ये पक्षापरपक्षदोषसहिताः पापानि संकुर्वते
संक्षेपादपवाद एव सुलभो द्रष्टुर्गुणो दूरतः ॥

- मृच्छकटिक

When people are angry they hide their shortcomings (the truth). This often misleads the judge. More over, even a noble man will come up to the judge and admit his mistakes since they are certain that it will only cause harm. In many cases, both the defendant and the plaintiff are guilty (to some extent). The job of the judge is really thankless. It can only attract slander but never total praise. There is atleast one party that accuses the judge of partiality.

- Mrucchakatika

Garuda Purana

जटाभाराजिनैर्युक्ता दांभिका वेषधारिणः ।
भ्रमन्ति ज्ञानिवल्लोके भ्रामयन्ति जनानपि ॥

jataabhaaraajinairyuktaa daambhikaa veshadhaarinah |
bhramanti jnaanivalloke bhraamayanti janaanapi ||

Zottelhaar tragend, in Gazellenhaut steckend irren verkleidete Lügner
durchs Land als hätten sie Ahnung, doch wollen sie nur das Volk verwirren.

गरुड पुराण - जटाभाराजिनैर्युक्ता

जटाभाराजिनैर्युक्ता दांभिका वेषधारिणः ।
भ्रमन्ति ज्ञानिवल्लोके भ्रामयन्ति जनानपि ॥

- गरुड पुराण

There are people in this world with matted hair, wearing only deer skin and acting pompously as if they are the enlightened. Not only are they themselves ignorant, but also fool everybody else.

- Garuda Purana

मुद्रराक्षस - कृषिः

चीयते बालिशस्यापि सत्क्षेत्रप्रतिता कृषिः ।
न शालेः स्तंबकरिता वप्तुर्गुणमपेक्षते ॥

- मुद्रराक्षस

If an idiot sows seed in a fertile land, the crop will still be excellent. For the crop to grow well and give good yeild does not depend on the character (or intelligence) of the sower.

- Mudrarakshasa

गंगादितीर्थेषु

गंगादितीर्थेषु वसन्ति मत्स्याः
    देवालये पक्षिगणाश्च नित्यम् ।
ते ज्ञानहीना न फलं लभन्ते
    तीर्थानि देवायतनानि भावः ॥

Fishes and other beings live in river Ganga. Many birds make nests and live in temples. That does not mean that they are all enlightened. They continue to be ignorant. Holiness (river or temples) must in essence (mind) and not be attached to material things (water and buildings).

प्रतिमानाटक - गोपहीन

गोपहीन यथा गावः विलयं यान्त्यपालिताः ।
एवं नृपतिहीना हि विलयं यान्ति वै प्रजाः ॥

- प्रतिमानाटक

Without the shepherd, the cows all get dispersed. Their life is in danger because lone cows are eaten up by predators. Just like that, citizens' lives will be put in danger if there is no king.

- Pratimanataka

दक्ष स्मृति - गृहवासः

गृहवासः सुखार्थाय पत्नीमूलं गृहे सुखम् ।
सा पत्नी या विनीता स्याच्चित्तज्ञा वशवर्तिनी ॥

- दक्ष स्मृति

People make homes (families) to be happy. At the root of such happiness is the wife. She is a good wife who is obedient and understands the mind of the man by herself.

- Daksha Smriti

मनुस्मृति - गुरौ यत्र

गुरौ यत्र परीवादो निंदा वापि प्रवर्तते ।
कर्णौ तत्र पिधातव्यौ गंतव्यं वा ततोऽन्यतः ॥

- मनुस्मृति

If one finds irresponsible people slandering his teacher, he must immediately close his ears. It is better if he moves away from such a place. This is important because listening to such slander will cause doubt in one's mind regarding his master. He will not be able to follow the teacher completely if such doubt exists.

- Manu Smriti

रामायण - अयोध्या

गुरुलाघवमर्थानामारंभे कर्माणां फलम् ।
दोषं वा यो न जानाति स बाल इति होच्यते ॥

- रामायण, अयोध्या

Before starting on an endeavor if one does not analyze the outcome of his actions in terms of profit-loss, good-bad then he can only be branded as foolish (or naive).

- Ramayana, Ayodhya

मृच्छकटिक - गुणेषु यत्नः

गुणेषु यत्नः पुरुषेण कार्यः
    न किंचिदप्राप्यतमं गुणानाम् ।
गुणप्रकर्षादुडुपेन शंभोः
    अलंघ्यमुल्लंघितमुत्तमाङ्गम् ॥

- मृच्छकटिक

One must strive to collect as many good qualities as possible. This is not easy and will involve lot of effort. But one must persevere. Look what the moon has achieved. By the virtue of all his good qualities, he is able to secure a place on top of the head of Lord Shiva (who by himself is insurmountable).

- Mrucchakatika

प्रसन्नराघव - गुणग्रामाभिसंवादि

गुणग्रामाभिसंवादि नामापि हि महात्मनाम् ।
यथा सुवर्णश्रीखण्ड रत्नाकर सुधाकरः ।।

- प्रसन्नराघव

Even the names of great men describe their great characters. They are all very aptly named. Gold is called Suvarna (meaning: the one with lustrous color). Sandalwood is called Srikhanda (meaning: wood filled with wealth). Ocean is called Ratnakara (meaning: he who has gems). Moon is called Sudhakara (meaning: he who has the elixir)

Prasanna Raghava