संतुष्यत्युत्तमः स्तुत्या धनेन महताऽधमः ।
प्रसीदंति जपैर्देवा बलिर्भूतविग्रहाः ॥
- दृष्टांतकलिका
santuShyati uttamaH stutyA dhanena mahatA adhamaH ।
prasIdanti japaiH devA baliH bhUta vigrahaaH ॥
- dRuShTAntakalikA
The Virtuous people are pleased by mere good words. A lowly person is mighty pleased with money. Gods are pleased with penance, while the demons are pleased by offering sacrifices.
- Drushtantakalika
संति ह्यसाधवो लोके दुर्मैत्राश्छद्मवेषिणः ।
तेषामुदेत्यघं काले रोगः पातकिनामिव ॥
- भागवत
santi hi asAdhavaH loke durmaitrAH ChadmaveShiNaH ।
teShAm udetyagham kAle rogaH pAtakinAm iva ॥
- bhAgavata
There are rogues in this world who become bad friends and who are roaming in disguise (of noble men). Their sin will catch up with them at appropriate time - like how disease catches up with other sinners.
- Bhagavata
सत्यवंतो जितक्रोधाः बलवंतो रणप्रियाः ।
क्षांतिशीलगुणोपेताः संधेयाः पुरुषोत्तमाः ॥
- सुभाषितसुधानिधि
satyavaMto jitakrodhAH balavanto raNapriyAH ।
kShAnti shIla guNopetAH saMdheyAH puruShottamAH ॥
- subhAShitasudhAnidhi
One must befriend the virtuous whose qualities are: always truthful, never angry, strong, courageous at war, have patience, righteous.
- Subhashitasudhanidhi
सत्यधर्मविहीनेन न संदध्यात्कथंचन ।
सुसंधितोऽप्यसाधुत्वादचिराद्याति विक्रियाम् ॥
- पञ्चतंत्र, काकोलूकीय
satya dharma vihInena sandadhyAt kathamchana ।
susandhito api asAdhutvaad achiraadyAti vikriyaam ॥
- panchatantra, kAkolUkIya
One must not enter into a treaty with a rogue - who does not believe in truth and dharma. You may think you have designed the treaty very well, but him being a rogue will rescind it very soon and become an enemy again.
- Panchatantra, Kakolukiya
सतामदैन्यं वदनस्य शोभा
निर्लोभतांतर्वचसामयाञ्चा ।
कायस्य सत्सेव्यमसेवकत्वं
पाणेरुनुत्तानतलत्वमेव ॥
- चतुर्वर्गसंग्रह
satAm adainyam vadanasya shobhA
nirlobhatAm antaH vachasAm ayAnchA ।
kAyasya satsevyam asevakatvam
pANEH anuttAna talattvameva ॥
- chaturvargasangraha
A virtuous man should never show (self) pity on his face. Mind is its best when it is free from greed. Words are best used when they are not used for begging. The body is best used when serving virtuous people or being free from servitude. The palm is best used when it is never looking upwards (begging). It must always look down (giving).
- Chaturvargasangraha
सत्यश्चाद्य प्रवादोऽयं लौकिकः प्रतिभाति मा ।
पितृन् समनुजायन्ते नरा मातारमङ्गनाः ॥
- रामायण, अयोध्या
satyaH cha adya pravAdaH ayam laukikaH pratibhAti maa ।
pitRun sama anujAyante narA mAtAram anganAH ॥
- rAmAyaNa, ayodhyA
It is not seeming to be true what people say - Sons will inherit the qualities of the father and daughters that of the mother. (As told by Sumantra to Kaikeyi)
- Ramayana, Ayodhya
स जीवति गुणा यस्य धर्मो यस्य स जीवति ।
गुणधर्मविहीनो यो निष्फलं तस्य जीवितम् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
sa jIvati guNA yasya dharma yasya sa jIvati ।
guNadharma vihIno yo niShphalam tasya jIvitam ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
One must have righteous qualities and follow dharma. Only then he can be said to have lived. If one is devoid of both righteousness and dharma, his life is wasted.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
स जातो येन जातेन याति वंशः समुन्नतिं ।
परिवर्तनि संसारे मृतः को वा न जायते ॥
- हितोपदेश
sa jato yena jAtena yAti vamshaH samunnatim ।
parivartani samsAre mRutaH ko vA na jAyate ॥
- hitopadesha
He is remembered to be born if by his birth the family benefits and prospers. In this eternal world, what is so great is being re-born? Everyone does.
- Hitopadesha
स्वच्छंदवनजातेन शाकेनापि प्रपूर्यते ।
अस्य दग्धोदरस्यार्थे कः कुर्यात्पातकं महत् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
svacchanda vanajAtena shAkenApi prapUryate ।
asya dagdha udarasyArthe kaH kuryAt pAtakam mahat ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Hunger can be satiated by tubes and fruits that grow freely in the forests. Then why does one commit horrible sins just to satiate this burnt stomach?
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
स किंसखा साधु न शास्ति योऽधिपं
हितान्न यः संशृणुते स किंप्रभुः ।
सदानुकूलेषु हि कुर्वते रतिं
नृपेष्वमात्येषु च सर्वसंपदः ॥
- किरातार्जुनीय
sa kimsakhA sAdhu na shAsti yodhipam
hitAnna yaH samshruNute sa kimprabhuH ।
sadAnukUleShu hi kurvate ratim
nRupeShu amAtyeShu cha sarva sampadaH ॥
- kirAtArjunIya
His is a bad friend who does not give good advice to the king. He is a bad king when he does not listen to the good advice. Only when the king and the minister have a very good relationship, does the kingdom prosper.
- Kiratarjuniya
षडेते ह्यवमन्यंते नित्यं पूर्वोपकारिणं
आचार्यं शिक्षिताः शिष्याः कृतदाराश्च मातरम् ।
नारीं विगतकामास्तु कृतार्थश्च प्रयोजकम्
नावं निस्तीर्णकांतारा आतुराश्च चिकित्सकम् ॥
- महाभारत, उद्योग
Shad ete hi avamanyante nityam pUrvopakAriNam
aachAryam shikShitAH shiShyAH kRutadArAH cha mAtaram ।
nArIm vigata kAmAH tu kRutArthashcha prayojakam
nAvam nistIrNakAMtArA aaturAshcha chikitsakam ॥
- mahAbhArata, udyoga
The following six people are known to forget those who helped them before - students forgetting their teachers, daughters forgetting about mothers after marrying, a mendicant who has no interest in sensual pleasures forgetting the ladies who gave him pleasures, any beneficiary of help forgetting the benefactor, people forgetting the boatman after crossing the river and patients forgetting about the doctor after being treated.
- Mahabharata, Udyoga
शोको नाशयते धैर्यं शोको नाशयते श्रुतम् ।
शोको नाशयते सर्वं नास्तिं शोकसमो रिपुः ॥
- रामायण, अयोध्या
shoko nAshayate dhairyam shoko nAshayate shrutam ।
shoko nAshayate sarvam nAstim shokasamo ripuH ॥
- rAmAyaNa, ayodhyA
Grief makes you lose courage. It makes you forget what you have learnt. It destroys everything you have. There is no greater enemy than grief.
- Ramayana, Ayodhya
श्वैत्यं कल्पय कज्जले कपिकुलेष्वारोपयाचापलं
कोदण्डे जनयार्जवं विरचय ग्राव्णां गणे मार्दवम् ।
निंबे साधय माधुरीं सुरभितामादौ रसोने कुरु
प्रेमाणं गणिकाजनेऽपि चतुरः पश्चात् सखे द्रक्ष्यसि ॥
- मुग्धोपदेश
shvaityam kalpaya kajjale kapi kuleShu aaropaya achApalam
kodanDam janaya aarjavam virachaya grAvNaam gaNe mArdavam ।
nimbe saadhaya mAdhurIm surabhitAm aadau rasone kuru
premANam gaNikAjana api chaturaH pashchAt sakhe drakShyasi ॥
- mughDhopadesha
Dear friend, if you are very smart then try changing these - make kajal white, bring order and calmness to a group of monkeys, make the bow straight, make a hard rock soft, bring sweetness to neem, bring fragrance to garlic. At this point you will realize that all these may be possible, but it is not possible to find love in the heart of a prostitute.
- Mughdhopadesha
शैले शैले न माणिक्यं मौक्तिकं न गजे गजे ।
साधवो न हि सर्वत्र चंदनं न वने वने ॥
- सुभाषितसुधानिधि
shaile shaile na mANikyam mauktikam na gaje gaje ।
sAdhavo na hi sarvatra chandanam na vane vane ॥
- subhAShitasudhAnidhi
Greatness cannot be found in all places. Every stone is not a gem. Every elephant will not have a gem on its head. Noble men cannot be found everywhere. Not every forest will have sandalwood.
- Subhashitasudhanidhi
शुकवद् भाषणम् कुर्याद् बकवद्ध्यानमाचरेत् ।
अजवच्चवर्णं कुर्याद् गजवत् स्नानमाचरेत् ॥
- समयोचितपद्यमालिका
shukavad bhAShaNam kuryAd bakavad dhyAnam aacharet ।
ajavat chavarNam kuryAd gajavat snAnam aachareyt ॥
- samayochitapadyamAlikA
A wise must emulate good qualities from everywhere - speech of a parrot, concentration of a crane, chewing (deliberation) of a goat and relaxed bathing of an elephant.
- Samayochitapadyamalika
शत्रोरपि गुणा वाच्या दोषा वाच्या गुरोरपि ।
सर्वदा सर्वयत्नेन पुत्रे शिष्यवदाचरेत् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
shatrorapi guNA vAchyaa doShA vAchyA gurorapi ।
sarvadaa sarva yatnena putre shishyavat aacharet ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
A good quality has to be highlighted even if it is found in an enemy. If a vice is found in your teacher, that should be called out also. At all times, every effort must be made to treat a son like a student.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
श्रद्धधानाय भक्ताया विनीतायाननूयवे ।
भूतेषु कृतमैत्राय शुश्रूषाभिरताया च ॥
- भागवत
shraddhadhAnAya bhaktAyA vinItAya anasUyave ।
bhUteShu kRutamaitrAya shushrUShAbhiratAya cha ॥
- bhAgavata
The elixir of knowledge has to be bestowed on someone who shows dedication, devotion, humility, free from jealousy, has compassion towards all beings, willing to serve and willing to listen.
- Bhagavata
शत्रौ सांत्वं प्रतीकारः सर्वरोगेषु भेषजम् ।
मृत्योर्मृत्युंजयध्यानं दारिद्र्ये तु न किंचन ॥
- कलिविडंबन
shatrau sAntvam pratIkAraH sarvarogeShu bheShajam ।
mRutyoH mRutyunjaya dhyAnam dAridrye tu na kinchana ॥
- kalividambana
Even the enemy can be made to drop the hatred by adept diplomacy. Every disease has a medicine. Even death can be put away (temporarily) by chanting the Mrityunjaya mantra. But poverty has no solution.
- Kalividambana
वैकल्यं धरणीपातमयथोचितजल्पनम् ।
संनिपातस्य चिह्नानि मद्यं सर्वाणि दर्शयेत् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय
vaikalyam dharaNIpAtam ayathochita jalpanam ।
sannipAtasya chihnAni madyam sarvANi darshayet ॥
- subhAShitasamucchaya
Extreme anxiety, falling on the ground often, talking meaninglessly are all the signs of one losing his mind. Consuming alcohol also displays same symptoms.
- Subhashitasamucchaya
वीणेव श्रोत्रहीनस्य लोलाक्षीव विचक्षुषः ।
व्यसोः कुसुममालेव श्रीः कदर्यस्य निष्फला ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
veenA iva shrotra heenasya lolAkShi iva vichakShuShaH ।
vyasoH kusuma mAlA iva shrIH kadaryasya niShphalaa ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Just like melody of veena is lost on someone who can't hear, a beauty of a damsel is lost on a blind person and garlands of flower is lost on a dead body - wealth loses its purpose when it accumulates with a miser.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
विषादयमृतं ग्राह्यं बालादपि सुभाषितम् ।
अमित्रादपि सद्वृत्तं अमेध्यादपि कांचनम् ॥
- मनुस्मृति
viShAd amRutam grAhyam bAlAdapi subhAShitam ।
amitrAdapi sadvRuttam amedhyaadapi kAnchanam ॥
- manu smRiti
Elixir should be extracted even from poison. A good saying must be learnt even from a small child. Good character must be emulated even from enemies. Gold must be extracted even from garbage.
- Manu Smriti
विषं विषेण व्यथते वज्रं वज्रेण भिद्यते ।
गजेन्द्रो दृष्टसारेण गजेन्द्रेणैव बध्यते ॥
- नीतिसार
viSham viSheNa vyathate vajram vajreNa bhidyate ।
gajendro dRuShTasAreNa gajendreNa eva badhyate ॥
- neetisAra
Poison can be neutralised by another kind of poison. Diamond can be cut only by diamond. Only a stronger elephant can catch an elephant. Such is the nature of innate character.
- Neetisara
विवेकालंकृतं चेतो रूपं गुणविवर्धितम् ।
सुहृद्बंधुवृता लक्ष्मीर्लक्षणं पुण्यकर्मणाम् ॥
- भारतमञ्जरी, उद्योग
viveka alamkRuta cheto rUpam guNa vivardhitam ।
suhRud bandhu vRuttA lakShmIH lakShaNam puNyakarmaNAm ॥
- bhAratamanjarI, udyoga
These are qualities found in a fortunate person - mind is bestowed with wisdom, beauty is augmented with good character and wealth is to be spent when well wishing relatives and friends.
- Bharatamanjari, Udyoga
विवाहकाले रतिसंप्रयोगे
प्राणात्यये सर्वधनापहारे ।
विप्रस्य चार्थे ह्यनृतं वदेत
पंचानृतान्याहुरपातकानि ॥
- महाभारत, कर्ण
vivAhakAle rati samprayoge
prAnAtyaye sarva dhana apahAre।
viprasya cha arthe hi anRutam vadeta
panchAni anRutAni AhuH apAtakAni ॥
- mahAbhArata, karNa
There are five instances when uttering a lie does not attract sin - during a wedding (to make it happen), romantic banter, when one's life is threatened, when you have lost all money and to help a (poor) brahmin.
- Mahabharata, Karna
[translator's note: http://wordsofwisdom.in/subhashitani/2010/07/28/]
विरूपो यावदादर्शे नात्मनः पश्यते मुखम् ।
मन्यते तावदात्मानमन्येभ्यो रूपवत्तरम् ॥
- महाभारत, आदि
virUpo yavat aadarshe na aatmanaH pashyate mukham ।
manyate tAvat aatmanam anyebhyo rUpavattaram ॥
- mahabhaarata, aadi
Even an ugly looking person believes he is more beautiful than everyone else until he looks at the mirror.
- Mahabharata, Adi
विभूतिस्त्यागहीनेव सत्यहीनेव भारति ।
विद्या प्रशमहीनेव न भाति स्त्री पतिं विना ॥
- रामायणमञ्जरी, अयोध्या
vibhUtiH tyAgahIna iva satya hIna iva bhArati ।
vidyA prashamahIna iva na bhAti strI patim vinA ॥
- rAmAyaNa manjarI, ayodhyA
Wealth is incomplete if one does not have a charitable mind. Speech is incomplete and useless if it is not truthful. Education is incomplete unless it helps you subdue your emotion. A lady without her husband is similarly incomplete.
- Ramayana Manjari, Ayodhya
विना शीलेन वनिता वाग्मिता विद्यया विना ।
विनियोगैर्विना वित्तं मास्तु कस्यापि जीवनः ॥
- हरिहरसुभाषित
vinA shIlena vanitA vAgmitA vudyayA vinA।
viniyogairvinA vittam mAstu kasyApi jIvanaH ॥
- harihara subhAShita
Let nobody ever have these in their lives - a lady without character, an orator without education (wisdom) and wealth that is not used properly.
- Harihara Subhashita
विदैवज्ञं ग्रामं विबुधविधुरां भूपतिसभां
मुखं श्रुत्या जीनं मनुजपतिशून्यं च विषयम् ।
अनाचारन् दारानपहरिकथं काव्यमपि च
प्रवक्तृत्वापेतं गुरुमपि सुबुद्धिः परिहरेत् ॥
- विश्वगुणादर्श
vidaivajnam grAmam vibudha vidhurAM bhUpati sabhAm
mukham shrutyA hInam manujapatishUnyam cha viShayam ।
anAcArAn dArAn apaharikatham kAvyamapi cha
pravaktRutvApetam gurumapi subuddhiH pariharet ॥
- vishvaguNAdarsha
A wise man will avoid these: a village without a person who understands God (to approach when troubled), a kings court that does not have wise advisors, face of someone who has not studied scriptures, a kingdom that does not have any king, a wife who does not follow Dharma and a poem that is not a story of God (in someway or other) and a teacher who does not teach well.
- Vishvagunadarsha
विदुषां वदनाद्वचः सहसा यांति नो बहिः ।
याताश्चेन्न परांचंति द्विरदानां रदा इव ॥
- भामिनीविलास
viduSHAm vadanAt vachaH sahasA yAnti no bahiH ।
yAtAshchet parAnchanti dviradAnAm radaa iva ॥
- bhAminIvilAsa
Scholars rarely utter words because they think too much before uttering any word. But once they utter, they will not take it back. Elephants grow tusks very late. But once they do, they look magnificent.
- Bhaminivilasa
विद्यातपोऽधिकानां च प्रथमासनमुच्यते ।
पंक्तौ सह स्थितानां तु भोजनादि समं स्मृतम् ॥
- हारीत
vidyA tapo adhikAnAm cha prathama aasanam uchyate ।
panktau saha sthitAnAm tu bhojanAdi samam smRutam ॥
- hArita
People who have attained greatness by having excess of education and penance must be seated ahead of every one. But once, people are all seated in the same row, they must all be served equally (in terms of food, respect etc...)
- Harita
विद्वत्सु विमलज्ञाना विरक्ता यतिषु स्थिताः ।
स्वीयेषु च गरोद्गारा नानाकाराः क्षितौ खलाः ॥
- रसगंगाधर
vidvatsu vimala jnAnaa viraktA yatiShu sthitAH ।
svIyeShu cha garodgArA nAnA aakAraaH kShitau khalAH ॥
- rasagangAdhara
Wicked people in this world come in various forms. When they are in company of scholars, they are in the form of a realised soul (with clear mind). When in company of saints they look like ascetics. When they are among others of their own kind, they become very vicious and spit poison.
- Rasagangadhara
