रामायण - अरण्य - दुष्टः

कर्म लोकविरुद्धं तु कुर्वाणं क्षणदचर |
तीक्ष्णं सर्वजनो हन्ति सर्पं दुष्टमिवागतम् ||

- रामायण - अरण्य

Oh Nocturnal being (demon)! If you continue your actions that are harmful to the general public, those people will finally kill you. They will treat you exactly like a harmful snake that entered their house.

- Ramayana, Aranya

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - संतोषः

एकस्य हि प्रसादेन कृत्स्नो लोकः प्रसीदति |
व्याकुलेनाकुलः सर्वो भवतीति विनिश्चयम् ||

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

If one is happy, to him the whole world seems to be happy. If he is sad, then he is sure to see sadness every where.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

यशस्तिलक - मंत्रविप्लव

एकं विषरसो हन्ति शस्त्रेणैकश्च हन्यते |
सबंधुराष्ट्रं राजानं हन्त्येको मंत्रविप्लवः ||

- यशस्तिलक

Poison kills only one person (the one who drinks it). Weapons can kill only one (or few). But a rogue thought in a king's mind can kill the king along with all his relatives, subjects and his kingdom.

- Yashastilaka

पञ्चतंत्र - काकोलुकीय - रिपुः

आसने शयने याने पानभोजनवस्तुषु |
दृष्टादृष्टप्रमत्तेषु प्रहरन्त्यरयोऽरिषु ||

- पञ्चतंत्र, काकोलुकीय

Enemies can strike you at any time - sitting, sleeping, traveling, eating, drinking, lost in thought about material and philosophical issues. Hence one must never let down his guard.

- Panchatantra, Kakolukiya

रामायण - अयोध्या - साध्वसाधु

अहो तम इवेदं स्यान्न प्रज्ञायेत किंचन |
राजा चेन्न भवेल्लोके विभजन् साध्वसाधुनी ||

- रामायण, अयोध्या

Alas! the whole world will be filled with darkness if there is not even one king who is capable of knowing the difference between right and wrong. Without him, others (subjects) will not be able to tell the difference.

- Ramayana, Ayodhya

रामायण - अरण्य - राज

अयुक्तचारं दुर्दर्शनमस्वाधीनं नराधिपम् |
वर्जयन्ति नरा दूरान्नदीपङ्कमिव द्विपाः ||

- रामायण, अरण्य

If a king does not have spies, offers ill advice to the subjects, not in control of himself - then his subjects will abandon him just like elephants stays clear of the mire in the river.

- Ramayana, Aranya

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - चतुरः

अनागतविधाता च प्रत्युत्पन्नमतिस्तथा |
द्वावेतौ सुखमेधेते यद्भविष्यो विनश्यति ||

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

Two people will prosper and be happy - one who prepares ahead of troubled times and the one who is reacts well and quick to changing times. A person who takes on things as they come will soon perish.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabhedha

रामायण - युद्ध - मंत्रि

अनभिज्ञाय शास्त्रार्थान् पुरुषाः पशुबुद्धयः |
प्रागल्भ्याद्वक्तुमिच्छन्ति मंत्रिष्वभ्यंतरीकृताः ||

- रामायण, युद्ध

Some ministers have intellect of an animal. Without knowing the intricacies of scriptures, they advise the king with their theories framed by nice words. [A good king should either get rid of such ministers or at least not listen to them]

- Ramayana, Yuddha

सभारंजनशतक - राजसभा

अंधा विद्वज्जनैर्हीना मूका कविभिरुज्झिता |
बधिरा गायनैर्हीना सभा भवति भूभृताम् ||

- सभारंजनशतक

A King's court is blind if it does not have wise men in it. It is dumb if it does not have poets. It is deaf if it does not have singes. A balanced court is always a collections of poets, singers and wise ministers.

- Sabharanjana Shataka

रामायण - अरण्य - षड्भाग

अधर्मस्तु महांस्तात भवत्तस्य महीपतेः |
यो हरेद् बलिषड्भागं न च रक्षति पुत्रवत् ||

- रामायण,अरण्य

If a king does not protect his subjects like his own sons in spite of taking one sixth of their earnings as tax, then his act shall attract a lot of sin.

- Ramayana, Aranya

मनुस्मृति - राजा

अदण्ड्यान् दण्डयन् राजा दंड्यांश्चैवाप्यदण्डयन् |
अयशो महदाप्नोति नरकं चैव गच्छति ||

- मनुस्मृति

If a king punishes the innocent and fails to punish the guilty, he will become very infamous. In addition to that, he will go to hell.

- Manu Smriti

रामायण - युद्ध - अर्थानर्थौ

अर्थानर्थौ विनिश्चित्य व्यवसायं भजेत ह |
गुणतः संग्रहं कुर्याद्दोषतस्तु विसर्जयेत् ||

- रामायण, युद्ध

Before taking up a project, one must do a thorough analysis of pros and cons. If pros over weigh cons, then it must done. If not, the it must be dropped.

- Ramayana, Yuddha

रामायण - सुंदर - राजनीति

अकृतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम् |
समृद्धानि विनश्यन्ति राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च ||

- रामायण, सुंदर

If a person who has not overcome his senses, one who believes in sensory pleasures is made the king, then in spite of all the wealth, such nations and cities will get destroyed.

- Ramayana, Sundara

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - राजवैद्यः

हेतौ लिंगे प्रशमने रोगाणामपुनर्भवे |
ज्ञानं चतुर्विधं यस्य स राजार्हो भिषक्तमः ||

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

A doctor is worthy to be called a Royal Doctor only if he is skilled in all four dimensions of medicine - recognizing the symptoms, diagnosing the root cause, curing the disease and preventing it from re-occurrence.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

मनुस्मृति - धर्म

हीनांगानतिरिक्तांगान्विद्याहीनान् वयोऽधिकान् |
रूपद्रव्यविहीनांश्च जातिहीनांश्च नाक्षिपेत् ||

- मनुस्मृति

One must not treat any body badly even when they are physically handicapped, or have deformed growth (like a sixth finger), uneducated, the aged, ugly, poor people, people of lower castes. One must treat everyone as equals.

- Manu Smriti

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - क्रोध

हीयते न प्रदीपेन क्षीयते नैव वह्निना |
नाश्यते रविणा नापि क्रोधरूपं तमो महत् ||

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

The darkness created by anger can not be reduced by a flame (like a candle), can not be burnt down by fire, can not be destroyed even by the sun-light. Hence one must stay away from anger.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

उपदेश शतक - मूर्ख

हंतुं देवकतनयां वसुदेवेनोद्यतायुधः कंसः |
मधुरोक्तिभिरनुनीतः साम्ना मूर्खं वशे कुर्यात् ||

- उपदेश शतक

When Kamsa lifted his sword to kill the Devaki's baby, Vasudeva placated him with pleasing words. It is the only way an angry idiot can be placated.

- Upadesha Shataka

कलिविडंबन - मूर्ख

स्तोतारः के भविष्यन्ति मूर्खस्य जगतीतले |
न स्तौति चेत् स्वयं च स्वं कदा तस्यास्तु निवृतिः ||

- कलिविडंबन

If a fool does not priase himself, who else will do it for him in this entire world? Praising himself is the only pass time that he knows about.

- Kalividambana

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - अर्थिता

सेवेव मानमखिलं ज्योत्स्नेव तमो जरेव लावण्यम् |
हरिहरकथेव दुरितं गुणशतमप्यर्थिता हरति ||

- हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ

Servitude will kill any self-respect you have. Moon light will kill all darkness. Old age will kill youthfulness. Listening to stories of Lord Vishnu and Shiva will kill all your worries and troubles. Likewise, greediness will kill any other good qualities a man may have.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

आशा प्रभाव

सेवाध्वजोऽजलिमूर्ध्व्नि हृदि दैन्यं मुखे स्तुतिः |
आशाग्रहगृहीतानां कियतीयं विडंबना ||

Isn't it funny? A person who is blinded by greed makes servitude his flagship, on his head he keeps an open palm (a sign of beggary). He is weak at heart and always has praise (of others) in his mouth (anticipating some money/help in return)

शिशुपालवध - मूर्ख

स्पृशन्ति शरवत्तीक्ष्णाः स्तोकमन्तर्विशन्ति च |
बहुस्पृशाऽपि स्थूलेन स्थीयते बहिरश्मवत् ||

- शिशुपालवध

Wise men are like arrows. They touch very lightly and penetrate by making the slightest slit. Even when explained with few words, they understand the entire picture. But idiots are like stones. They make huge impact but can not penetrate. Even after repeated explaining, they still can not understand.

- Shishupalavadha

मुद्रराक्षस - तृष्णा

स्तुवन्ति श्रान्तास्याः क्षितिपतिमभूतैरपि गुणैः |
    प्रवाचः कार्पण्याद्यदवितथवाचोऽपि पुरुषाः |
प्रभावस्तृष्णायाः स खलु सकलः स्यादितरथा
    निरीहाणामीशस्तृणमिव तिरस्कारविषयः ||

- मुद्रराक्षस

Even the most articulate people, honest people lie in front of a king by praising about qualities that he does not have. This is the effect that greed has on people. There is another alternative. If a person can win over his greed, then to him even a king is as insignificant a blade of grass.

- Mudrarakshasa

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - सेवकः

सुवर्णपुष्पितां पृथ्वीं विचिन्वन्ति नरास्त्रयः |
शूरश्च कृतविद्यश्च यश्च जानाति सेवितुम् ||

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

Three kinds of people in this world will hit gold (happiness) - the brave, the wise and a person who knows the art of service.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda

चारुदत्त - तमसः

सुलभशरणमाश्रयो भयानां
    वनगहनं तिमिरं च तुल्यमेव |
उभयमपि हि रक्षतेऽन्धकारो
    जनयति यश्च भयानि यश्च भीतः ||

- चारुदत्त

Darkness and a deep forest are alike. They create fear and they also protect those who seek refuge. Look at the theif who steals at night and the person who runs away from him. The forest protects the thief and the darkness protects the other (from the thief)

- Charudatta

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - लोभ

सुमहान्त्यपि शास्त्राणि धारयन्तो बहुश्रुताः |
छेत्तारः संशयानां च क्लिश्यन्ते लोभमोहिताः ||

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

People with lot of wisdom and very learned, people who routinely clear other people's doubts also get into lot of difficulties because of greed.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

बृहत् पराशर स्मृति - कृषि

सुखं न कृषितोऽन्यत्र यदि धर्मेण वर्तते |
अवस्त्रत्वं निरन्नत्वं कृषितो नैव जायते ||

-बृहत् पराशर स्मृति

A farmer will always be happy as long as he leads his life following Dharma (moral code of life). He should respect the land and not try to exploit. If he lives like that, he will never go hungry or without clothes.

- Bruhat Parashara Smriti

पराशर स्मृति - सुपुत्रः

सुक्षेत्रे वापयेद्बीजं सुपुत्रे दापयेद्धनम् |
सुक्षेत्रे च सुपुत्रे च यत्क्षिप्रं नैव नश्यति ||

- पराशर स्मृति

A farmer must sow seeds in a fertile land. A father must entrust money to an able son. Seed or money when handed over to able recipients will always prosper

- Parashara Smriti

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल - स्त्री पाण्डित्य

स्त्रीणामशिक्षितपटुत्वममानुशीषु
    संदृश्यते किमुत याः प्रतिभोधवत्यः |
प्रागंतरिक्षगमनात्स्वमपत्यजातं
    अन्यैर्द्विजैः परभृताः खलु पोषयन्ति ||

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल

Women are smart even if they do not go to school. This trait can be seen even in birds (and animals). A wise man will understand this immediately. A nightingale will lays its eggs in the crow's nest and bring up its young ones very carefully. It is so smart and cunning.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala