महाभारत - अरण्य - शोक

शोकस्थानसहस्राणि दुःखस्थानशतानि च ।
दिवसे दिवसे मूढमाविशन्ति न पण्डितम् ॥

- महाभारत, अरण्य

shoka sthAna sahasrANi duHkha sthAna shatAni ca ।
divase divase mUDham Avishanti na paNDitam ॥

- mahAbhArata, araNya

Everyday there are thousand reasons to feel sad, hundred reasons to worry. Such things only bother fools; not wise men.

- Mahabharata, Aranya

हितोपदेश - सुहृद्भेद - मेधावी

शीतवातातपक्लेशान् सहंते ये पराश्रिताः ।
तदंशेनापि मेधावी तपस्तप्त्वा सुखी भवेत् ॥

- हितोपदेश, सुहृद्भेद

shIta vAta Atapa kleshAn sahante ye parAshritAH ।
tadaMshenApi medhAvI tapas taptvA sukhI bhavet ॥

- hitopadesha, suhRudbheda

A person may face a lot of miseries when he is dependent on others - cold, wind and heat. If he is willing to even withstand a fraction of that discomfort and perform penances, he can be very happy and independent.

- Hitopadesha, Suhrudbheda

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - शास्त्राणि

शास्त्राण्यधीत्यापि भवन्ति मूर्खाः
    यस्तु क्रियावान् पुरुषः स विद्वान् ।
सुचिन्तितं औषधमातुराणां
    न नाममात्रेण करोत्यरोगम् ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

shAstrANi adhItyApi bhavanti mUrkhAH
    yastu kriyAvAn puruShaH sa vidvAn ।
suchintitam auShadha mAturANAm
    na nAmamAtreNa karoti arogam ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

It is not enough to know what is written in the scriptures. Only he will be called wise who puts those learnings into action. Even a very well thought out medicine will not cure the illness by just uttering its name.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

मालविकाग्निमित्र - गुरुः

श्लिष्टा क्रिया कस्यचिदात्मसंस्था
    संक्रान्तिरन्यस्य विशेषयुक्ता ।
यस्योभयं साधु स शिक्षकाणां
    धुरि प्रतिष्ठापयितव्य एव ॥

- मालविकाग्निमित्र

shliShTA kriyA kasyachid AtmasaMsthA
    sankrAntiH anyasya visheShayuktA ।
yasya ubhayam sAdhu sa shikShaNAm
     dhuri pratiShThApayitavya eva ॥

- mAlavikAgnimitra

Some people can perform particular tasks very well. Some other people can teach very well but may not perform the task that well. If a person can do both, then he must be treated as the best of the teachers.

- Malavikagnimitra

विवेकचूडामणि - शब्दजाल

शब्दजालं महारण्यं चित्तभ्रमणकारणम् ।
अतः प्रयत्नाज्ज्ञातव्यं तत्त्वज्ञात्तत्त्वमात्मनः ॥

- विवेकचूडामणि

shabdajAlaM mahAraNyaM citta bhramaNa kAraNam ।
ataH prayatnAt jnAtavyam tattvajnAt tattvam AtmanaH ॥

- vivekachUDAmaNi

Words are like a forest. Our mind gets lost wandering about it. Therefore one must guard against such possibility. For that, one has to study about inner conscience from a wise master.

- Vivekachudamani

मनुस्मृति - स्त्रीरत्न

श्रद्धधानः शुभां विद्यामाददीतावरादपि ।
अंत्यादपि परं धर्मं स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलादपि ॥

- मनुस्मृति

shraddhadhAnaH shubhAM vidyAm AdadIta avarAdapi ।
antyAdapi paraM dharmaM strIratnaM duShkulAdapi ॥

- manusmriti

One must have good dedication even when learning from a person younger than him. One must be open to learn subtleties of Dharma from any one. One should bring a virtuous lady into home (as daughter-in-law) even if she is from bad family.

- Manu Smriti

सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार - विवेकः

विवेकः सह संयत्या विनयो विद्यया सह ।
प्रभुत्वं प्रश्रयोपेतं चिह्नमेतन्महात्मनाम् ॥

- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार

vivekaH saha saMyatyA vinayo vidyayA saha ।
prabhutvaM prashrayopetaM chihnam etat mahAtmanAm ॥

- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra

Intelligence must be accompanied by control; Education by humility; power by simplicity - this is how you recognise a great man.

- Subhashitaratnabhandagara

हितोपदेश - सन्धि - मूढः

विषमां हि दशां प्राप्य दैवं गर्हयते नरः ।
आत्मनः कर्मदोषांस्तु नैव जानात्यपण्डितः ॥

- हितोपदेश, सन्धि

viShamAM hi dashAM prApya daivaM garhayate naraH ।
AtmanaH karmadoShAmstu naiva jAnAti apaNDitaH ॥

- hitopadesha, sandhi

When a fool is in trouble, he will start blaming fate. A fool will never understand that his present state is the result of his past actions.

- Hitopadesha

कुवलयानन्द - विद्वान्

विद्वानेव विजानाति विद्वज्जनपरिश्रमम् ।
न हि वंध्या विजानाति गुर्वीं प्रसववेदनाम् ॥

- कुवलयानन्द

vidvAneva vijAnAti vidvajjana parishramam ।
na hi vandhyA vijAnAti gurvIm prasavavedanAm ॥

- kuvalayAnanda

Only a wise man will be able to appreciate another wise man's efforts. Only a mother would know about the labour pain - not any body else.

- Kuvalayananda

सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार - विद्वान् सर्वत्र पूज्यते

विद्वत्वं च नृपत्वं च नैव तुल्यं कदाचन ।
स्वदेशे पूज्यते राजा विद्वान् सर्वत्र पूज्यते ॥

- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार

vidvatvaM ca nRupatvaM ca naiva tulyaM kadAchana ।
svadeshe pUjyate rAjA vidvAn sarvatra pUjyate ॥

- subhaShitaratnabhANDAgAra

One must never compare intellectual wealth and royalty. A king is respected only in his kingdom while a scholar is respected all over the world.

- Subhashitaratnabhandagara

हितोपदेश - विद्या विनय

विद्या ददाति विनयं विनयाददातिपात्रतां ।
पात्रत्वाद्धनमाप्नोति धनाद्धर्मं ततः सुखम् ॥

- हितोपदेश

vidyA dadAti vinayaM vinaya dadAti pAtratAm ।
pAtratvAt dhanamApnoti dhanAt dharmam tatH sukham ॥

- hitopadesha

Education brings about humility in a person. Humility will make him eligible for many activities. Such activities will bring him wealth. From wealth he will be able to follow Dharma and hence attain happiness.

- Hitopadesha

हरिहर सुभाषित - विद्या विनय

विद्याविनयोपेता हरति न चेतांसि कस्य मनुजस्य ।
मणिकाञ्चनसंयोगो जनयति लोकस्य लोचनानंदम् ॥

- हरिहर सुभाषित

vidyA vinayopetA harati na chetAmsi kasya manujasya ।
maNi kAnchana samyogo janayati lokasya lochana anandam ॥

- hariharasubhAShita

Who can restrain themselves from liking a well educated man who is also humble? A gem embedded in gold is very pleasing for the eyes world over.

- Harihara Subhashitha

उत्तररामचरित - प्राज्ञजडयोः भेदः

वितरति गुरुः प्राज्ञे विद्यां यथैव तथा जडे
    न तु खलु तयोर्ज्ञाने शक्तिं करोत्यपहन्ति वा ।
भवति हि पुनर्भूयान् भेदः फलं प्रति तद्यथा
    प्रभवति शुचिर्बिंबग्राहे मणिर्न मृदादयः ॥

- उत्तररामचरित

vitarati guruH prAjne vidyAM yathaiva tathA jaDe
    na tu khalu tayoH jnAne shakti karoti apahanti vA ।
bhavati hi punaH bhUyAn bhedaH phalaM prati tad yathA
    prabhavati shuchiH bimbagrAhe mRut AdayaH ॥

- uttararAmacharita

A teacher teaches his lessons to a intelligent student just like he does to a dull one. The lessons themselves do not have the ability to make or break one's fortune. However we see a big difference in the way the same lessons impact either students. It is the same difference we see in the ability to reflect radiance between a gem (crystal) and mud.

- Uttararamacharita

हितोपदश - विद्या

विद्या शस्त्रस्य शास्त्रस्य द्वे विद्ये प्रतिपत्तये ।
आद्या हास्याय वृद्धत्वे द्वितीयाद्रियते सदा ॥

- हितोपदश

vidyA shastrasya shAstrasya dve vidye pratipattaye ।
AdyA hAsyasya vRiddhatve dvitIyAdriyate sdA ॥

- hitopadesha

The two kinds of education - scriptures and weapons; both are well respected. But as one gets old, his mastery on weapons becomes a joke and is laughed about. But his mastery on scriptures only becomes sharper and is respected more.

- Hitopadesha

मनुस्मृति - विद्या

वित्तं बंधुर्वयः कर्म विद्या भवति पञ्चमी ।
एतानि मान्यस्थानानि गरीयो यद्यदुत्तरम् ॥

- मनुस्मृति

vittaM bandhuH vayaH karma vidyA bhavati panchamI ।
etAni mAnya sthAnAni garIyo yad yad uttaram ॥

- manusmRiti

Money, relatives or friends, youth, actions and education - all these five make other people respect you. Also, they are arranged in their increasing order of influence.

- Manu Smriti

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - वाक्सायका

वाक्सायका वदनान्निष्पतन्ति
    यैराहतः शोचति रात्र्यहानि ।
परस्परं मर्मसु ते पतन्ति
    तान् पण्डितो नापसृजेत्परेषु ॥

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

vAk sayakA vadanAt niShpatanti
    yaiH arAhataH shocati ।
parasparam marmasu te patanti
     tAn paNdito na apasRujet pareShu ॥

- subhaShitasudhAnidhi

Words are like arrows falling (shot) off our mouth. One who is hit by that arrow will suffer night and day. Usually people hit other where they are most vulnerable. Wise men will not use such tactics on others since they do not wish to hurt others.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रसंप्राप्ति - बुद्धिमान्

व्यसनेष्वेव सर्वेषु यस्य बुद्धिर्न हीयते ।
स तेषां पारमभ्येति तत्प्रभावादसंशयम् ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रसंप्राप्ति

vyasaneShu eva sarveShu yasya buddhiH na hIyate ।
sa teShAM param abhyeti tat prabhAvAt asaMshayam ॥

- panchatantra, mitrasamprApti

If a man can hold his nerve and think rationally even when in trouble, then such a man will easily overcome the trouble using that very quality (rational thinking under pressure).

- Panchantantra, Mitrasamprapti

हितोपदेश - विग्रह - शास्त्रज्ञ

यो यत्र कुशलो कार्ये तं तत्र विनियोजयेत् ।
कर्मस्वधृष्टकर्मा यच्छास्त्रज्ञोपि विमुह्यति ॥

- हितोपदेश, विग्रह

yo yatra kushalo kArye taM tatra viniyojayet ।
karmasu adhRuShTakarmA yat ca shAstrajnaH api vimuhyati ॥

- hitopadesha, vigraha

One must allocate work to people based on their skills. One must not try to do all work himself. Even a well educated man may get lost if he tries to do something that he knows nothing about.

- Hitopadesha, Vigraha

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - पण्डितः

यो न वेत्ति गुणान्यस्य न तं सेवेत पण्डितः ।
न हि तस्मात्फलं किंचित्सुकृष्णादूषरादिव ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

yo na vetti guNAnyasya na taM seveta paNDitaH ।
na hi tasmAt phalam kinchit sukRuShnAt USharAt iva ॥

- panchatantra, mitrabedha

A wise man must not serve a master who does not appreciate his qualities. It is just like ploughing hard a land with saline soil (desert). No result will come of it.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda

पञ्चतंत्र - अपरीक्षितकारक - बुद्धिमान्

यः सततं परिपृच्छति शृणोति संधारयत्यनिशं ।
तस्य दिवाकरकिरणैर्नलिनीव विवर्धते बुद्धिः ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, अपरीक्षितकारक

yaH satataM paripRicChati shRiNoti saMdhArayti anishaM ।
tasya divAkarakiranaiH nilini iva vivardhate buddhiH ॥

- panchatantra, aparIkShitakAraka

He will become a wise man who will keep asking questions, listens to answers and contemplates on each of them. His knowledge will bloom like a lotus when sun rays fall on it.

- Panchatantra, Aparikshitakaraka

महाभारत - सभा - स्वयं प्रज्ञा

यस्य नास्ति स्वयं प्रज्ञा केवलं तु बहुश्रुतः ।
न स जानाति शास्त्रार्थं दर्वी सूपरसानिव ॥

- महाभारत, सभा

yasya nAsti svayaM prajnA kevalaM tu bahushrutaH ।
na sa jAnAti shAstra arthaM darvI sUparasAn iva ॥

- mahAbhArata, sabhA

One can not be called a wise man if he does not understand himself. He can only be called well read. He can not understand the deeper meanings of any scriptures - just like the spoon does not know the taste of the dish.

- Mahabharatha, Sabha

हितोपदेश - विग्रह - स्वयं प्रज्ञा

यस्य नास्ति स्वयं प्रज्ञा शास्त्रं तस्य करोति किं ।
लोचनाभ्यां विहीनस्य दर्पणः किं करिष्यति ॥

- हितोपदेश, विग्र

yasya nAsti svayaM prajnA shAstraM tasya karoti kim ।
lochanAbhyAM vihInasya darpaNaH kiM kariShyati ॥

- hitopadesha, vigraha

The scriptures can not help anyone who does not himself. What good is a mirror for one who has no eyes.

- Hitopadesha, Vigraha

समयोचित पद्यमालिका - तैलबिंदुरिवांभसि

यस्तु संचरते देशान् यस्तु सेवेत पण्डितान् ।
तस्य विस्तारिता बुद्धिः तैलबिंदुरिवांभसि ॥

- समयोचित  पद्यमालिका

yastu sancarate deshAn yastu seveta paNDitAn ।
tasya vistAritA buddhiH taila binduH iva Ambhasi ॥

- samayochita padyamAlikA

He who wanders various countries and serves wise men there will expand his knowledge just like oil on water.

- Samayochita Padyamalika

महाभारत - उद्योग - पण्डित

यस्य कृत्यं न विघ्नन्ति शीतमुष्णं भयं रतिः ।
समृद्धिरसमृद्धिर्वा स वै पण्डित उच्यते ॥

- महाभारत, उद्योग

yasya kRityaM na vighnanti shItam uShNam bhayaM ratiH ।
samRiddhi asamRiddhiH sa vai paNDita uchyate ॥

- mahAbhAratha, udyoga

Only he whose work can not be hindered by cold, heat, fear, lust, affluence or poverty is called a wise man.

- Mahabharatha, Udyoga

भागवत - ध्रुवाणि

यदध्रुवस्य देहस्य सानुबंधस्य दुर्मतिः ।
ध्रुवाणि मन्यते मोहाद् गृहक्षेत्रवसूनि च ॥

- भागवत

yad adhruvasya dehasya sa anubandhasya durmatiH ।
dhruvANi manyate mohAd gRiha kShetra vasUni ca ॥

- bhAgavata

Only an idiot would treat destroyable like house, site or sons with great attachment. He does not know all these are attached to him only through the body which itself is very destructible.

- Bhagavata

मनुस्मृति - गुरु

यथा खनन् खनित्रेण नरो वार्यधिगच्छति ।
तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति ॥

- मनुस्मृति

yathA khanan kanitreNa naro vAryadhigacChati ।
tathA gurugatAM vidyAM shushShuH adhigacChati ॥

- manu smRiti

When you take a pickax and dig earth for long, you get your reward - water. If you do similar hard work at serving at teacher, you get wisdom.

- Manu Smriti

मनुस्मृति - ज्ञान

यथा यथा हि पुरुषः शास्त्रं समधिगच्छति ।
तथा तथा विजानाति विज्ञानां चास्य रोचते ॥

- मनुस्मृति

yathA yathA hi puruShaH shAstraM samadhigacchati ।
tathA tathA vijAnAti vijnAnAM ca asya rocate ॥

- manu smRuti

As and when a person reads (and understands) scriptures, his knowledge expands; so does his quest for more.

- Manu Smriti

वाक्यपदीय - तर्क

यत्नेनानुमितोऽप्यर्थः कुशलैरनुमातृभिः ।
अभियुक्ततरैरन्यैरन्यथैवोपपाद्यते ॥

- वाक्यपदीय

yatena anumitaH api arthaH kushalaiH anumAtRubhiH ।
abhiyuktataraiH anyaiH anyatha eva upapAdyate ॥

- vAkyapadIya, tarka

Many logicians may have used lots of points and proved a point. But that does not stop more intelligent people coming along and using more logic points and prove it wrong. The same is true for them also. So, matters of faith are never proved by logic.

- Vakyapadiya

महाभारत - धर्म

यत् श्रुतं न विरागाय न धर्माय न शान्तये ।
सुबद्धमपि शब्देन काकवाशितमेव तत् ॥

- महाभारत

yat shrutam na virAgAya na dharmAya na shAntaye ।
subuddhamapi shabdena kAkavAshitameva tat ॥

- mahabharatha

Any thing that is heard must help us any one of these - detachment, Dharma or peace. If not, it is same as a crow blabbering no matter how sweetly it is composed.

- Mahabharatha

सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय - विद्वज्जन अभाव

यत्र विद्वज्जनो नास्ति श्लाघ्यस्तत्राल्पधीरपि ।
निरस्तपादपे देशे एरण्डोऽपि द्रुमायते ॥

- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय

Even a little knowledgeable people are regarded with high respect in places which does not have any wise men. In a dry and arid place even castor-oil plants are treated as if they are great trees.

- Subhashita Ratnasamuchchaya

ध्वन्यालोक - तृष्णा

यच्च कामसुखं लोके यच्च दिव्यं महत् सुखम् ।
तृष्णाक्षयसुखस्यैते नार्हतः षोडशीं कलाम् ॥

- ध्वन्यालोक

The happiness got by lust or any transcendental experience is not even 16th part of the happiness that comes from lack of desire.

- Dhvanyaloka