पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - शक्तिः

अप्रकटीकृतशक्तिः शक्तोपि जनतिरस्क्रियां लभते ।
निवसन्नंतर्दारुणि लंघ्यो वह्निर्न तु ज्वलितः ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

aprakaTikRuta shaktiH shaktopi janastiraskriyAM labhate ।
nivasannaMtardAruNi langhyo vahnirna tu jvalitaH ॥

- panchatantra, mitrabheda

One may be strong. If he does not show is strength every now and then, he will be subject to public neglect. One may walk across fire when it hidden inside the wood. But the same can not be done when it is in the form of flames.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda

गरुडपुराण - क्षीरं हंस इवांभसि

अनेकानि च शास्त्राणि स्वल्पायुर्विघ्नकोतयः ।
तस्मात्सारं विजानीयात् क्षीरं हंस इवांभसि ॥

- गरुडपुराण

anekAni cha shAstrANi svalpAyurvighnakoTayaH ।
tasmAtsAram vijAnIyAt kShIram hamsa ivAmbhasi ॥

- garuDapurANa

There is so many scriptures to study. Life time is so little. On top of that, there are crores of obstacles. Hence the jist of these scriptures have to be studied just like a swan can drink milk and leave out the water.

- Garuda Purana

शिशुपालवध - वाग्मि

अनिर्लोडितकार्यस्य वाग्जलं वाग्मिनो वृथा ।
निमित्तादपराद्धेषोर्धानुष्कस्येव वल्गितम् ॥

- शिशुपालवध

anirloDita kAryasya vAk jalam vAgmino vRuthA ।
nimittAdaparAddheShoH dhAnuShkasya eva valgitam ॥

- shishupAlavadha

When a job is not done after fully understanding it, it is going to fail. No amount of flowery words is going to make up for lack of preparation. An arrow that leaves the bow can not be made to hit the target by the words of the archer.

- Shishupalavadha

कलिविडंबन - सत्य

अनृतं चाटुवादश्च धनयोगो महानयं ।
सत्यं वैदुष्यमित्येष योगो दारिद्र्यकारकः ॥

- कलिविडंबन

anRutam chATuvAdashca dhanayogo mahAnayam ।
satyaM vaiduShyamityeSha yogo dAridryakArakaH ॥

- kaliviDambana

In the times of kali (present age) deceit and sycophancy will earn you money. Truth and uprightness will lead you to poverty.

- Kalividambana

मार्गस्थो नावसीदति

अनुगंतुं सतां धर्म कृत्स्नं यदि न शक्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यनुगन्तव्यं मार्गस्थो नावसीदति ॥

anugantum satAm dharma kRutsnam yadi na shakyate ।
svalpam api anugantavyam mArgastho na avasidati ॥

One must try to follow the practices of noble men. It is not possible to follow them completely, at least a little effort must be done. By going down their path, one will definitely not be destroyed.

मनुस्मृति - युद्ध

अनित्यो विजयो यस्मात् दृश्यते युध्यमानयोः ।
पराजयश्च संग्रामे तस्माद्युद्धं विवर्जयेत् ॥

- मनुस्मृति

anityo vijayo yasmAt dRushyate yudhyamAnayoH ।
parAjayashca saMgrAme tasmAdyuddhaM vivarjayet ॥

- manusmriti

Victory in a battle is a matter of chance. You may win or lose. So, one must not wage wars. Sooner or later, you will lose one of them.

- Manu Smriti

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - अनिष्टादिष्टलाभेपि

अनिष्टादिष्टलाभेपि नायतिर्जायते शुभा ।
यत्रास्ति विषसंसर्गोऽमृतम् तदपि मृत्यवे ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

aniShTAdiShTalAbhepi nAyatirjAyate shubhA।
yatrAsti viShasamsargo amRutam tadapi mRutyuve ॥

- hitoapadesha, mitralAbha

A bad thing is always bad. Even if it gives you short term profit, the long term effect will always be bad. If a little bit of poison is mixed with elixir, the result is still death.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

सुभाषितरत्नतेभाण्डागार - कीर्तिः

अन्यमाश्रयते लक्ष्मीस्त्वन्यमन्यंच मेदिनी ।
अनन्यगामिनी पुंसां कीर्तिरेका पतिव्रता ॥

- सुभाषितरत्नतेभाण्डागार

anyam Ashrayate lakShmIH tu anyam anyam cha medinI ।
ananyagAmiNi pumsAm kIrtiH ekA pativratA ॥

- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra

Wealth is very fickle. It will goto different people every day. So is land. Today it may be with you, tomorrow it is with someone else. But fame is not like that. It will not go to anyone after you. It will remain yours for ever. It is like a chaste wife.

- Subhashitaratnabhandagara

गरुडपुराण - शास्त्रः

अन्यथा परमं तत्त्वं जनाः क्लिश्यन्ति चान्यथा ।
अन्यथा शास्त्रसद्भावो व्याख्यां कुर्वन्ति चान्यथा ॥

- गरुडपुराण

anyathA paramam tattvam janAH klishyanti cha anyathA ।
anyathA shastra sad bhAvo vyAkhyAm kurvanti cha anyathA ॥

- garuDapurANa

The ultimate truth says one thing. People go in search of other and get worked up. The scriptures say one thing and the discourses say another.

- Garudapurana

विश्वगुणादर्श - खलाः

अनल्पकं धरायां हि सर्वज्ञस्यापि दारुणाः ।
आरोपयन्ति मालिन्यं काकोला इव खलाः ॥

- विश्वगुणादर्श

analpakam dharAyAm hi sarvajnasyaapi dAruNAH ।
Aropayanti mAlinyaM kAkola iva te khalAH ॥

- vishvagunAdarsha

In this world, rogues will not let virtuous people live in peace. They smear them with false allegations. They did not even let Lord Shiva alone. They made him drink the Kalakuta poison.

- Vishvagunadarsha

समयोचितपद्यमालिका - सर्व एव दरिद्रति

अधोऽधः पश्यतः कस्य महिमा नोपचीयते ।
उपर्युपरि पश्यन्तः सर्व एव दरिद्रति ॥

- समयोचितपद्यमालिका

adho adhaH pashyataH kasya mahimA na upachIyate ।
upari upari pashyantaH sarva eva daridrati ॥

- samayochitapadyamAlikA

If you always look downwards (people less privileged than you) then anyone can feel great about himself. If one only looks above, then he will always feel miserable. It is all about perspectives.

- Samayochitapadyamalika

महाभारत - आदि पर्व - विद्या

अधीयानः पण्डितं मन्यमानो
    यो विद्यया हन्ति यशः परेषाम् ।
तस्यांतवंतश्च भान्ति लोका
    न चास्य तद् ब्रह्म फलं ददाति ॥

- महाभारत, आदि पर्व

adhIyAnaH panDitam manyamAno
    yo vidyayA hanti yashaH pareShAm ।
tasyAntavantashcha bhavanti lokA
    na cha asya tad brahma phalam dadAti ॥

- mahAbhArata, Adi parva

One who wants to be educated must not think he is a scholar already. He must also not use his education to kill someone else's fame. If he does that, he may get the world, but it is not permanent. He will not attain the eternal peace. (because he will be constantly on the guard that someone else may kill his fame)

- Mahabharata, Adi

भागवतमाहात्म्य - व्यग्रचित्तो हतो जपः

अदृढं च हतं ज्ञानं प्रमादेन हतं श्रुतम् ।
संदिग्धो हि हतो मंत्रो व्यग्रचित्तो हतो जपः ॥

- भागवतमाहात्म्य

adRuDham cha hatam jnAnam pramAdena hatam shrutam ।
sandigdho hi hato mantro vyagra chitto hato japaH ॥

- bhAgavatamAhAtmya

That knowledge that is not firm is useless. Education is ruined if you indulge. If you doubt, you will not get hold on the hymn (spell). A restless mind can not meditate (penance).

- Bhagavata Mahatmya

मनुस्मृति - बुद्धिर्ज्ञानेन शुध्यति

अद्भिर्गात्राणि शुध्यन्ति मनः सत्येन शुध्यति ।
विद्यातपोभ्यां भूतात्मा बुद्धिर्ज्ञानेन शुध्यति ॥

- मनुस्मृति

adbhiH gAtrANi shudhyanti manaH satyena shudhyati ।
vidyA tapobhyAm bhUtAtma buddhiH jnAnena shudhyati ॥

- manusmRuti

Water cleanses the body parts. Mind is cleansed by truth. Education and penance will cleanse the human soul. Intellect is cleansed by knowledge.

- Manu Smriti

सुभाषितरत्नतेभाण्डागार - सुमेरुरपि हीयते

अर्थानामर्जनं कार्यं वर्धनं रक्षणं तथा ।
भक्ष्यमाणो निरादायः सुमेरुरपि हीयते ॥

- सुभाषितरत्नतेभाण्डागार

arthAnAmarjanam kAryam vardhanam rakShaNam tathA ।
bhakShyamANo nirAdAyaH sumerurapi hIyate ॥

- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra

Wealth must be earned, grown, protected. If one only consumes wealth without earning, then even the Mt Sumeru (mountain of gold) will not be enough.

- Subhashitaratnabhandagara

सुभाषितरत्नतेभाण्डागार - मतिमान्

अर्थनाशं मनस्तापं गृहे दुश्चरितानि च ।
वंचनं चापमानं च मतिमान्न प्रकाशयेत् ॥

- सुभाषितरत्नतेभाण्डागार

arthanAsham manastApam gRuhe dushcharitAni cha ।
vanchanam cha apamAnam cha matimAn na prakAshayet ॥

- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra

A wise man keep these incidents private - having lost money, having enmity, having a rogue in the household, being cheated and being humiliated.

- Subhashitaratnabhandagara

रामायण अयोध्या - काल

अत्येति रजनी यातु सा न प्रनिवर्तते ।
यत्येव यमुना पूर्णा समुद्रं लवणार्णवम् ॥

- रामायण अयोध्या

atyeti rajanI yAtu sA na pratinivartate ।
yAtyeva yamunA pUrNA samudram lavaNArNavam ॥

- rAmAyaNa, ayodhya

Night passes. It never comes back. Yamuna also flows forward towards the sea and becomes one with the sea (salty). It will never come back (it will not become sweet again). Time also passes and never comes back.

- Ramayana, Ayodhya

समयोचितपद्यमालिका - अति

अतिरूपाद् हृता सीताऽतिगर्वाद्रावणो हतः ।
अतिदानाद् बलिर्बद्धः अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत् ॥

- समयोचितपद्यमालिका

ati rUpAd hRutA sItA ati garvAd rAvaNo hataH ।
ati dAnAd baliH baddhaH ati sarvatra varjayet ॥

- samayochitapadyamAlikA

Too much beauty is what lead to the kidnapping of Sita. Ravana got killed because of too much pride. Bali's progress was curtailed because of too much charity. One should refrain from 'too much' of anything.

- Samyochitapadyamalika

समयोचितपद्यमालिका - अतिपरिचयदवज्ञा

अतिपरिचयदवज्ञा संततगमनादनादरो भवति ।
मलये भिल्लपुरंध्री चन्दनतरुकाष्ठमिंधनं कुरुते ॥

- समयोचितपद्यमालिका

ati parichayAt avjnA santata gamanAt anAdaro bhavati ।
malaye bhilla purandhrI chandana taru kAShTham indhanam kurute ॥

- samayochitapadyamAlikA

Familiarity gives way to contempt. Frequently visiting some one will lead to reduced respect. In the Malaya mountains, the wife of the hunter uses sandalwood for firewood.

- Samayochitapadyamalika

ध्वन्यालोक - कलि

अतिक्रान्तसुखाः कालाः प्रत्युपस्थितदारुणाः ।
श्वः श्वः पापीयदिवसा पृथिवी गतयौवना ॥

- ध्वन्यालोक

atikrAnta sukhAH kAlAH pratyupasthita dAruNAH ।
shvaH shvaH pApIya divasA pRuthivI gata yauvanaa ॥

- dhvanyAloka

The good days are over. Days filled with misery are ahead. Every following day is more sinful than the previous. The earth is past its youth.

- Dhvanyaloka

अन्योक्तिस्तबक - परिभ्रमण

अत्रामोदमरंदयोर्न कणिका कोषांतरस्थायिनी
    पत्रच्छत्रपरंपराऽपि विफलारंभा कियद्वर्ण्यताम् ।
एतत्सर्वमपूर्वशिल्परचनाचातुर्यमुच्चावचं
    किं मोहादलिपुत्र चित्रकमले भूयः परिभ्राम्यसि ॥

- अन्योक्तिस्तबक

atra amoda marandayoH na kaNikA koShAntara sthAyinI
    patracChatra paramparA api viphalArambhA kiyad varNyatAm ।
etat sarvam apUrva shilpa rachanA chAturyam ucchAvacham
    kim mOhAd aLiputra chitra kamale bhUyaH paribhrAmyasi ॥

- anyoktistabaka

Oh! baby bee. You are still very young and should be living in your cell. You do not know that this lotus is a mere painting and has neither the fragrance or the nectar. It does not have petals or the leaves. How can I say that your efforts will go waste? This lotus is only showing off the supreme craft of a painter. Why are you going around this painting which is a mere illusion. (World being the painting, God being the creator and we being the bees.)

- Anyoktistabaka

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - अत्यादरः

अत्यादरो भवेद्यत्र कार्यकारणवर्जितः ।
तत्र शंका प्रकर्तव्या परिणामे सुखावहा ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

atyAdaro bhavet yatra kArya kAraNa varjitaH ।
tatra shankA prakartavyA pariNAme sukhAvahA ॥

- panchatantra, mitrabheda

If you find that you are getting too much respect/praise when there is not much cause (or reason), you must start doubting the motives. This will always lead to happiness.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabhedha

बृहत् पराशर स्मृति - सुचिः

अत्यंतमलिनः कायः नवच्छिद्रसमन्वितः ।
स्रवत्येष दिवारात्रं प्रातःस्नानेन शुद्ध्यति ॥

- बृहत् पराशर स्मृति

atyanmta malinaH kAyaH nava cChidra samanvitaH ।
sravati eSha divA rAtram prAtaH snAnena shuddhyati ॥

- bRuhat parAshara smRuti

This body, which has nine holes is very dirty. Dirt gets into the body through the nine holes all during the day or night. Hence every morning one must wash himself.

- Bruhat Parashara Smriti

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल - परीक्ष्य

अतः परीक्ष्य कर्तव्यं विशेषात्संगतं रहः ।
अज्ञातहृदयेष्वेवं वैरीभवति सौहृदम् ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल

ataH parIkShya kartavyaM vishESha atsaMgataM rahaH ।
ajnAta hRudayeShu evam vairI bhavati sauhRudam ॥

- abhijnAna shAkuntala

When a man and a woman decide to get married in secrecy, they must be really careful and examine each other thoroughly. If there keep secrets from each other, the love can soon turn to hatred.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

भागवत - कुशलः नरः

अणुभ्यश्च महद्भ्यश्च शास्त्रेभ्यः कुशलो नरः ।
सर्वतः सारमादद्यात् पुष्पेभ्य इव षट्पदः ॥

- भागवत

aNubhyaH cha mahadbhyaH cha shAstrebhyaH kushalo naraH ।
sarvataH sAram AdadyAt puShpebhya iva ShaTpadaH ॥

- bhAgavata

A wise man does not differentiate between knowledge - small as an atom or mighty. There are things to learn from everything. He will extract value from all like a bee visiting all flowers for nectar.

- Bhagavata

चारुदत्त - छायार्थी

अज्ञानात् या मया पूर्वं शाखापत्रैर्वियोजिता ।
छायार्थी ग्रीष्मसंतप्तस्तामेव पुनराश्रितः ॥

- चारुदत्त

ajnAnAt yA mayA pUrvam shAkhA patraiH viyojitA ।
ChAyArthI grIShma santaptaH tAm eva punarAshritaH ॥

- chArudatta

Oh! Because of my ignorance I made this branch (of tree) devoid of all its leaves (looted it). Now, I have come to take refuge below it to escape from this summer Sun beating on me.

- Charudatta

मालविकाग्निमित्र - शत्रु संहार

अचिराधिष्ठितराज्यः शत्रुः प्रकृतिष्वरूढमूलत्वात् ।
नवसंरोपणशिथिलस्तरुरिव सुकरः समुद्धर्तुम् ॥

- मालविकाग्निमित्र

achirAdhiShThitarAjyaH shatruH prakRutiShu arUDhamUlatvAt ।
navasaMropaNa shithilaH taruH iva sukaraH samuddhartum ॥

- mAlavikAgnimitra

It is very easy to defeat an enemy who has usurped your kingdom just a few days ago. He would not have made his presence felt in the hearts of the people. Defeating him is as easy as uprooting a plant that we just planted recently.

- Malavikagnimitra

सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार - रूप कुल विद्या धन

अगुणस्य हतं रूपं अशीलस्य हतं कुलम् ।
असिद्धेस्तु हता विद्या अभोगस्य हतं धनम् ॥

- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार

aguNasya hatam rUpam ashilasya hatam kulam ।
asiddhestu hatA vidyA abhogasya hatam dhanam ॥

- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra

Beauty is of no use if you do not have right qualities. Being born in a good family is useless unless you develop character. If not practiced, education is of no use. If not used (enjoyed) wealth is of no use.

- Subhashitaratnabhandagara

सुभाषित रत्नभाण्डागार - देहि देहि

अक्षरद्वयमभ्यस्तं नास्ति नास्तीति यत्पुरा ।
तदिदं देहि देहीति विपरीतमुपस्थितम् ॥

- सुभाषित रत्नभाण्डागार

akShara dvayam abhyastam nAsti nAsti iti yat purA ।
tadidam dehi dehi iti viparItam upsthitam ॥

- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra

Long ago, you were used to telling "No! No!" (when people asked for help/alms). The same habit has intensified and is making you tell "More! More!". Greed grows and times change.

- Subhashitaratnabhandagara

शाबरभाष्य - इष्टसिद्धि

अर्के चेन्मधु विंदेत किमर्थं पर्वतं व्रजेत् ।
इष्टस्यार्थस्य संसिद्धौ को विद्वान् यत्नमाचरेत् ॥

- शाबरभाष्य

arke chet madhu vindeta kimartham parvatam vrajet ।
iShTasya arthasya saMsiddhau ko vidvAn yatnam Acharet ॥

- shabara bhAshya

If one gets honey in the plant in the backyard, who will climb the mountain to get honey. They will not. Just like that, any scholar will not put any effort after (he thinks) he has learned all there is to learn.

- Shabarabhashya