अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल - गृहिणि

शुश्रूषस्य गुरून् कुरु प्रियसखीवृत्तिं सपत्नीजने
भर्तुर्विप्रकृतापि रोषणतया मा स्म प्रतीपंगमः ।
भूयिष्ठं भव दक्षिणा परिजने भाग्येष्वनुत्सेकिनी
यांत्येवं गृहिणीपदं युवतयो वामाः कुलस्याधयः ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल

Take good care of the elders. Be friendly with the other wives (of the king). Do not succumb to (an show) anger if husband does something wrong. Treat the servants with dignity. Do not become headstrong when you have lot of wealth. If a young girl behaves thus, she can be called a good wife. If not, she will become a head ache to the entire family.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

कर्णभार - दान

शिक्षाक्षयं गच्छति कालपर्यायात्
    सुबद्धमूला निपतन्ति पादपाः ।
जलं जलस्थानगतं च शुष्यति
    हुतं च दत्तं च तथैव शिष्यति ॥

- कर्णभार

Overtime one forgets what he has learned. Great trees may also fall one day. A great lake may also get dried. But the good karma earned by doing charity or sacrifice will never get diminished.

- Karnabhara

उपदेशशतक - सत्पथं वृद्धाः

शरतल्पमधिशयनाद् भीष्मादाकर्ण्य धर्मजो धर्मान् ।
दुःखं जहौ दुरन्तं प्रष्टव्याः सत्पथं वृद्धाः ॥

- उपदेशशतक

Dharmaraja was himself very pious. But he also listened to Bheeshma sleeping on the death bed (of arrows). This helped him alleviate the pain caused by all the turmoil of the war before. Hence one must always listen to the old men who have led their life virtuously.

- Upadeshashataka

गरुड पुराण - श्रद्धा

श्रद्धया धार्यते धर्मो बहुभिर्नार्थराशिभिः ।
निष्किंचना हि मुनयः श्रद्धावन्तो दिवंगताः ॥

- गरुड पुराण

Dedication and perseverance is the key to following Dharma - the moral code of life. Dharma can not be followed by having heaps of money. Mendicants and saints have attained salvation by strictly following Dharma and not by earning lot of wealth.

- Garuda Purana

मनुस्मृति - दाता

शतेषु जायते शूरः सहस्रेषु च पण्डितः ।
वक्ता दशसहस्रेषु दाता भवति वा न वा ॥

- मनुस्मृति

One out of hundred men will be brave. One out of a thousand men would be a scholar. One out of ten thousand men will be a good orator. It is not yest sure if there is a person who can be called a real donor (selfless).

- Manu Smriti

मनुस्मृति - सात्त्विक

वेदाभ्यासस्तपो ज्ञानं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः |
धर्मक्रियात्मचिन्ता च सात्त्विकं गुणलक्षणं ॥

- मनुस्मृति - सात्त्विक

The following are the signs of a virtuous person - studying vedas, penance, acquiring knowledge, cleanliness, control over senses, following dharma (moral code of life) and introspection.

- Manu Smriti, Virtue

पञ्चतंत्र - काकोलुकीय - पशु हिंसा

वृक्षांश्छित्वा पशून्हत्वा कृत्वा रुधिरकर्दमं ।
यद्येवं गम्यते स्वर्गे नरकः केन गम्यते ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, काकोलुकीय

If people who cut trees, kill animals and spill blood go to heaven then who goes to hell?

- Panchatantra, Kakolukiya

भारतमंजरी - विनय त्याग

विनयो रत्नमुकुटं सच्छास्त्रं मणिकुण्डले ।
त्यागश्च कङ्कणं येषां कि तेषां जडमण्डनैः ॥

- भारतमंजरी

What good are earthly ornaments for a person who wears the crown of humility, his knowledge of scriptures as ear pieces and sacrifice as his bangles?

- Bharatamanjari

भारतमंजरी - शील

विदेशेषु धनं विद्या व्यसनेषु धनं मतिः ।
परलोके धनं धर्मः शीलं तु निखिलं धनम् ॥

- भारतमंजरी

Education is wealth when one is traveling. One's intelligence is wealth when in trouble. The good karma accumulated by following dharma is wealth in the after-life. Good conduct is wealth in any where, any time.

- Bharatamanjari

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - विद्या दान

विद्या प्रवसतो मित्रं भार्या मित्रं गृहे सतः ।
आतुरस्य भिषक् मित्रं दानं मित्रं मरिष्यतः ॥

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

Education is the only savior of tourist. Wife and friends are the only savior of person who stays at home. A doctor is the only savior of the sick. Charity is the only savior of a dying man.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

मनुस्मृति - धर्म

विद्वद्भिः सेवितः सद्भिः नित्यमद्वेषरागिभिः ।
हृदयेनाभ्यनुज्ञातो यो धर्मस्तं निभोधत ॥

- मनुस्मृति

Please listen. I will tell you the essence of Dharma - moral code of life. This is what has been followed by the wise men after thinking long and hard without prejudice. This is what has kept their conscience clean.

- Manu Smriti

याज्ञवल्क्य - उद्योग धर्म

वयो बुद्ध्यर्थवाग्वेष श्रुताभिजनकर्मणां ।
आचरेत्सदृशीं वृत्तिं अजिह्मामशठां तथा ॥

- याज्ञवल्क्य

One must keep himself busy with occupation that suits his age, intelligence, wealth, language (speaking ability), dressing sense, education, lineage (family born into) and skill. At any cost one must not cheat. One must not walk down the path of dishonesty.

- Yajnavalkya

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ

वरं कार्यं मौनं न च वचनमुक्तं यदनृतं
    वरं क्लैब्यं पुंसां न च परकलत्राभिगमनम् ।
वरं प्राणत्यागो न च पिशुनवादेष्वभिरतिः
    वरं भिक्षाशित्वं न च परधनास्वादनबलम् ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

Better be silent than telling lies. Better be impotent than be promiscuous. Better death than be a rumor-monger. Better live on alms than be feel powerful based on money belonging to someone else.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

मनुस्मृति - अहिंसा

योऽहिंसकानि भूतानि हिनस्त्यात्मसुखेच्छया ।
स जीवंश्च मृतश्चैव न क्वचित्सुखमेधते ॥

- मनुस्मृति

He who kills innocent animals like a deer for fun (or his happiness), will not be happy when he is alive or dead.

- Manu Smriti

मनुस्मृति - दया

यो बन्धनवधक्लेशान् प्राणिनां न चकीर्षति ।
न सर्वस्य हितप्रेप्सुः सुखमत्यन्तमश्नुते ॥

- मनुस्मृति

He who does not trouble animals by tying (captivating), killing or any other way and wish good of all beings will live happily.

- Manu Smriti

किरातार्जुनीय - परपीडना

युक्तः प्रमाद्यसि हितादपेतः परितप्यसे ।
यदि नेष्टात्मनः पीडा मा संजी भवता जने ॥

- किरातार्जुनीय

When you get what you long for, you will become happy. You will feel sad when you don't get it. Since you do not like to be hurt, you must not hurt others too.

- Kiratarjuniya

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तला - सूर्य चन्द्र

यात्येकतोऽस्तशिखरं पतिरोषधीनां
    आविष्कृतोऽरुणपुरःसर एकतोऽर्कः ।
तेजोद्वयस्य युगपद्व्यसनोदयाभ्यां
    लोको नियम्यत इवात्मदशान्तरेषु ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तला

On one side the moon is sinking. On the other side Sun is rising with his tender early morning rays. Both sun and moon give light (that they are meant to) at their own times and set when their time is up. This must teach us people something about dealing with our own inner turmoils.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

याज्ञवल्क्य - राजधर्म

यस्मिन् देशे य आचारो व्यवहारः कुलस्थितिः ।
तथैव परिपाल्योऽसौ यदा वशमुपागतः ॥

- याज्ञवल्क्य

When a king conquers another state, he must rule that state as per the laws and customs prevailing in that state. He must uphold the dignity of the families in that state. He must ensure that business runs as usual.

- Yajnavalkya

पञ्चतंत्र - काकोलुकीय - धर्मविहीन

यस्य धर्मविहीनानि दिनान्यायान्ति यान्ति च ।
स लोहकारभस्त्रेव श्वसन्नपि न जीवति ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, काकोलुकीय

A man who does not lead his life following Dharma is simply breathing - not living. He is similar to the bag used by blacksmiths to blow air into the fire.

- Panchatantra, Kakolukiya

भगवद्गीता - शास्त्र

यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः ।
न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम् ॥

- भगवद्गीता

If one leaves the path shown by the scriptures and follows his desires, then he will not attain self realization. He will not be happy. He will not attain salvation also.

- Bhagavadgita

रामायण - किष्किंधा - धर्म वात्सल्य

यवीयानात्मनः पुत्रः शिष्यश्चापि गुणोदितः ।
पुत्रवत्ते त्रयश्चिंत्या धर्मश्चेदत्र कारणम् ॥

- रामायण, किष्किंधा

If one wishes to follow Dharma, then he must treat his brother, his son and his disciple - all three of them equally as if they were his children.

- Ramayana, Kishkindha

सोमप्रभाचार्यस्य सूक्तिमुक्तावलि - मानव जन्म

यः प्राप्य दुष्प्रापमिदं नरत्वं
    धर्मं न यत्नेन करोति मूढः ।
क्लेशप्रबंधेन स लुब्धमब्धौ
    चिन्तामणिं पातयति प्रमादात् ॥

- सोमप्रभाचार्यस्य सूक्तिमुक्तावलि

He is a fool who does not follow dharma even after having got this human form in the life. In fact, getting a human form is itself a very difficult task. It is like throwing away a rare gem (chintamani, that can solve all your problems) back into the sea. It is sheer madness.

- Somaprabhacharya's Suktimuktavali

महाभारत - वन - धर्मसूक्ष्मता

यद्भूतहितमत्यन्तं तत्सत्यमिति धारणा ।
विपर्ययकृतोधर्मः पश्य धर्मस्य सूक्ष्मताम् ॥

- महाभारत, वन

That action (in its purest sense) which helps the animals has to treated as truth (in accordance with Dharma). Anything that hurts them is therefore against dharma. See how simple and subtle is the essence of Dharma. This was told by a hunter to a brahmin while explaining how he perceived Dharma to be.

- Mahabharta , Vana

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - उदरार्थं सर्वं

यदसत्यं वदेन्मॄत्यः यद्वाऽसेव्यं च सेवते ।
यद्गच्छति विदेशं च तत्सर्वमुदरार्थतः ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - उदरार्थं सर्वं

A man may tell lies (cheat), eat the un-eatables (non-veg), leave his home country and go travel abroad. He will do all those only to satisfy the hunger in his stomach.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda

मनु स्मृति - यमव्रतम्

यथा यमः प्रियद्वेषौ प्राप्ते काले नियच्छति ।
तथा राज्ञा नियंतव्याः प्रजास्तद्धि यमव्रतम् ॥

- मनु स्मृति

A king must punish the guilty even if they are his own relatives. Much similar to the way how Yama (Death) takes away a person as soon as his time is over. This penance of impartiality expected from a King is known as Yamavrata (penance of Yama).

- Manu Smriti

कलिविडंबना - कलिधर्म

यथा जानन्ति बहवो यथा वक्ष्यन्ति दातरी ।
तथा धर्मं चरेत् सर्वं वृथा धर्ममाचरेत् ॥

- कलिविडंबना

When one follows Dharma, he must let every one know about it. The donor must be praised in order to ensure future donations. Without these, it is not worth following Dharma. Such will be the times in the epoch of Kali (present times).

- Kali Vidambana

महाभारत - कर्णपर्व - अहिंसा

यत् स्यादहिंसासंयुक्तं स धर्म इति निश्चयः ।
अहिंसार्थाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम् ॥

- महाभारत, कर्णपर्व

That which believes in non-violence, compassion and kindness is said to in accordance with Dharma. No doubt about that. In fact all scriptures that preach Dharma have always preached against violence.

- Mahabharata, Karna Parva

रामायण - अरण्य - धर्म यश कीर्ति

यत् कॄत्वा न भवेद्धर्मो न कीर्तिर्न यशो भुवि ।
शरीरस्य भवेत् खेदः कस्तत् कर्म समाचरेत् ॥

- रामायण, अरण्य

Who would do any action that does not fall into these categories? - to uphold Dharma, to bring you glory or to spread your fame. All actions of man can be classified as above.

- Ramayana, Aranya

मनुस्मृति - अंतरात्म

यत्कर्म कुर्वतोऽस्य स्यात् परितोषोंतरात्मनः ।
तत्प्रयत्नेन कुर्वीत विपरीतं तु वर्जयेत् ॥

- मनुस्मृति

One must do what pleases one's conscience even if it is harder. One must never do anything that troubles the conscience.

- Manu Smriti

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रसंप्राप्ति - सूर्य मेघ

यच्छन् जलमपि जलदो वल्लभतामेति सकललोकस्य ।
नित्यं प्रसारितकरो मित्रोऽपि न वीक्षितुं शक्यः ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रसंप्राप्ति

All the cloud does is to sprinkle water on the earth once in a while. Yet, the entire world likes him a lot. The Sun on the other hand works tirelessly giving out life giving rays all through out the day, every day. Yet, no one even looks him in the eye. In this unfair world, it is not enough to be helping others but one must also be presentable to win friends.

- Panchatantra, Mitrasamprapti