हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - प्राण

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां प्राणाः संस्थितिहेतवः ।
तन्निघ्नता किं न हतं रक्षता किं न रक्षितम् ॥

- हितोपदेश,मित्रलाभ

The four goals of life being Dharma, Wealth, Attachment (Kama) and liberation (via knowledge) are possible only because of the body we are in. Hence it is very important that we protect this body. If you let it waste away, then you have let everything down. If you protect the body, you would have protected the path to get everything else.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

विवेकचूडामणी - महापुरुषसंश्रयः

दुर्लभं त्रयमेवैतद्दैवानुग्रहहेतुकं ।
मनुष्यत्वं मुमुक्षुत्वं महापुरुषसंश्रयः ॥

- विवेकचूडामणी

A human birth, liberation from the cycle of re-birth and kinship of virtuous men - these three things are very hard to obtain. Only God can help you get them.

- Vivekachudamani

नैषधव्याख्या - कीर्ति

दाने तपसि शौर्ये वा यस्य न प्रथितं यशः ।
विद्यायामर्थलाभे वा मातुरुच्चार एव सः ॥

- नैषधव्याख्या

One must attain fame in any one of the following - charity, penance, bravery, education, wealth. If not, he is nothing but a discharge from his mother's uterus.

- Naishadhavyakhya

नैषधव्याख्या - कीर्ति

दाने तपसि शौर्ये वा यस्य न प्रथितं यशः ।
विद्यायामर्थलाभे वा मातुरुच्चार एव सः ॥

- नैषधव्याख्या

One must attain fame in any one of the following - charity, penance, bravery, education, wealth. If not, he is nothing but a discharge from his mother's uterus.

- Naishadhavyakhya

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - आत्मविद्या

तमःपरिवृतं वेश्म यथा दीपेन दीप्यते ।
तथा बुद्धिप्रदीपेन शक्य आत्मा निरीक्षितुम् ॥

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

Darkness in our homes is killed by lamps lighting other lamps. Just like that, knowledge will let us search our souls in the darkness of ignorance.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

वाक्यपदीय - विद्या

तत्तदुत्प्रेक्षमाणानां पुराणैरागमैर्विना ।
अनुपासितवृद्धानां विद्या नातिप्रसीदति ॥

- वाक्यपदीय

Knowledge can not be attained by a person who does not put in the hard work to understand the vedas, the puranas, the reasons behind our rituals, serve our elders. Such a person will only spend time in exaggerating facts and pretending to be well-educated.

- Vakyapadiya

विष्णुपुराण - सा विद्या या विमुक्तये

तत्कर्म यन्न बंधाय सा विद्या या विमुक्तये ।
आयासायापरं कर्म विद्यान्न शिल्पनैपुणम् ॥

- विष्णुपुराण

That which does not create attachments is a good action. All other actions only drain your energy. Only the education that liberates is the right kind. All other education is like sculpturing.

- Vishnupurana

विष्णुपुराण - ज्ञान

ज्ञानमेव परंब्रह्म ज्ञानं बंधाय कल्पते ।
ज्ञानात्मकमिदं विश्वं न ज्ञानाद्विद्यते परम् ॥

- विष्णुपुराण

Knowledge is the ultimate truth. Knowledge enables us to relate to all other things. The whole world is realized only through knowledge. There is no parallel to knowledge.

- Vishnupurana

अन्योक्तिस्तबक - विज्ञा

जडसंगेऽपिन लिप्ताः श्रीसद्भावेऽपि नोत्तरलाः ।
अंभोजकोरका इव विज्ञा विकसन्ति विश्वस्मै ॥

- अन्योक्तिस्तबक

Even when wise men stay with idiots, they will stay sane. Even when they have wealth, they will not lose their mind. Just like a lotus bud will maintain its cleanliness even amidst mire. It will stay steady even when it has so much beauty. It will bloom beautifully when sun shines on it.

- Anyoktistabaka

विवेकचूडामणि - कर्म

चित्तस्य शुद्धये कर्म न तु वस्तूपलब्धये ।
वस्तुसिद्धिविचारेण न किंचित् कर्मकोटिभिः ॥

- विवेकचूडामणि

One must do actions with self satisfaction in mind - not with a spiritual goal. Spiritual goals are attained by contemplation and not by successful completion of crores of tasks.

- Viveka Chudamani

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - सज्जनभाष

घर्मार्तं न तथा सुशीतलजलैः स्नानं मुक्तावली
    न श्रीखण्डविलेपनं सुखयति प्रत्यंगमप्यर्पितम् ।
प्रीत्यै सज्जनभाषितं प्रभवति प्रायो यथा देहिनां
    सद्युक्त्या च पुरस्कृष्टिमंत्रोपमम् ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

A tired traveler will appreciate warm talk by a virtuous man which is as attractive and knowledgeable as the hymns. Other pleasantries like fresh cold water, a pearl neck-lace, or sandalwood paste applied to the whole body will not bring as much joy as the good words of a noble man.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय - प्राज्ञः

गुणानामन्तरं प्रायस्तज्ञो वेत्ति न चापरः ।
मालतीमल्लिकामोदं घ्राणं वेत्ति न लोचनम् ॥

- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय

Only a wise man can appreciate good qualities - not every one. Only the nose can know the difference between jasmine and imitations (jaji flower) and not the eyes.

- Subhashita Ratnasamucchaya

हितोपदेश - सुहृद्भेद - प्रियवादिनः

कोऽतिभारः समर्थानां किं दूरं व्यवसायिनम् ।
को विदेशः सविद्यानां कः परः प्रियवादिनाम् ॥

- हितोपदेश - सुहृद्भेद

There is no weight that a able guy can not handle. There is no distance too long for a businessman. For a well educated man, no country will seem foreign. A person who talks sweetly will feel every one as close friend.

- Hitopadesha, Suhrudbheda

हरिहर सुभाषित - विद्या

कुरु गुरुवचो निपीतं
    भूयो भूयो विचिन्तयाधीतं ।
विद्या गुरूपदिष्टा चिर
    परिवृष्टा विभूषणं वपुषः ॥

- हरिहर सुभाषित

Whatever teacher teaches a student must imbibe. What is understood must be contemplated again and again. A well thought out education is a decoration to the body.

- Harihara Subhashita

हरिहर सुभाषित - श्रेयः

कष्टं कर्मेति दुर्मेधाः कर्तव्याद्विनिवर्तते ।
न साहसमनारभ्य श्रेयः समुपलभ्यते ॥

- हरिहर सुभाषित

Idiots give up on a task assuming it would be tough to complete it. They do not understand that fame/success can come only when you start tasks (and complete it).

- Harihara Subhashita

रामायण - अयोध्य - पण्डीतः

कच्चित् सहस्रान्मूर्खाणामेकमिच्छसि पण्डीतम् ।
पण्डीतो ह्यर्थकृच्छेषु कुर्यान्निःश्रेयसं महत् ॥

- रामायण, अयोध्य

It is better to hire one wise man than thousands of fools. It is the wise man who will help you when you are in trouble.

- Ramayana, Ayodhya

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - बुद्धिमतः

एकं हन्यान्न वा हन्यात् इषुर्मुक्तो धनुष्मता ।
बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतः सृष्टा हन्ति राष्ट्रं सनायकम् ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

An arrow may or may not kill the target. But an intelligent plot can destroy an entire nation along with its leaders.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - एकः

एकः स्वादु न भुंजीत नैकः कार्यं विचिन्तयेत् ।
एको न गच्छेदध्वानं नैकः सुप्तेषु जागृयात् ॥

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

One must not eat a savory alone. One must not deliberate on important matters alone. One must not go alone on a (dangerous)path. One must not be awake when every one else is sleeping.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - मंत्रविस्रवः

एकं विषरसो हन्ति शस्त्रेणैकश्च बाध्यते ।
सराष्ट्रं सप्रजं हन्ति राजानं मन्त्रविस्रवः ॥

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

Poison could kill one person. You could kill only one person using a weapon. But using a weapon of thought, one can destroy not just the king, but an entire kingdom including the state and its subjects.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

अत्रिसंहिता - गुरु ऋण

एकमप्यक्षरं यस्तु गुरुः शिष्ये निवेदयेत् ।
पृथिव्यां नास्ति तद्द्रव्यं यद्दत्वा ह्यनृणीभवेत् ॥

- अत्रिसंहिता

Even if the teacher has taught you just one letter he has helped you a lot. This help can not be repaid by giving any gift in this world.

- Atri Samhita

हरिहर सुभाषित - विद्या

उपदिशति लोकवृत्तं वितरति वित्तं विनोदयति चित्तं ।
उत्तंभयति महत्वं विद्या हृद्या सुराजसेवेव ॥

- हरिहर सुभाषित

Education gives you experience to face the world. It gives you money. It will give you happiness. It will bring you honor. Good education will bring you all the wealth just like serving a good king.

- Harihara Subhashita

हितोपदेश - सुहृद्भेद - अनुक्तमप्यूहति पण्डीतो

उदीरितोऽर्थः पशूनापि गृह्यते
    हयश्च नागाश्च वहन्ति देशिताः ।
अनुक्तमप्यूहति पण्डीतो जनः
    परेंगितज्ञानफला हि बुद्धयः ॥

- हितोपदेश, सुहृद्भेद

Any animal can understand instructions if they are explained elaborately. Elephants and horses can follow instructions very well. But only a wise man can understand what is not said. Perhaps, understanding other's mind is what is called as 'wisdom'

- Hitopadesha, Suhrudbheda

सभारंजन शतक - विवेक

उद्यन्तु शतमादित्या उद्यन्तु शतमिन्दवः ।
न विना विदुषां वाक्यैर्नश्यत्याभ्यंतरं तमः ॥

- सभारंजन शतक

Let hundreds of Suns rise or hundreds of moon. They still not be able to illuminate the inner darkness. Such darkness is eliminated only by preachings of a wise man.

- Sabharanjana Shataka

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - मूर्खा बहु मन्यन्ते

उच्चैरुच्चरितव्यं यत्किंचिदजानतापि पुरुषेण ।
मूर्खा बहु मन्यन्ते विदुषामपि संशयो भवति ॥

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

One must talk loudly even when talking about whatever little you know. Fools will think you are right and the wise may also be put in doubt.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - प्रतिज्ञाभंग

उक्तो भवति यः पूर्वं गुणवानिति संसदि ।
तस्य दोषो न वक्तव्यः प्रतिज्ञाभंगभीरुणा ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

Once a person is declared as virtuous in an assembly, we must not openly talk about his faults lest we would be breaking the vow taken in front of the assembly. Such matters must be dealt in person and private.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda

विवेकचूडामणि - मोक्ष

इतः कोन्वस्ति मूढात्मा यस्तु स्वार्थे प्रमाद्यति ।
दुर्लभं मानुषं देहं प्राप्य तत्रापि पौरुषम् ॥

- विवेकचूडामणि

He is indeed a fool who does not contemplate on salvation in spite of obtaining a human birth (especially being a man).

- Viveka Chudamani

महाभारत - उद्योग - विद्या

आचार्यात् पादमादत्ते पादं शिष्यः स्वमेधया ।
कालेन पादमादत्ते पादं सब्रह्मचारिभिः ॥

- महाभारत, उद्योग

A student gets one quarter of his education from his teacher. Another quarter by contemplation. Another quarter is learned over time by experience. The last quarter is learned from the fellow students.

-Mahabharata, Udyoga

मनुस्मृति - अध्यापकः

आचार्यपुत्रः शुश्रूषुः ज्ञानदो धार्मिकः शुचिः ।
आप्तः शक्तोऽर्थदः साधुः स्वोऽध्याप्या दश धर्मितः ॥

- मनुस्मृति

A teacher must always teach the following students: his teacher's son, his servants, other teachers who will teach him other skills, people who know and live by Dharma, who live clean, relatives, anyone who can analyze by thinking, who can give money in return to knowledge, a well-wisher and other knowledgeable people.

- Manu Smriti

भागवत - संसार

असंसक्तः शरीरेऽस्मिन्नमुनोत्पादितो गृहे ।
अपत्ये द्रविणे वापि कः कुर्यान्ममतां बुधः ॥

- भागवत

Wise men do not have any attachment towards their own body. How can we expect them to have any attachment towards household, children, wealth which come into existence only through the body.

- Bhagavata

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - प्रियं वचः

अलं दानेन विप्रेन्द यजनाध्ययनेन वा ।
इदं तत्स्वर्गसोपानममलं यत्प्रियं वचः ॥

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

Oh great brahmin! stop all this charity, rituals, studying and all other attempts to go to heaven. Developing a habit of talking sweetly towards all under all circumstances is the key to going to heaven.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi