परतोषयिता न कश्चन
स्वगतो यस्य गुणोऽस्ति देहिनः ।
परदोषकथाभिरल्पकः
स्वजनं तोषयितुं किलेच्छति ॥
- शिशुपालवध
paratoShayitA na kashchana
svagato yasya guNo asti dehinaH ।
para doSha kathAbhiH alpakaH
svajanam toShayitum kila icchati ॥
- shishupAlavadha
If one can not please other people by his own qualities, such a lowly person will attempt to please others by talking ill about other (noble) people (by highlighting other's faults).
- Shishupalavadha
पदस्था विषमस्थानां मित्राणां न भवन्ति ये ।
आयासिता तैर्जननी गर्भभारेण केवलम् ॥
- रामायणमञ्जरी, किष्किन्धा
padasthA viShamasthAnAm mitrANAm na bhavanti ye ।
AyAsitA taiH jananI garbha bhAreNa kevalam ॥
- rAmAyanamanjarI, kiShkindhA
Those who do not help their friends in distress in spite of occupying high positions of power as useless alive. They only troubled their mothers by burdening her during pregnancy. There is no other achievement during their lives.
- Ramayanamanjari, Kishkindha
पंथा देयो ब्राह्मणाय गवे राज्ञे ह्यचक्षुषे ।
वृद्धाय भारतप्ताय गर्भिण्ये दुर्बलाय च ॥
- भोधायन धर्मसूत्र
panthA deyaH brAhmaNAya gave rAjne hi achakShuShe ।
vRuddhyAya bhAra taptAya garbhiNye durbalAya cha ॥
- bhodhAyana dharma sUtra
One must stand aside and leave way for a brahmin, cows, king, blind, old people, people carrying weight, pregnant women and weak.
- Bhodhayana Dharma Sutra
प्रथमे नार्जिता विद्या द्वितीये नार्जितं धनम् ।
तृतीये नार्जितं पुण्यं चतुर्थे किं करिष्यसि ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
prathame na arjitA vidyA dvitIye na arjitam dhanam।
tRutIye na arjitam puNyam chaturthe kim kariShyasi ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
If you did not study in your early life, not earn wealth in your youth, not do noble deeds during old age - then how are you going to face death honorably?
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
कस्यैकांतं सुखमुपनतं दुःखमेकांततो वा ।
नीचैर्गच्छत्युपरि च दशा चक्रनेमिक्रमेण ॥
- मेघदूत
kasyaikAntam sukham upanatam duHkha ekAntato vA ।
nIchaiH gacchati upari cha dashaa chakranemikrameNa ॥
- meghadUta
Who in this world can live always in good fortune or always in misfortune? Fortune of a person is like a band on a wheel - it goes up and comes down alternately in time.
- Meghaduta
विकारहेतौ सति विक्रियंते ।
येषां न चेतांसि त एव दीराः ॥
- कुमारसंभव
vikArahetau sati vikriyante ।
yeShAm na chetaamsi ta eva dIrAH ॥
- kumaarasambhava
Only the mendicants who have conquered their senses can prevent their mind from being drawn towards various worldly attractions.
- Kumarasambhava
प्रत्यक्षकविकाव्यं च रूपं च कुलयोषितः ।
गृहवैद्यस्य विद्या च कस्यैचिद्यदि रोचते ॥
- काव्यमीमांसा
pratyakSha kavi kAvyaM cha rUpaM ca kula yoShitaH ।
gRuhavaidyasya vidyA cha kasyaichid yadi rochate ॥
- kAvyamImAmsa
The following things are rarely liked, usually only by a single person - Works of a contemporary poet, beauty of chaste lady and medicine of a house doctor.
- Kavyamimamsa
पक्षीणां बलमाकाशं मत्स्यानामुदकम् बलम् ।
बलं मूर्खस्य मौनित्वं तस्करस्यानृतं बलम् ॥
- शंखलिखितस्मृति
pakShINAm balam AkAshaM matsyAnAm udakam balam ।
balam mUrkhasya maunitvaM taskarasya anRutam balam ॥
- shankha likhita smRuti
Birds get their strength from wind, fish from water, fool from silence and a thief from lies.
- Shankalikhita Smriti
नोदन्वानर्थितामेति सदांभोभिः प्रपूर्यते ।
आत्मा तु पात्रानां नेयः पात्रमायांति संपदः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
na udanvAnarthitAm eti sadA ambhobhiH prapUryate ।
AtmA tu pAtrAnAM neyaH pAtramAyAnti saMpadaH ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
The mighty ocean never asks for anything. Still, it is always filled with water. One must make himself worthy first. Wealth will automatically follow.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
नैतत् समाचरेज्जातु मनसापि ह्यनीश्वरः ।
विनश्यत्याचरन् मौढ्याद् यथा रुद्रोऽब्धिजं विषम् ॥
- भागवत
naitat samAcharet jAtu manasApi hi anIshvaraH ।
vinashyati Acharan mauDhyAd yathA rudro abdhijam viSham ॥
- bhAgavata
It is foolishness if someone tries to imitate Lord Shiva and drink poison. One must not even imagine doing feats that are beyond one's abilities (and out of the world).
- Bhagavata
नेह यत्कर्म धर्माय न विरागाय कल्पते ।
न तीर्थपदसेवायै जीवन्नपि मृतो हि सः ॥
- भागवत
neha yat karma dharmAya na virAgAya kalpate ।
na tIrthapada sevAyai jIvannapi mRuto hi saH ॥
- bhAgavata
Our actions must be to uphold Dharma, or to lead us to detachment (asceticism), or to serve noble wise men (who are worthy of service). If they do not meet any of the above, then we are as good as dead.
- Bhagavata
नीतिज्ञा नियतिज्ञा वेदज्ञा अपि भवन्ति शास्त्रज्ञाः ।
ब्रह्मज्ञा अपि लभ्याः स्वाज्ञानज्ञानिनो विरलाः ॥
- अप्पय्यदीक्षित वैराग्यशतक
nItijnA niyatijnA vedajnA api bhavanti shAstrajnAH ।
brahmajnA api labhyAH sva ajNana jnAnino viralAH ॥
- appayya dIkShita vairAgya shataka
You can find people who know it all about morality, future, the vedas. You can even find people who know about Brahman - the creator. But it is very rare to find people who will know about their own ignorance.
- Appayyadikshita, Vairagya shataka
निःसारस्य पदार्थस्य प्रायेणाडंबरो महान् ।
न हि स्वर्णे ध्वनिस्तादृक्कांस्ये यादृक् प्रजायते ॥
- यशस्तिलक
niH sArasya padArthasya prAyeNa ADambaro mahAn ।
na hi svarNe dhvaniH tAdRuk kAnsye yAdRuk prajAyate ॥
- yashastilaka
Usually an item that does not have good qualities will make up for it by having a lot of decorations. Bronze makes lot of sound while gold does not.
- Yashastilaka
निस्सर्पे बद्धसर्पे वा वस्तुं हि भवने सुखं ।
दृष्टनष्टभुजंगे तु निद्रा दुःखेन गम्यते ॥
- सुभाषितसुधानिधि
nissarpe baddha sarpe vA vastuM hi bhavane sukham ।
dRuShTa naShTa bhujange tu nidrA duHkhena gamyate ॥
- subhAShitasudhAnidhi
It is easy to live in a house where there is no snake or the snake has been captured. But is is very difficult to sleep peacefully when you have seen a snake and it is has disappeared later.
- Subhashitasudhanidhi
निर्विषेणापि सर्पेण कर्तव्या महती फटा ।
विषं भवतु वा मा वा फटाटोपो भयंकरः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय
nirviSheNa api sarpeNa kartavyA mahatI phaTA ।
viSham bhavatu vA mA vA phaTATopo bhayankaraH ॥
- subhAShitaratnasamucchaya
Even when the snake is not poisonous, it must have the ability to show off its hood and hiss. Regardless of the poison, the snake that displays its hood is scary. Appearances can save the day.
- Subhashitaratnasamucchaya
निमित्तेभ्यः प्रवर्तन्ते सर्व एव स्वभूतये ।
अभिप्रायानुरोधोऽपि स्वार्थस्यैव प्रसिद्धये ॥
- वाक्यपदीय
nimittebhyaH pravartante sarva eva svabhutaye ।
abhiprAya anurodho api svArthas aiva prasiddhaye ॥
- vAkyapadIya
Every action one takes is always intended to benefit him. Even when he follows someone else's opinions. No one will follow others unless they see that there is self interest in it.
- Vakyapadiya
निमित्तमुद्दिश्य हि यः प्रकुप्यति
ध्रुवं स तस्यापगमे प्रशाम्यति ।
अकारणद्वेषपरोहि यो भवेत्
कथं नरस्तं परितोषयिष्यति ॥
- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद
nimittam uddeshya hi yaH prakupyati
dhruvam sa tasya Apagame prashAmyati ।
akAraNa dveSha parohi yo bhavet
kathaM narastam paritoShayiShyati ॥
- panchatantra, mitrabheda
When one's anger has a specific source (reason), then the anger subsides naturally when the reason no longer exists. But if one is indulged in meaningless hatred then how can we find ways to placate him?
- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda
नित्यमास्यं शुचि स्त्रीणां शकुनैः फलपातने ।
प्रसवे च शुचिर्वत्सः श्वा मृगग्रहणे शुचिः ॥
- मनुस्मृति
nityam Asyam shuchi strINAm shakunaiH phalapAtane ।
prasave cha shuchir vatsaH shvA mRugagrahaNe shuchiH ॥
- manu smRuti
A woman's face is always clean. Fruits that the birds drop (after eating half) are not to be considered dirty. The udder of a cow that is sucked by a calf is clean. If a dog brings the hunted meat, it is also considered clean - not dirty.
- Manu Smriti
निजदोषावृतमनसामतिसुंदरमेव भाति विपरीतम् ।
पश्यति पित्तोपहतः शशिशुभ्रं शंखमपि पीतम् ॥
- काव्यप्रकाश
nija doSha AvRuta manasAm atisundaram eva bhAti viparItam ।
pashyati pittopahataH shashishubhram shankham api pItam ॥
- kAvyaprakasha
Those who are imperfect themselves, will always see fault in others. Even if a caunch shell is as white as the moon, a person with jaundice will see it yellow (pale).
- Kavyaprakasha
निर्गुणः शोभते नैव विपुलाडंबरोऽपि ना ।
आपातरम्यपुष्टिश्रीशोभितः शाल्मलिर्यथा ॥
- रसगंगाधर
nirguNaH shobhate naiva vipula ADambaro api nA ।
ApAta ramya puShTi shrIshobhitaH shAlmaliH yathA ॥
- rasagangAdhara
If you don't have good qualities, then any amount of decoration will not make you look attractive. It will be like a silk cotton tree that has beautiful flowers and fruits to look but useless.
- Rasagangadhara
नालंबते दैष्टिकतां न निषीदति पौरुषे ।
शब्दार्थौ सत्कविरिव द्वयं विद्वानपेक्षते ॥
- शिशुपालवध
nAlambate daiShTikatAm na niShIdati pauruShe ।
shabdArthau satkaviriva dvayaM vidvAn apekShate ॥
- shishupAlavadha
Just like a good poet will always try to get this work to be a good combination of words and its meaning - we should also depend on both our efforts and will of the providence. Relying on only one of them will not be appropriate.
- Shishupalavadha
नारिकेलसमाना हि दृश्यन्ते खलु सज्जनाः ।
अन्ये बदरिकातुल्या बहिरेव मनोहराः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
nArikela samAnA hi dRushyate khalu sajjanAH ।
anye badarikA tulyA bahireva manoharaaH ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
It is true that the virtuous can be compared to a coconut. They are tough and rough from the outside, but are sweet and tender inside. Other people are like the badarika fruit (berry of the jujube) which looks good only from outside.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
नास्ति कामसमो व्याधिः नास्ति मोहसमो रिपुः ।
नास्ति क्रोधसमो वह्निः नास्ति ज्ञानात्परं सुखम् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
nAsti kAmasamo vyAdhiH nAsti mohasamo ripuH ।
nAsti krodhasamo vahniH nAsti jnAnaat param sukham ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
There is no worse ailment than lust, no worse enemy as attachment, no fire more destructive than anger and no pleasure greater than knowledge.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
नाभ्युत्थानक्रिया यत्र नालापा मधुराक्षराः ।
गुणदोषकथा नैव तत्र हर्म्ये न गम्यते ॥
- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रसंप्राप्ति
na abhyutthAna kriyA yatra na AlApA madhura akSharAH ।
guNa doShakathA naiva tatra harmye na gamyate ॥
- panchatantra, mitrasamprApti
One must not visit a house where the guests are welcomed sitting down (not standing up in respect), where there are no sweet words spoken and where there is no harmless gossip.
- Panchatantra, Mitrasamprapti
नाप्राप्यमभिवांछंति नष्टं नेच्छंति शोचितुम् ।
आपत्स्वपि न मुह्यन्ति नराः पंडितबुद्धयः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
na aprApyam abhivAnChati naShTam na icChanti shochitum ।
Apatsu api muhyanti narAH paNDita buddhayaH ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Wise and learned men will never desire for things that are not to be had. They will not grieve over loss. They will not turn their backs on troubles - they face it head on.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
नापृष्टः कस्यचिद्ब्रूयात् न चान्यायेन पृच्छतः ।
जानन्नपि हि मेधावी जडवल्लोक आचरेत् ॥
- मनुस्मृति
na apRuShTaH kasyachid brUyAt na cha anyAyena pRucChataH ।
jAnannapi hi medhAvI jaDavat loka Acharet ॥
- manu smRuti
One must never answer without being asked a question. One must never answer when the question is not posed with correct intentions (illegal, arrogance, etc..). Even after knowing everything, a wise man must act stupid in this world.
- Manu Smriti
नाद्रव्ये निहिता काचित्क्रिया फलवती भवेत् ।
न व्यापारशतेनापि शुकवत्पाठ्यते बकः ॥
- हितोपदेश
nAdravye nihitA kAchit kriyA phalavatI bhavet ।
na vyApAra shatena api shikavat pAThyate bakaH ॥
- hitopadesha
One must not expend effort in trying to improve something that does not deserve the efforts (or simply can not change). No matter how hard you try, you can not teach a duck the same tricks you teach a parrot.
- Hitoapadesha
नातंत्री वाद्यते वीणा नाचक्रो वर्तते रथः ।
नापतिः सुखमेधेत या स्यादपि शतात्मजा ॥
- रामायण, अयोध्या
na atantrI vAdyate na achakro vartate rathaH ।
na apatiH sukhamedheta yA syAdapi shata AtmajA ॥
- rAmAyaNa, ayodhyA
A veena can not play melodiously without the strings. A chariot can not move without the wheels. A wife can not live happily without her man (after his death) even if she has hundred children.
- Ramayana, Ayodhya
न ह्यम्मयानि तीर्थानि न देवा मृच्छिलामयाः ।
ते पुनंत्युरुकालेन दर्शनादेव साधवः ॥
- भागवत
na hyam mayAni tIrthAni na devA mRut shilAmayAH ।
te punaMtyurukAlEna darshanAdeva sAdhavaH ॥
- bhAgavata
The holy water or the idols made of mud and stone will take a long time to cleanse one's sins. But virtuous people will cleanse sins by just by showing up (letting us see them).
- Bhagavata
लभेत वा प्रार्थयिता न वा श्रियम् ।
श्रिया दुरापः कथमीप्सितो जनः ॥
- अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तला
labheta vA prArthayitA na vA shriyam ।
shriyA durApaH katham Ipsito janaH ॥
- abhijnAnashAkuntalA
People who wish for wealth may or may not get it. But if wealth wishes for some people, has it ever not got it?
- Abhijnanashakuntala
