अभिवनगुप्त - को भवानिति

आत्मानमनभिज्ञाय विवेक्तुं योऽन्यदिच्छति ।
तेन भौतेन किं वाच्यं प्रश्नेऽस्मिन् को भवानिति ॥

- अभिवनगुप्त

Atmanam anabhijnAya vivektum yo anyat icChati ।
tena bhautena kim vAchyam prashne asmin ko bhavAn iti ॥

- abhinavagupta

One wants to learn about the world without understanding the self. What will you expect to hear from such a person if you ask "Who are you?".

- Abhinavagupta

रामायण - अयोध्या - आयुष्य

आत्मानमनुशोच त्वं किमन्यमनुशोचसि ।
आयुस्ते क्षीयते यस्य स्थितस्य च गतस्य च ॥

- रामायण, अयोध्या

AtmAnam anushocha tvam kim anyam anyshochasi ।
AyuH te kShIyate yasya sthitasya ca gatasya ca ॥

- rAmAyaNa, ayodhyA

You should think (and feel sad) for yourself. Why do you grieve for others? Your life that gets eroded everyday irrespective of who stays with you or leaves you.

- Ramayana, Ayodhya

रामायण - अयोध्या - आयुष्य

अहोरात्राणि गच्छन्ति सर्वेषां प्राणिनामिह ।
आयूंषि क्षपयन्त्याशु ग्रीष्मे जलमिवांशवः ॥

- रामायण, अयोध्या

ahorAtrANi gacChanti sarveShAm prANinAm iha ।
AyUmShi kShapayanti Ashu grIShme jalam iva AmshavaH ॥

- rAmAyaNa, ayodhyA

Every being goes through the experience of day and night every day. Just like the sun rays sucks in water during the Greeshma month, the cycle of day and night erode our longevity.

- Ramayana, Ayodhya

महाभारत - वन - आशा

अहन्यहनि भूतानि गच्छन्तीह यमालयम् ।
शेषाः स्थावरमिच्छन्ति किमाश्चर्यमतःपरम् ॥

- महाभारत, वन

ahani ahani bhUtAni gacChanti iha yamAlayam ।
sheShaH sthAvaram icChanti kim Ashcharyam ataH param ॥

- mahabhArata, vana

Every day; day after day, people see others going to death's home. Still, the rest long for immortality. Is there any bigger irony than this?

- Mahabharata, Vana

समयोचितपद्यमालिका - वैराग्य

असारे खलु संसारे सुखभ्रांतिः शरीरिणाम् ।
लालापानमिवांगुष्ठे बालानां स्थन्यविभ्रमः ॥

- समयोचितपद्यमालिका

asAre khalu samsAre sukhabhrAntiH sharIriNAm ।
lAlApAnam ivA anguShThe bAlAnAm sthanyavibhramaH ॥

- samayochitapadyamAlikA

Every being in this world who thinks is happy with his worldly possessions is disillusioned. A baby happily sucks the thumb and licks its own saliva thinking it is mother's breast milk.

- Samayochitapadyamalika

रघुवंश - मूढचेतनः

अवगच्छति मूढचेतनः प्रियनाशं हृदि शल्यमर्पितम् ।
स्थिरधीस्तु तदेव मन्यते कुशलद्वारतया समुद्धृतम् ॥

- रघुवंश

avagacChati mUDhacetanaH priyanAsham hRudi shalyamarpitam ।
sthiradhIH tu tadeva manyate kushaladvAratayA samuddhRutam ॥

- raghuvamsha

When one loses his loved ones, a fool drowns himself in grief as if a spear went through his heart. But a stable minded person would consider the same as an opportunity to let go of attachments (and there by attain salvation) and would be unfazed by the situation.

- Raghuvamsha

रामायण मञ्जरी - अरण्य - अविवेक

अभावावधयो भावा निधनावधि जीवितम् ।
अविवेकस्त्वनवधिर्येनायं जायते भ्रमः ॥

- रामायण मञ्जरी, अरण्य

abhAvAvadhayo bhAvA nidhanAvadhi jIvitam ।
avivekaH tu anvadhiH yena jAyate bhramaH ॥

- rAmAyaNamanjarI, araNya

All materials come with a definite date by which it will get destroyed. Some early, some late. But foolishness has no such date. It lives on and on. That creates all these illusions.

- Ramayanamanjari, Aranya

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - प्रिय कायः

अनेकदोषोदुष्टोऽपि कायः कस्य न वल्लभः ।
कुर्वन्नपि व्यलीकानि यः प्रियः प्रिय एव सः ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद

aneka dOShaH duShTaH api kAyaH kasya na vallabhaH ।
kurvannapi vyalIkAni yaH priyaH priya eva saH ॥

- panchatantra, mitrabheda

Even if it has many faults and does bad things, there is no one who does not love his own body. It even puts us into trouble many times. Still, we continue to love it.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - सतां मार्गः

अनुगंतुं सतां वर्त्म यदि कृत्स्नं न शक्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यनुगंतव्यं मार्गस्थो नावसीदति ॥

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

anugantum satAm vartma yadi kRutsnam na shakyate ।
svalpamapi anugantavyam mArgastho na avasIdati ॥

- subhAShitasudhAnidhi

If one can not copy all the good habits of a noble man, he must at least emulate a few. If one is on a right track, then he will not get wasted.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

महाभारत - उद्योग - मूढचेता

अनाहूतः प्रविशति अपृष्टो बहु भाषते ।
अविश्वस्ते विश्वसिति मूढचेता नराधमः ॥

- महाभारत, उद्योग

anAhUtaH pravishati apRuShTo bahu bhAShate ।
avishvaste vishvasiti mUDhachetA narAdhamaH ॥

- mahAbhArata, udyoga

A wretched fool can be recognized by the following three characteristics - he will go into a meeting uninvited, he will speak a lot even when not asked to and he will put his faith in a person who should not be believed.

- Mahbharata, Udyoga

रामायण - उत्तरकाण्ड - तपः

अध्रुवे हि शरीरे यो न करोति तपोऽर्जनम् ।
स पश्चात्ताप्यते मूढो मृतो दृष्ट्वात्मनो गतिम् ॥

- रामायण, उत्तरकाण्ड

adhruve hi sharIre yo na karoti tapOrjanam ।
sa pashcAttApyate mUDho mRuto dRuShTvA Atmano gatim ॥

- rAmayana, araNyakANDa

This is a destructible body that we live in. So, we must do our best to attain good karma by doing a lot of penance. If not, you will look upon yourself as a fool in your afterlife.

- Ramayana, Aranya

सुभाषितरत्न समुच्चय - धन

अर्थी करोति दैन्यं लब्धार्थो गर्वमपरितोषं च ।
नष्टधनोऽस्ति सशोकः सुखमास्ते निःस्पृहः पुरुषः ॥

- सुभाषितरत्न समुच्चय - धन

arthI karoti dainyam lubdhArthI garvam aparitoSham ca ।
naShTa dhano asti sashokaH sukham Aste niHspRuhaH purShaH ॥

- subhaShitaratna samucchaya

Those who want wealth and not have it will make themselves pitiable in order to get it from others. Those who have wealth become restless and unhappy because they want more. Those who lose wealth will drown in grief. If you want to be happy, one must not long for wealth.

- Subhashitaratna Samucchaya

अत्यंतमतिमेधावी

अत्यंतमतिमेधावी त्रयाणां एकमश्नुते ।
अल्पायुर्वा दरिद्रो वा ह्यनपत्यो न संशयः ॥

atyanta medhAvI trayANAm ekamashnute ।
alpAyuH vA daridraH vA hi anapatyaH na samshayaH ॥

A very highly intellectual scholar will have at least one of the below three misfortunes - short life, or poverty, or childless. Fate some how ensures that his wisdom is not carried forward to future generations.

विद्याधनम्

अतस्करकरग्राह्यमराजकवशंवदम् ।
अदायादविभागार्हं धनमार्जय सुस्थिरम् ॥

ataskara karagrAhyam arAjakavashamvadam ।
adAyAdavibhAga arham dhanam Arjaya susthiram ॥

Put your efforts in accumulating wealth that can not be stolen by thieves, confiscated by government (king), or split among siblings like ancestral property. There is only one such wealth - Education.

अचिंतैव माहौषधिः

अकाण्डपातजातानामार्द्राणां मर्मभेदिनां ।
गाढशोकप्रहाराणामचिंतैव माहौषधिः ॥

akANDapAtajAtAnAm ArdrANAm marmabhedinAM ।
gADhashoka prahArANAm achintaiva mahA auShadhiH ॥

Not thinking about them is the best medicine for grief like - babies that died while taking birth, fresh wounds causing great pain (body shattering pain), any other series of great grief.

यशस्तिलक - ज्ञान क्रिया

हतं ज्ञानं क्रियाशून्यं हता चाज्ञानिनः क्रिया ।
धावन्नप्यन्धको नष्टः पश्यन्नपि च पङ्गुकः ॥

- यशस्तिलक - ज्ञान क्रिया

hataM jnAnaM kriyAshUnyaM hatA ca ajnAninaH kriyA ।
dhavannapi andhako naShTaH pashyannapi ca pangukaH ॥

- yashastilaka

Knowledge is lost when not acted up on. Action without knowledge is meaningless. Even if a blind man can run fast, it will only lead to his loss. Even if a cripple can see, it is of no use.

- Yashastilaka

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - तेज

हस्ति स्थूलतरः स चांकुशवशः किं हस्तिमात्रोंऽकुशः
दीपे प्रज्वलिते प्रणश्यति तमः किं दीपमात्रं तमः ।
वज्रेणापि हताः पतन्ति गिरयः किं वज्रमात्रो गिरिः
तेजो यस्य विराजते स बलवान् स्थूलेषु कः प्रत्ययः ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद

hasti sthUlataraH sa chAnkushavashaH kim hasti mAtraH ankushaH
dIpe prajvalite praNashyati tamaH kim dIpamAtram tamaH ।
vajreNa api hatAH patanti girayaH kim vajra mAtraH giriH
tejaH yasya virAjate sa balavAn sthUleShu kaH pratyayaH ॥

- panchatantra, mitrabheda

An elephant is very big. But is controlled by a very small hook. Are they both of the same size? A small lamp destroys mighty darkness. Are they both of same size? A diamond can bring down a mountain. Are they both of the same size? He who has courage will become a winner. What has size got to with success?

- Panchatantra, Mitrabedha

पञ्चतंत्र - ककोलूकीय - बुद्धिमान्

सुहृद्बिराप्तैरसकृद्विचारितं
    स्वयं च बुद्ध्या प्रविचारिताश्रयम् ।
करोति कार्यं खलु यः स बुद्धिमान्
    स एव लक्ष्म्या यशसां च भाजनम् ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र - ककोलूकीय

suhRudbhiH AptairasakRut vichAritam
    svayaM ca buddhyA pravichAritAshrayam ।
karoti kAryaM khalu yaH sa buddhimAn
    sa eva lakShmyA yashasAM ca bhAjanam ॥

- panchatantra, kakolUkiya

When one does any work after listening to friends and well wishers and does his own thinking - he is bound to be successful, accumulate wealth and become famous.

- Panchatantra, Kakolukiya

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - सुविचार्य यत्कृतं

सुजीर्णमन्नं सुविचक्षणः सुतः
    सुशासिता स्त्री नृपतिः सुसेवितः ।
सुचिंत्य चोक्तं सुविचार्य यत्कृतं
    सुदीर्घकाले न हि याति विक्रियाम् ॥

- हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ

sujIrNamannaM suvichakShanaH sutaH
     sushAsitA strI nRupatiH susevitaH ।
suchintya choktam suvichArya yatkRutam
    sudIrghakAle na hi yAti vikriyAm ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

The following are of great value and their value does not erode over time: well digested food, well brought up son, well cultured woman, well served king, well thought speech, well deliberated action.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

महाभारत - उद्योग - विद्यार्थी

सुखार्थिनः कुतो विद्या नास्ति विद्यार्थिनः सुखम् ।
सुखार्थी वा त्यजेद्विद्यां विद्यार्थी वा त्यजेत् सुखम् ॥

- महाभारत, उद्योग

sukhArthinaH kuto vidyA nAsti vidyArthinaH sukham ।
sukhArthI vA tyajet vidyA vidyArthI vA tyajet sukham ॥

- mahabharata, udyoga

Where is education (wisdom) for pleasure seekers? There is no pleasure for those who seek knowledge. If you are a pelasure seeker, you must give up any quest for knowledge and vice-versa.

- Mahabharata, Udyoga

अनर्घराघव - गुरुः

स्थानेषु शिष्यनिवहैर्विनियुज्यमाना
    विद्या गुरुं हि गुणवत्तरमातनोति ।
आदाय शुक्तिषु बलाहकविप्रकीर्णैः
    रत्नाकरो भवति वारिभिरंबुराशिः ॥

- अनर्घराघव

sthAneShu shiShyanivahaiH viniyujyamAnA
    vidyA guruM hi guNavattaram Atanoti ।
AdAya shuktiShu balAhakaviprakIrNaiH
    ratnAkaro bhavati vAribhiH aMburAshiH ॥

- anargharAghava

If the students make good use of the education they got from the teacher, the teacher has to be given credit for it. It only shows his greatness. If a drop of pure water from the clouds falls as rain into the sea, it is up to the sea to see that it reaches an oyster and becomes a pearl. Only because the sea is able to do this, he is also called a gem-maker.

- Anargharaghava

भागवत - नामव्याहरणं

सर्वेषामप्यघवतामिदमेव सुनिष्कृतम् ।
नामव्याहरणं विष्णोर्यतस्तद्विषया मतिः ॥

- भागवत

sarveShAM api aghavatAm idam eva suniShkRutaM ।
nAmavyAharaNam viShNoH yatasti viShayA matiH ॥

- bhAgavata

Of all the ways of making peace, a sinner must resort to chanting Vishnu's name as much as possible. It is then that his mind gets clarified since he would be thinking about only Him.

- Bhagavata

सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय - सर्वनाशे समुत्पन्ने

सर्वनाशे समुत्पन्ने ह्यर्धं त्यजति पण्डितः ।
अर्धेन कुरुते कार्यं सर्वनाशः सदुःसहः ॥

- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय

sarvanAshe samutpanne hi ardhaM tyajati paNDitaH ।
ardhena kurute kAryaM sarvanAshaH saduH sahaH ॥

- subhAShitaratnasamuchchaya

When wise men are faced with big trouble (total destruction) then they give up half of their belongings - instead of trying to protect all. They will work with only half and get their work done. It is very difficult to protect your entire wealth in the face of destruction.

- Subhashitaratnasamucchaya

हितोपदेश - विद्या

सर्वद्रव्येषु विद्यैव द्रव्यमाहुरनुत्तमम् ।
अहार्यत्वादनर्घ्यत्वादक्षयत्वाच्च सर्वदा ॥

- हितोपदेश

sarva dravyeShu vidyA eva dravyam Ahuran uttamam ।
ahAryatvAt anarghyatvAt akShayatvAt ca sarvadA ॥

- hitopadesha

Among all valuables, it is said that education is most important because it can not be stolen, it does not depreciate, it does not reduce over time.

- Hitopadesha

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - वाक्क्षतम्

संरोहति शरैर्विद्धं वरं परशुना हतम् ।
वाचा दुरुक्तं भीभत्सं न संरोहति वाक्क्षतम् ॥

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

saMrohati sharaiH viddhaM varaM parashunA hatam ।
vAchA duruktaM bhIbhatsaM na saMrohati vAk kShatam ॥

- subhAShitasudhAnidhi

If a person is hit by an arrow or hurt by an axe; he will survive to get better. But if a person is hurt by harsh words, then he will never recover from the anguish.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

हितोपदेश - नीचः

संगमयति विद्यैव नीचगापि नरं सरित् ।
समुद्रमपि दुर्दशं नृपं भाग्यमतः परम् ॥

- हितोपदेश

sangamayati vidyA iva nIchagApi naraM sarit ।
samudramapi durdashaM nRupaM bhAgyamataH param ॥

- hitopadesha

Just like water of any river flows lower and lower towards the sea, a rogue even if he is well educated will seek a bad king to serve. The result of both actions is the same - they get destroyed (both river and the rogue).

- Hitopadesha

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रसंप्राप्ति - विबुधा

सकृदपि दृष्ट्वा विबुधा जानन्ति सारतां तस्य ।
हस्ततुलयापि निपुणाः पलप्रमाणं विजानन्ति ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रसंप्राप्ति

sakRudapi dRuShTvA vibudhA jAnanti sAratAM tasya ।
hastatulayApi nipuNAH palapramANaM vijAnanti ॥

- panchatantra, mitrasamprApti

Wise men can know the character of a person by meeting him only once. Just like skilled traders can measure minute weights just by their hands.

- Panchatantra, Mitrasamprapti

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - पिशुनः

षट्कर्णो भिद्यते मंत्रश्चतुष्कर्णः स्थिरो भवेत् ।
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन षट्कर्णं वर्जयेत्सुधीः ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

ShaTkarNaH bhidyate mantraH catuShkarNaH sthiro bhavet ।
tasmAt sarva prayatnena ShaTkarNaM varjayet sudhIH ॥

- panchatantra, mitrabheda

If a secret falls over six ears, it will be spread like wild fire. If it falls on just four ears, it will become more strong. So a wise man must use all his resources to avoid his secrets falling over six ears. If you confide in a friend he will not betray you because, he knows that if the secret becomes public you will know that he has failed you. If you tell it more than one person, they will not keep it to themselves because both of them knows that you will have no idea who spread it.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda