रामायण - अयोध्या - अनित्यता

सर्वे क्षयान्ता निचयाः पतनांताः समुच्छ्रयाः ।
संयोगा विप्रयोगांता मरणांतं च जीवितम् ॥

- रामायण, अयोध्या

sarve kShayantA nichayAH patanAntAH samut shrayAH ।
samyogA viprayogAntA maraNAntam cha jIvitam ॥

- rAmAyaNa, ayodhyA

Any accumulated wealth can dissolve in due time. Any position of power attained may come to an end. All the relations (children, wife) come to an end in death. There is nothing in this world that is permanent.

- Ramayana, Ayodhya

भागवत - अध्यात्म

स्वर्णं यथा ग्रावसु हेमकारः
    क्षेत्रेषु योगैस्तदभिज्ञ आप्नुयात् ।
क्षेत्रेषु देहेषु तथात्मयोगैः
    अध्यात्मविद् ब्रह्मगतिं लभेत ॥

- भागवत

svarNam yathA grAvasu hemakAraH
    kShetreShu yogaiH tadabhijna ApnuyAt ।
kShetreShu deheShu tathAtmayogaiH
    AdhyAtmavit brahmagatiM labheta ॥

- bhAgavata

Just like a gold hunter can get gold from barren earth with his knowledge and perseverance, one must make use of this body and persevere with spirituality and attain salvation.

- Bhagavata

किरातार्जुनीय - इंद्रियाणि

श्रुतमप्यधिगम्य ये रिपून् विनयन्ते न शरीरजन्मनः ।
जनयन्त्यचिराय संपदां अयशस्ते खलु चापलाश्रयम् ॥

- किरातार्जुनीय

shrutamapi adhigamya ye ripUn vinayante na sharIra janmanaH ।
janayanti achirAya sampadAm ayashaH te khalu chapalAshrayam ॥

- kirAtArjunIya

If a person is very well read and yet not able to conquer the enemies with in his own body - the senses, then he shall get the ill fame as a person who lost all his wealth. Indulging in sensory pleasures will deplete one of all his wealth and underscore the fact that such pleasures are all temporary.

- Kiratarjuniya

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - लोभ

शुचिर्बालतृणाहारो विदूरक्रमणक्षमः ।
लुब्धकाद्गीतलोभेन मृगो मृगयते वधम् ॥

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

shuchiH bAlatRuNAhAro vidUra kramaNakShamaH ।
lubdhakAt gItalobhena mRugo mRugayate vadham ॥

- subhAShitasudhAnidhi

A deer almost leads a saintly life; clean, eating only young grass, capable of running long distance. But it gets drawn (almost intoxicated) towards the song of a hunter and get killed as a result.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

महाभारत - उद्योग - शान्ति

शान्तिखड्गः करे यस्य दुर्जनः किं करिष्यति ।
अतृणे पतितो वह्निः स्वयमेवोपशाम्यति ॥

-महाभारत, उद्योग

shAnti khadgaH kare yasya durjanaH kim kariShyati ।
atRuNe patito vahniH svayam eva upashAmyate ॥

- mahAbhArata, udyoga

What harm can a rogue inflict on someone who is armed with the sword of patience? When a fire falls over a barren land with no grass, it dies by itself. A wicked man's anger often feeds on the victim's impatience and reciprocation.

- Mahabharata, Udyoga, Patience

विवेकचूडामणि - शरीर

शरीर पोषणार्थि सन् यु आत्मानं दिदृक्षति ।
ग्राहं दारुधिया धृत्वा नदीं तुर्तुं स गच्छति ॥

-विवेकचूडामणि

sharIra poShaNArthi san yu AtmAnam didRukShati ।
grAhaM dArudhiyA dhRutvA nadIm turtum sa gacChati ॥

- vivekachUDAmaNi

Some people are interested in nurturing their body well assuming that it make their soul also happy. Such people are kidding themselves; trying to cross a river on a crocodile taking that to be a log.

- Vivekachudamani

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - शरीर

शरीरस्य गुणानां च दूरमत्यंतमंतरम् ।
शरीरं क्षणविध्वंसि कल्पांतस्थायिनो गुणाः ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

sharIrasya guNAnAm cha dUram atyantam antaraM ।
sharIram kShaNa vidhvamsi kalpAnta sthAyino guNAH ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

There is a lot of difference between body and the qualities it possesses. The body is short lived. But its nature does not die till the end of time. People still talk about the qualities (good or bad) of people long after they are dead.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

महाभारत - शान्ति

शमार्थं सर्वशास्त्राणि विहितानि मनीषिभिः ।
स एव सर्वशास्त्रज्ञः यस्य शांतं मनः सदा ॥

-महाभारत

shamArtham sarva shAstrANi vihitAni manIShibhiH ।
sa eva sarva shAstrajnaH yasya shAntam manaH sadA ॥

- mahAbhArata

All scriptures are written with the sole intention of helping one find inner peace. He who has found and maintained inner tranquility can thus be called a scholar who knows all scriptures.

- Mahabharata

विवेकचूडामणि - इंद्रियाणि

शब्दादिभिः पंचभिरेव पंचपंचत्वमापुः स्वगुणेन बद्धाः ।
कुरंग मातंग पतंग मीन भृंगा नरः पंचभिरंचितः किम् ॥

- विवेकचूडामणि

shabdAdibhiH panchabhiH eva pancha panchatvam ApuH svaguNena baddhAH ।
kuranga mAtanga patanga mIna bhRungA naraH panchabhiranchitaH kim ॥

- vivekachUDAmaNi

The five senses are sound, touch, sight, taste and smell. Animals that are slaves of any one of them often pay the price by their life. A deer follows the sound (of its calf) and becomes a prey. An elephant is enslaved by its vulnerability of touch behind the head. A moth is driven to the flame by its sight. A fish is baited by its longing for taste. A bee loses its life when it gets trapped in the lotus which attracted it by smell. What can now be told of a man who is driven by all the five senses?

- Vivekachudamani

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - इन्द्रियाणि

शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गंधश्च पञ्चमः ।
एकैकमलमेतेषां विनाशप्रतिपत्तये ॥

-सुभाषितसुधानिधि

shabdaH sparshaH cha rUpam cha rasaH gandhaH cha panchamaH ।
ekaikam alam eteShAm vinAsha pratipattaye ॥

- subhAShitasudhAnidhi

Sound, touch, form (beauty), taste and smell are the five senses. Any one of them alone is capable of destroying you completely.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

अप्पय्य दीक्षितस्य वैराग्य शतक - विषयानि

विषयाननुकूलयितुं विषयिणि हृदये विधीयतां यत्नः ।
दृशि देयमौषधं को दृश्ये दत्त्वा सुखी भवति ॥

-अप्पय्य दीक्षितस्य वैराग्य शतक

viShayAn anukUlayitum viShayiNi hRudaye vidhIyatAm yatnaH ।
dRushi deyam auShadham ko dRushye dattvA sukhI bhavati ॥

- appayya dIkShitasya vairAgya shataka

If one intends to make the external stimuli pleasant then he has to look inwards and condition the receptors in his heart. If the mind is clean and conditioned, it will not get anxious every time the eyes are attracted to something. Who can be happy if the medicine given to the eyes is applied to the objects the eye sees?

- Appayya Dikshit's Vairagya Shataka

वृद्धचाणक्य - विषकृमिन्यायेन जीवाम्यहम्

विप्रास्मिन्नगरे महान् कथय कस्तालद्रुमाणां गणः
को दाता, रजको ददाति वसनं प्रातर्गृहीत्वा निशि ।
को दक्षः, परदारवित्तहरणे सर्वोऽपि दक्षो जनः
कस्माज्जीवसि हे सखे, विषकृमिन्यायेन जीवाम्यहम् ॥

- वृद्धचाणक्य

viprAH asmin nagare mahAn kathaya kaH tAladrumANAm gaNaH
ko dAtA, rajako dadAti vasanam prAtaH gRuhItvA nishi ।
ko dakShaH, paradAra vitta haraNe sarvaH api dakShaH janaH
kasmAt jIvasi he sakhe, viShakrimi nyAyena jIvAmi aham ॥

- vRuddha chANakya

Oh Brahmin! tell me who is the tallest (in stature) in this city? Only the palm trees here can be called tall. Who is the greatest giver? The washer man is the only person who gives; that too at night he gives the clothes he took in the morning. Who is efficient? Everyone is efficient when it comes to stealing money from other people's wives. Then how do you live here? I follow the principles of a poisonous bacteria to survive here; do everything to live and not care about anything else.

- Vruddha Chanakya

रामायण - युद्ध - क्रोध

वाच्यावाच्यं प्रकुपितो न विजानाति कर्हिचित् ।
नाकार्यमस्ति क्रुद्धस्य नावाच्यं विद्यते क्वचित् ॥

- रामायण, युद्ध

vAchya avAchya prakupito na vijAnAti karhichit ।
na akAryamasti kruddhasya na avAchyam vidyate kvachit ॥

- rAmAyana, yuddha

A angry person can not understand what is to be said and what is to be left unsaid. He can not control himself. He can do anything (wrong) and speak anything (bad). Hence one must refrain from anger.

- Ramayana, Yuddha

विवेकचूडामणि - भुक्ति मुक्ति

वाग्वैखरि शब्दझरी शास्त्रव्याख्यानकौशलम् ।
वैदुष्यं विदुषां तद्वद् भुक्तये न तु मुक्तये ॥

- विवेकचूडामणि

vak vaikhari shabda jhari shAstra vyAkhyAna kaushalam ।
vaidushyam vidhuShAm tadvad bhuktaye na tu muktaye ॥

- vivekachUDAmaNi

Being articulate, free flow of words, ability to explain intricacies of scriptures, knowledge of the scholars are all for enjoyment (mental gratification) not for salvation.

- Vivekachudamani

वेषवाग्वृत्ति

वयसः कर्मणोऽर्थस्य श्रुतस्याभिजनस्य ।
वेषवाग्वृत्ति सारूप्यमाचरन्विचरेदिह ॥

vayasaH karmaNaH arthasya shrutasya abhijanasya ।
veSha vAk vRutti sArUpam Acharan vicharet iha ॥

One must dress, talk and conduct himself according to his age, occupation, wealth, education and family. That is the thinking and order of this world.

मनो मे निर्लज्जं

वपुः कुब्जीभूतं गतिरपि तथा यष्टिशरणा
    विशीर्णा दंतालिः श्रवणविकलं श्रोत्रयुगलम् ।
शिरः शुक्लं चक्षुस्तिमिरपटलैरावृतमहो
    मनो मे निर्लज्जं तदपि विषयेभ्यः स्पृहयति ॥

vapuH kubjI bhUtam gatirapi tathA yaShti sharaNA
    vishIrNA dAntAliH shravaNa vikalam shrotra yugalam ।
shiraH shuklam chakShuH timira paTalaiH AvRutamaho
    mano me nirlajjam tadapi viShayebhyaH spRuhayati ॥

My body is shrinked. I need a stick to move aroung. My teeth are all gone. Both the ears have stopped hearing. My hair has turned white. Darkness covers my eyes. But my mind is still shameless. It is still longing for sensory pleasures.

भागवत - इंद्रियाणि

वर्जयेत् प्रमदागाथामगृहस्थो बृहद्व्रतः ।
इंद्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरंत्यपि यतेर्मनः ॥

- भागवत

varjayet pramadA gAthAm agRuhastho bRuhad vrataH ।
indriyANi pramathIni harantyapi yatermanaH ॥

- bhAgavata

He who is not a married man, some one who has taken up a big mission should give up talking about women. These sensory pleasures have the ability to corrupt and destroy any one's mind; even a saint's.

- Bhagavata

अप्पय्य दीक्षितस्य वैराग्य शतक - यमपुरि

वंगाः कथमंगाः कथमित्यनुयुंक्ते वृथा देशान् ।
कीदृक् कृतान्तपुरमिति कोऽपि जिज्ञासते लोकः ॥

- अप्पय्य दीक्षितस्य वैराग्य शतक

vangAH katham agAH katham iti anuyunkte vRuthA deshAn ।
kIdRuk kRutAnta puram iti ko api jijnAsate lokaH ॥

- appayyadIkShitasya vairAgya shataka

How is Vanga kingdom? How is the Anga kingdom? People ask such questions about far of lands. No one in this world are contemplating on where they would be after death. How would that kingdom of death be?

- Appyya Dikshita's Vairagya Shataka

अभिनवपाठावलि - दुःख

लोभमूलानि पापानि व्याधयो रसमूलकाः ।
स्नेहमूलानि दुःखानि त्रीणि त्यक्त्वा सुखी भवेत् ॥

- अभिनवपाठावलि

lobha mulAni pApAni vyAdhayaH rasamUlakAH ।
sneha mUlAni duHkhAni trINi tyaktvA sukhI bhavet ॥

- abhinavapAThAvali

Greed is the cause of all sins, indulgence the cause of illness, attachment/friendship is the cause of sadness. If one lets go of the three, then he shall be happy.

- Abhinavapathavali

भागवत - मानुष

लब्ध्वेह मानुषीं योनीं ज्ञानविज्ञानसंभवाम् ।
आत्मानं यो न बुद्ध्येत न क्वचिच्छममाप्नुयात् ॥

- भागवत

lubdhvA iha mAnuShIm yonIm jnAna vijnAna saMbhavAm ।
AtmAnam yo na buddhyeta na kvachit shamam ApnuyAt ॥

- bhAgavata

After getting a human birth and ability to think - generalize and dissect thoughts, if one can not know self, then he can not find happiness (peace) anywhere.

- Bhagavata, Human Life

श्री शंकराचार्य - कुमतेः पुरुषाधमस्य

लुब्ध्वा सुदुर्लभतरं नरजन्म जंतुः
    तत्रापि पौरुषमतः सदसद्विवेकम् ।
संप्राप्य चैहिकसुखाभिरतो यदि स्यात्
    धिक् तस्य जन्म कुमतेः पुरुषाधमस्य ॥

- श्री शंकराचार्य

lubdhvA sudurlabhataram nara janma jantu
    tatrApi pauruShamataH sat asat vivekam ।
samprApya cha aihika sukhAbhirato yadi syAt
    dhik tasya janma kumateH puruSha adhamasya ॥

- shri shankarAchArya

After having got the rare (and most sought after) human birth, and been rewarded with courage and wisdom to judge right and wrong if you still indulge in all the material pleasures then such a bad person with bad mind will be damned.

- Sri Shankaracharya

बोधिचर्यावतार - देह

लब्ध्वाऽपि सुबहून् लाभान् चिरं भुक्त्वा सुखान्यपि ।
रिक्तहस्तश्च नग्नश्च यास्यामि मुषितो यथा ॥

- बोधिचर्यावतार

labdhvA api subahUn lAbhAn chiram bhuktvA sukhAnyapi ।
riktahastashca nagnashca yAsyAmi muShito yathA ॥

- bodhicharyAvatara

You may get all your wishes and live your entire life in surplus. You may have enjoyed every pleasure. At the end, you go empty handed and naked - just like anybody who has lost everything.

- Bodhicharyavatara

प्रभोधसुधाकर - देह

रुधिरत्रिधातुमज्जामेदोमांसास्थिसंहतिर्देहः ।
स बहिस्त्वचा पिनद्धस्तस्मान्नो भक्ष्यते काकैः ॥

- प्रभोधसुधाकर

rudhira tridhAtu majjA medaH mAmsa asthi samhatiH dehaH ।
sa bahiH tvacha pinaddhaH tasmAt naH bhakShyate kAkaiH ॥

- prabodhasudhAkara

This body is made up of all disgusting things like blood, air, bile, foam, flesh, marrow, muscles and bones. It is good that skin covers all these up so that we are not eaten up by crows. This body nothing to be attached with.

- Prabhodhasudhakara

भोजप्रबंध - काल

रामे प्रव्रजनं बलेर्नियमनं पाण्डोः सुतानां वनः
वृष्णीनां निधनं नलस्य नृपते राज्यात् परिभ्रंशनं ।
कारागारनिषेवणं च मरणं संचिंत्य लंकेश्वरे
सर्वः कालवशेन नश्यति नरः को वा परित्रायते ॥

- भोजप्रबंध

rAme pravrajanam baleH niyamanam pANDoH sutAnAm vanaH
vRuShNInAm nidhanam nalasya nRupate rAjyAt paribraMshanam ।
kArAgAra niShevaNam cha maraNam sanchintya lankeshware
sarvaH kAlavashena nashyati naraH ko vA paritrAyate ॥

- bhojaprabandha

Rama had to live in a forest. Bali had to go to the underworld. The Pandavas (sons of Pandu) had to live in exile. The Yadavas died due to infighting. Nala was made to leave his own kingdom and live like a destitute. Vibhishana was imprisoned. Death met Ravana, the king of Lanka. Everything is destroyed in time. Which human has been able to escape the fate?

- Bhojaprabandha

गरुड पुराण - आस्था नायुषि युज्यते

युज्यते वेष्टनं वायोः आकाशस्य च खंडनम् ।
ग्रथनं तरंगाणां आस्था नायुषि युज्यते ॥

- गरुड पुराण

yujyate veShTanam vAyoH AkAshasya cha khanDanam ।
grathanam tarangANAm AsthA na AyuShi yujyate ॥

- garuDa purANa

One may be able to surround and lock air, or cut the sky into pieces, or weave the waves into a chain. But one can not put any trust in your longevity. You cannot do anything to be assured to live longer.

- Garuda Purana

भजगोविन्द स्तोत्र - देह

यावद्वित्तोपार्जनसक्तः
    तावन्निजपरिवारो रक्तः ।
पश्चाज्जर्जरभूते देहे
    वार्तां कोऽपि न पृच्छति गेहे ॥

- भजगोविन्द स्तोत्र

yavat vittopArjanasaktaH
    tAvat nijaparivAro raktaH ।
pashchAt jarjarabhUte dehe
    vArtAm ko api na pRuchChati gehe ॥

- bhajagovinda stotra

As long as you are earning money, your family loves you. When you stop earning and the body becomes weak, no one in the house want to hear about you.

- Bhajagovinda Stotra

भागवत - लोभ

यावंतो विषयाः प्रेष्ठास्त्रिलोक्यामजितेंद्रियम् ।
न शक्नुवन्ति ते सर्वे प्रतिपूरयितुं नृप ॥

- भागवत

yAvanto viShayaH preShThAH trilokyAm ajitendriyam ।
na shaknuvanti te sarve pratipUrayitum nRupa ॥

- bhAgavata

Oh King, if a person has not conquered his senses - then all the pleasures from all three worlds can not satiate him.

- Bhagavata

रामायण - सुंदरकाण्ड - क्रोध

यः समुत्पतितं क्रोधं क्षमयैव निरस्यति ।
यथोरगस्त्वचं जीर्णां स वै पुरुष उच्यते ॥

- रामायण, सुंदरकाण्ड

yaH samutpitam krodham kShamA iva nirasyati ।
yathoragaH tvacham jIrNAm sa vai puruSha uchyate ॥

- rAmAyaNa, sundara kANDa

A snake grows out of its skin, thereby shedding it. He alone can be called a complete man who can grow out of his anger using his patience.

- Ramayana, Sundara Kaanda

महाभारत - आदि - क्रोध

यः समुत्पति क्रोधं निगृह्णाति हयं यथा ।
स यंतेत्युच्यते सद्बिर्न यो रश्मिषु सज्जते ॥

- महाभारत, आदि

yaH samutpati krodham nigRuhNati hayaM yathA ।
sa yantetyuchyate sadbir na yo rashmiShu sajjate ॥

- mahAbhArata, Adi

'Sarathi' - the real meaning of the word is 'one who controls anger' that arises in the mind just like a horse. It does not just mean a 'charioteer'

-Mahabharata, Adi

लोचन - काय

यदि नामास्य कायस्य यदंतस्तद्बहिर्भवेत् ।
दण्डमादाय लोकोऽयं शुनः काकांश्च वारयेत् ॥

- लोचन

yadi nAmAsya kAyasya yat antaH tat bahiH bhavet ।
danDam AdAya loko ayam shunaH kAkAnshcha vArayet ॥

- lochana

If what is there in this body is turned inside out, then the entire world would be chasing dogs and crows away. For them, body is just meat.

- Lochana