जिह्वा दग्धा परान्नेन हस्तौ दग्धौ प्रतिग्रहात् ।
परस्त्रीभिर्मनो दग्धं कथं सिद्धिः कलौ युगे ॥
- विचारदीपिका
jihvA dagdhA parAnnena hastau dagdhau pratigrahAt ।
parastrIbhiH mano dagdham katham siddhiH kalau yuge ॥
- vichAradIpikA
In the Epoch of Kali (present times), the tongue gets burnt by eating food given by others. The hands get burnt by taking money belonging to others. The mind is burnt by thinking about other women. What is the path to achievement then?
- Vicharadeepika
जिता सभा वस्त्रवता मिष्टाशा गोमता जिता ।
अध्वा जितो यनवता सर्वं शीलवता जितम् ॥
- महाभारत, उद्योग
jitA sabhA vastravatA miShTAshA gomatA jitA ।
adhvA jito yanavatA sarvam shIlavatA jitam ॥
- mahAbhArata, udyoga
A well dressed man has the audience in his control. A man with a cow is in control of when he can have sweets. If you have a vehicle, you have the path under your control. A man of good character can control everything.
- Mahabharata, Udyoga
जिह्वयातिप्रमाथिन्या जनो रसविमोहितः ।
मृत्युमृच्छत्यसद् बुद्धिर्मीनस्तु बडिशैर्यथा ॥
- भागवत
jihvayAtipramAthinyA jano rasavimohitaH ।
mRutyumRucChatyasad buddhirmInastu baDishairyathA ॥
- bhAgavata
The tongue is the reason for many troubles. People get destroyed for the mere reason that it gets attracted towards tasty stuff - just like the fish that take the bait.
- Bhagavata
जिता धनवता दारा जिता वस्त्रवता सभा ।
जितो ह्यभ्यागतो गोभिर्दारिद्र्यं कृषिभिर्जितम् ॥
- समयोचितपद्यमालिका
jitA dhanavatA dArA jitA vastravatA sabhA ।
jito hyabhyAgato gobhiH dAridryam kRuShibhiH jitam ॥
- samayochitapadyamAlikA
One can get a good wife by being wealthy. One can control a gathering if he wears good clothes. Guests can be pleased if one has cows in his house. One can overcome poverty if they take up agriculture.
- Samayochitapadyamalika
जितरोषरया महाधियः
सपदिक्रोधजितो लघुर्जनः ।
विजितेन जितस्य दुर्मते
र्मतिमद्भिः सह का विरोधिता ॥
- शिशुपालवध
jita roSharayA mahAdhiyaH
sapadi krodha jito laghuH janaH ।
vijetena jitasya durmater
matimadbhiH saha kA virodhitA ॥
- shishupAlavadha
Great wise men have overcome anger permanently. Simpler men have been consumed/conquered due because they succumbed to anger. There can never be a fair contest between the winners and the conquered or those who have overcome anger and those who can not.
- Shishupalavadha
जामातृसंपत्तिमचिंतयित्वा
पित्रा तु दत्ता स्वमनोभिलाषात् ।
कुलद्वयं हन्ति मदेन नारी
कूलद्वयं क्षुब्धजला नदीव ॥
- अविमारकम्
jAmAtRu sampattim achintayitvA
pitrA tu dattA svamanobhilAShAt ।
kuladvayam hanti madena nArI
kUladvayam kShubdhajalA nadIva ॥
- avimAraka
If the father does not weigh the qualities of the groom well and give her daughter away, then the bride will act arrogantly with her in-laws. This will ruin both the families. Just like a flooding rampant river will destroys both the banks.
- Avimarakam
जातस्य ममृत्युर्ध्रुव एष सर्वतः
प्रतिक्रिया यस्य न चेह क्षुप्ता ।
लोको यशश्चाथ ततो यदि ह्यमुं
को नाम मृत्युं न वृणीत युक्तम् ॥
- भागवत
jAtasya mRutyuH dhruva eSha sarvataH
pratikriyA yasya na cheha kShuptA ।
loko yashaH cha atha tato yadi hyamum
ko nAma mRutyum na vRuNIta yuktam ॥
- bhAgavata
Death is certain for every being that is born. It is the same truth every where. There is no way to get around this truth. But if one is guaranteed a good re-birth and fame, then who would not like death?
- Bhagavata
जाग्रतामपि निद्रा यः पश्यतामपि सोंऽधता ।
श्रुते सत्यपि जाड्यं यः प्रकाशेऽपि च यस्तमः ॥
- नैषधचरिते
jAgrataam api nidrA yaH pashyatAmapi so andhatA ।
shrute satyapi jADyam yaH prakAshe api cha yastamaH ॥
- naiShadha charite
When under the influence of desire and attachment a man is sleeping even when awake, blind even when he can see, inanimate even when he can hear the truth. He sees darkness when there is so much light.
- Naishadhiyacharita
जनो वै लोके एतस्मिन्न विद्याकामकर्मभिः ।
उच्चावचासु गतिषु न वेद स्वांगतिं भ्रमन् ॥
jano vai loke etasmin na vidyA kAma karmabhiH ।
ucchAvachAsu gatiShu na veda svAMgatiM bhraman ॥
People are walking around in this world without knowing what kind of life they are going to get next. It could be a better one or worse. They are ridden with ignorance, desire and consequences of prior actions.
जटिलो मुण्डी लुंचितकेशः
काषायांबरबहुकृतवेषः ।
पश्यन्नपि च न पश्यति मूढः
उदरनिमित्तं बहुकृतवेषः ॥
- भजगोविंद
jaTilo muNDI lunchita keshaH
kAShAya aMbara bahukRuta veShaH ।
pashyannapi cha na pashyati mUDhaH
udaranimittaM bahukRuta veShaH ॥
- bhajagovinda
You see mendicants invarious forms - with matted hair, shaven head, hair removed by plucking, wearing saffron robes and so on. These are all people who would not know even if they saw the truth right in front of their eyes. They are having various forms only to fill their stomach.
- Bhajagovinda
छिन्नोऽपि रोहति तरुः क्षीणोऽप्युपचीयते चंद्रः ।
इति विमृशंतः सन्तः संतप्यन्ते न विप्लुता लोके ॥
- नीतिशतक
Chinna api rohati taruH kShINaH api upchIyate chandraH ।
iti vimRushantaH santaH santapyante na viplutA loke ॥
- nItishataka
A tree grows even after being cut. The moon grows back after diminishing. Wise noble men observe this and realize that tough times are not permanent. Hence they will not feel sad in those times.
- Neetishataka
छन्ना भवन्ति भुवि सत्पुरुषाः कथंचित्
स्वैः कारणैः गुरुजनैः नियम्यमानाः ।
भूयः परव्यसनमेत्य विमोक्तुकामाः
विस्मृत्य पूर्वनियमं विमृता भवन्ति ॥
- अविमारक
ChannA bhavanti bhuvi satpuruShAH kathaMchit
svaiH kAraNaiH gurujanaiH cha niyamyamAnAH ।
bhUyaH paravyasanam etya vimoktukAmAH
vismRutya pUrvaniyamaM vimRutA bhavanti ॥
- avimAraka
Great men lay in hiding in this world for various reason - their own reasons, or instructed by a teacher, following a code. But when they see someone in distress, they blow their cover and rush to help ignoring all previously followed rules.
- Avimaraka
चिंतायाश्च चितायाश्च बिंदुमात्रं विशिष्यते ।
चिता दहति निर्जीवं चिंता दहति जीवनम् ॥
- समयोचितपद्यमालिका
chintAyAshcha chitAyAshcha bindu mAtraM vishiShyate ।
chitA dahati nirjIvam chintA dahati jIvanam ॥
- samayochitapadyamAlikA
In sanskrit, there is only one difference in how you write 'worry' and 'funeral pyre' - just an extra dot. (चिता = funeral pyre चिंता = worry). While the pyre burns dead bodies, worry burns down life.
- Samayochitapadyamalika
चरणामन्नमचराः दंष्ट्रिणामप्यदंष्ट्रिणः ।
अहस्ताश्च सहस्तानां शूराणां चैव भीरवः ॥
- मनुस्मृति
charANAm annam acharAH damShTriNAm api adamShTriNaH ।
ahastAshcha sahastAnAm shUrANAm chaiva bhIravaH ॥
- manu smRuti
Immovables (plants) become food to the movables (herbivores). Those without teeth (canines) to those with teeth (carnivores). Those without hands(fish, birds) to those with hands (humans). Cowards become food for the brave.
- Manu Smriti
चत्वारो धनदायादाः धर्माग्निनृपतस्कराः ।
तेषां ज्येष्ठावमानेन त्रयः कुप्यंति सोदराः ॥
- त्रिशतीव्याख्या, नीति
chatvAro dhana dAyAdAH dharma agni nRupa taskarAH ।
teShAm jyeShTha avamAnena trayaH kupyanti sodarAH ॥
- trishatIvyAkhyA, nIti
Dharma, fire, king and thieves are brothers. They are the cousins of wealth. If the eldest of the brothers is humiliated (by wealth) then the other three will destroy wealth to take revenge. Ergo: wealth must be spent by never viloating Dharma, the moral code of life.
- Trishativyakhya, Neeti
गौरवं प्राप्यते दानान्न तु वित्तस्य संचयात् ।
स्थितिरुच्छैः पयोदानां पयोधीनामधः स्थितिः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय
gauravam prApyate dAnAn na tu vittasya sanchayAt ।
sthitiH ucchaiH payodAnAm payodhInAm adhaH sthitiH ॥
- subhAShitaratnasamucchaya
One gets respect by giving away wealth in charity, not by accumulating wealth. Clouds that give water has its place high in the sky. The seas that collect water has its place below.
- Subhashitaratnasamucchaya
गृहारंभो हि दुःखाय न सुखाय कदाचन ।
सर्पः परकृतं वेश्म प्रविश्य सुखमेधते ॥
- महाभारत, शान्ति
gRuhArambho hi duHkhAya na sukhAya kadAchana ।
sarpaH parakRutaM veshma pravishya sukhamedhate ॥
- mahAbhArata, shAnti
Starting a home (and family) always leads to pain and suffering. It never leads to (permanent) happiness. Ants that build the anthill are always under tension (due to attachment). A snake that takes over their home spends its time happily.
- Mahabharata, Shanti
गुरुं प्रयोजनोद्देशादर्चयन्ति न भक्तितः ।
दुग्धदात्रीति गौर्गेहे पोष्यते न तु धर्मतः ॥
- दृष्टांतकलिका
gurum prayojana uddeshAt archayanti na bhaktitaH ।
dugdha dAtri iti gauH gehe poShyate na tu dharmataH ॥
- dRuShTAntakalikA
People worship the teacher (or the planet Guru) becuase there is benefit in doing so - not out of devotion. People rear cows at home because they give milk - not with dharma in mind. A quick reality check.
- Drushtaantakalika
गुणैः शर्वकल्पोऽपि सीदत्येव निराश्रयः ।
अनर्घमपि माणिक्यं हेमाश्रयमपेक्षते ॥
- सुभाषितसुधानिधि
guNaiH sharvakalpaH api sIdati eva nirAshrayaH ।
anarghamapi mANIkyaM hemAshrayam apekShate ॥
- subhAShitasudhAnidhi
Even if a man has great qualities to be almost equal to Lord Shiva, he will wilt (decline) if he is not properly supported (by family, state, etc..). Even a extremely rare gem needs the support of gold to shine as an ornament.
- Subhashitasudhanidhi
गुणगणनारंभे पतति न कठिनी सुसंभ्रमा यस्य ।
तेनांबा यदि सुतिनी वद वंध्या कीदृशी भवति ॥
- हितोपदेश
guNa gaNanA aaraMbhe patati na kaThinI susaMbhramA yasya ।
tenAmbA yadi sutinI vada vandhyA kIdRushI b havati ॥
- hitopadesha
When one starts counting good qualities, if out finger does not point enthusiastically at someone then what can we say about his mother. If she is a mother indeed, then who can be called as 'childless'? Ergo, having a son without good qualities is equivalent to not having a son (or worse).
- Hitopadesha
गणेशः स्तौति मार्जारं स्ववाहस्याभिरक्षणे ।
महानपि प्रसंगेन नीचं सेवितुमिच्छति ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
gaNeshaH stauti mArjAram svavAhasya abhirakShaNe ।
mahAn api prasangena nIcham sevitum icChati ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Lord Ganesha also appeases (prays to) a cat in order to protect his vehicle - the mouse. Even powerful people at appropriate times will have to serve lowly beings.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
गतार्थान्नानुशोचन्ति नार्थयन्ते मनोरथान् ।
वर्तमानेन वर्तन्ते तेन मे पाण्डवाः प्रियाः ॥
- त्रिशतीव्याख्या, वैराग्य
gatArthAn na anushochanti na arthayante manorathAn ।
vartamAnena vartante tena me pANDavAH priyAH ॥
- trishatIvyAkhyA, vairagya
They do not long for what they have lost. They do not desire for what they don't have. They are happy with whatever they have at the moment. So, I like the Pandavas (as told by Krishna)
- Trishativyakhya, Vairagya
गर्जति शरदि न वर्षति
वर्षति वर्षासु निःस्वनो मेघः ।
नीचो वदति न कुरुते
न वदति सुजनः करोत्येव ॥
- सुभाषितसुधानिधि
garjati sharadi na varShati
varShati varShAsu niHsvano meghaH ।
nIcho vadati na kurute
na vadati sujanaH karotyeva ॥
- subhAShitasudhAnidhi
The clouds of Sharath season only roar - they do not shower. On the other hand, those in the Varsha season only shower and not roar. A lowly man will only talk and never act. A virtuous person will act and not bother to talk.
- Subhashitasudhanidhi
खगा वीतफलं वृक्षं भुक्त्वा चातिथयो गृहं ।
दग्धं मृगस्तथारण्यं जारो भुक्त्वा रतां स्त्रियम् ॥
- भागवत
khagA vItaphalaM vRukSham bhuktvA cha atithayo gRuham ।
dagdham mRugaH tathA araNyam jAro bhuktvA ratAm striyam ॥
- bhAgavata
No one sticks around once a thing is no longer useful. Birds abandon a tree that has emptied the fruits. Guests leave the hosts when he has nothing to offer. A herd of deer will just move on and abandon a forest that was burnt down. A philander leaves a woman after satiating his urges.
- Bhagavata
को न याति वशं लोके मुखे पिण्डेन पूरितः ।
मृदंगो मुखलेपेन करोति मधुरध्वनिम् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय
ko na yAti vasham loke mukhe pinDena pUritaH ।
mRidango mukhalepena karoti madhura dhvanim ॥
- subhAShitaratnasamucchaya
Who in this world can not me brought under control by filling their mouths with food? (by bribing). When the Mridanga's face is smeared well, it starts making melodious sounds.
- Subhashitaratnasamucchaya
कृपणेन समो दाता न भूतो न भविष्यति ।
अस्पृशन्नेव वित्तानि यः परेभ्यः प्रयच्छति ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
kRupaNena samo dAta na bhUto na bhaviShyati ।
aspRushanneva vittAni yaH parebhyaH prayacChati ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
There has never been any one more charitable than a miser. There will never be one. Who else can donate his entire wealth to others without ever touching it?
- Subhasitaratnabhandagara
कुले लज्जायां च स्वयशसि च माने च विमुखः
शरीरं विक्रीय क्षणिकमपि लोभाद्धनवति ।
तदाज्ञां कुर्वाणो हितमहितमित्येतदधुना
विचारातिक्रांतः किमिति परतंत्रो विमृशति ॥
- मुद्रराक्षस
kule lajjAyAM cha sva yashasi cha mAne cha vimukhaH
sharIram vikrIya kShaNikamapi lobhAt dhanavati ।
tadAjnAm kurvANo hitam ahitam ityetat adhunA
vichArAtikrAntaH kimiti paratantro vimRushati ॥
- mudrarAkShasa
A man who does not care for the fame of his family, not bothered about his own long term future, his respect - may end up selling his loyalty to a wealthy person for the sake of the body (transient). He will follow only his instructions. He will lose the ability to think for himself and decide what is good for him and what is not. He is not in control of himself.
- Mudrarakshasa
कुलं च शीलं च सनाथतां च
विद्यां च वित्तं च वपुर्वयश्च ।
एतान्गुणान्सप्त विचिन्त्य देया
कन्या बुधैः शेषमचिंतनीयम् ॥
- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद
kulam cha shIlam cha sanAthatAm cha
vidyAm cha vittaM cha vapuH vayashcha ।
etAn guNAn sapta vichintya deyA
kanya budhaiH sheSham achintanIyam ॥
- panchatantra, mitrabheda
Only the following seven attributes of a groom are important - family, character, ownership of property, education, wealth, physique and age. Rest all are immaterial. A wise man will only look at these qualities in a groom before marrying his daughter to him.
- Panchatantra, Miutrabheda
क्षुण्णोऽपि रोहति तरुः
क्षीणोऽप्युपचीयते पुनश्चन्द्रः ।
इति विमृशन्तः सन्तः
संतप्यन्ते न विधुरेषु ॥
- तिलकमञ्जरि
kShuNNo api rohati taruH
kShINaH api upachIyate punaH chandraH ।
iti vimRushantaH santaH
santapyante na vidhureShu ॥
- tilakamanjari
A tree grows back after beign cut. The moon always grows back after the reducing cycle. Wise men know this and understand that life is similar. So, they do not grieve the departure of their loved ones.
- Tilaka Manjari
कुतो वा नूतनं वस्तु वयमुत्प्रेक्षितुं क्षमाः ।
वाचो विन्यासवैचित्र्यमात्रमत्र विचार्यताम् ॥
- न्यायमञ्जरि
kuto vA nUtanaM vastu vayam utprekShitum kShamAH ।
vacho vinyAsa vaichitryamAtram atra vichAryatAm ॥
- nyAyamanjari
One can not write an absolutely new piece all by himself. What needs to be told (in a work) is pretty much known. How it can be told differently is where the talent lies in. A literary work has to be judged on that.
- Nyayamanjari
कुग्रामवासः कुजनस्य सेवा
कुभोजनं क्रोधमुखी च भार्या ।
मूर्खश्च पुत्रो विधवा च कन्या
दहन्ति चैतानि जनं विनाग्निम् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय
kugraama vAsaH kujanasya sevA
kubhojanam krodhamukhI cha bhAryA ।
mUrkhashcha putro vidhavA cha kanyA
dahanti cha etAni janaM vinA agnim ॥
- subhAShitaratnasamuchchaya
These things will burn a man alive without any fire - living in a bad village, serving a bad master, a bad meal, an angry wife, idiot son, widow daughter.
- Subhashitaratnasamucchaya
