गोशतादपि गोक्षीरं प्रस्थं धान्यशतादपि ।
प्रासादादपि खट्टार्धं शेषाः परविभूतयः ॥
- महाभारत
go shatAdapi gokShIram prastham dhAnya shatAdapi ।
prAsAdAdapi khaTTaardham sheShAH para vibhUtayaH ॥
- mahAbhArata
Even if there are hundreds of cows, you need only very little milk. Even if you have hundreds of granaries, all you need a little food. Even if you have huge palace, all you need is half a bed to sleep in. Rest is to treated as if they belong to others.
- Mahabharata
गुणागुणज्ञेषु गुणा भवंति
ते निर्गुणं प्राप्य भवंति दोषाः ।
आस्वाद्यतोयाः प्रभवंति नद्यः
समुद्रमासाद्य भवन्त्यपेयाः ॥
- समयोचितपद्यरत्नमालिका
guNA aguNa jneShu guNA bhavanti
te nirguNam prApya bhavanti doShAH ।
aasvAdya toyAH prabhavanti nadyaH
samudram aasAdya bhavanti apeyaaH ॥
- samayochitapadyaratnamAlikA
If certain qualities are found in a person who can tell right from wrong, then he becomes virtuous. But if the same is found in a rogue, then it becomes a wickedness. Water in a river is so pleasant to drink. The same water becomes undrinkable when it reaches the sea.
- Samayochitapadyaratnamalika
गतेऽपि वयसि ग्राह्या विद्या सर्वात्मना बुधैः ।
यद्यपि स्यान्न फलदा सुलभा सान्यजन्मनि ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
gate api vayasi grAhyA vidyA sarvAtmanA budhaiH ।
yadyapi syAt na phaladA sulabhA syAt anya janmani ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Wise men continue to learn from every one and get wiser even at a very old age. It is not a problem if their new wisdom does not give any results immediately. It will at least make it easier in the next birth.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
कीर्तिर्हि पुरुषं लोके संजीवयति मातृवत् ।
अकीर्तिर्जीवितं हंति जीवतोऽपि शरीरिणः ॥
- महाभारत, वन
kIrtiH hi puruSham loke sanjIvayati mAtRuvat ।
akIrtiH jIvitam hanti jIvato api sharIriNaH ॥
- mahAbHArata, vana
Fame is what keeps a man filled with life – like his mother. Without any fame people are as good as dead.
- Mahabharata, Vana
कोऽर्थान् प्राप्य न गर्वितो विषयिणः कस्यापदोऽस्तं गताः
स्त्रीभिः कस्य न खण्डितं भुवि मनः को नाम राजप्रियः ।
कः कालस्य न गोचरत्वमगमत् कोऽर्थी गतो गौरवं
को वा दुर्जयदुर्गुणेषु पतितः क्षेमेण जातः पथि ॥
- समयोचितपद्यरत्नमालिका
ko arthAn prApya na garvato viShayiNaH kasya aapado astam gatAH
strIbhiH kasya na khaNditam bhuvi manaH ko nAma rAjapriyaH ।
kaH kAlasya na gocharatvam agamat ko arthI gato gauravam
ko vA durjaya durguNeShu patitaH kShemeNa jAtaH pathi ॥
- samayochitapadyaratnamAlikA
Who can keep arrogance out even after becoming wealthy? Who can claim that all their troubles are over? Whose mind has not been broken by a lady? Who does a king like? Who can cheat death for ever? Which beggar has ever gotten any respect? Who has come back to right path after having strayed to the path of sin?
- Samayochitapadyaratnamalika
कोऽन्धो योऽकार्यरतः
को बधिरो यो हितानि न शृणोति ।
को मूको यः काले
प्रियाणि वक्तुं न जानाति ॥
- प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका
ko andho yo akArya rataH
ko badhiro yo hitaani na shRunoti ।
ko mUko yaH kAle
priyANi vaktum na jAnAti॥
- prashnottararatnamAlikA
Who is blind? He who is involved in bad actions. Who is deaf? He who does not listen to good advice. Who is dumb? He who cannot speak pleasant words at appropriate time.
- Prashnottararatnamalika
कुत्र विधेयो यत्नः
विद्याभ्यासे सदौषधे दाने ।
अवधीरणा क्व कार्या
खलपरयोषित् परधनेषु ॥
- प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका
kutra vidheyo yatnaH
vidyAbhyAse sat auShadhe dAne ।
avadhIraNA kva kAryA
khala parayoShit paradhaneShu ॥
- prashnottara ratna mAlikaa
Where must we be spending time and effort? Education, a good medicine and charity. What should we avoid? Rogues, other's wives and other people's money.
- Prashnottararatnamalika
कांतावियोगः स्वजनापमानो
रणस्य शेषः कुनृपस्य सेवा ।
दरिद्रभावो विषमा सभा च
विनाग्निमेते प्रदहंति कायम् ॥
- समयोचितपद्यरत्नमालिका
kAntA viyogaH svajana apamAna
raNasya sheShaH kunRupasya sevA ।
daridrabhAvo viShamA sabhA cha
vinA agnim ete pradahanti kAyam ॥
- samayochitapadyaratnamAlikA
The following can burn our body without fire – departure of the wife, humiliation by our own people, unfinished battle, having to serve a bad king, poverty and a unfriendly assembly (of people who cannot decide right from wrong).
- Samayochitapadyaratnamalika
कुर्वन्नपि व्यलीकानि यः प्रियः प्रिय एव सः ।
अशेषदोषदुष्टोऽपि कायः कस्य न वल्लभः ॥
- समयोचितपद्यरत्नमालिका
kurvannapi vyalIkAni yaH priyaH priya eva saH ।
asheSha doShadiShTo api kAyaH kasya na vallabhaH ॥
- samayochitapadyaratnamAlikA
In spite of having innumerable defects, our loved ones still remain lovable. Just like that, everyone likes their own imperfect body.
- Samayochitapadyaratnamalika
क्षिपेद्वाक्यशरान्घोरान्न पारुष्यविषप्लुतान् ।
वाक्पारुष्यरुषा चक्रे भीमः कुरुकुलक्षयम् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
kShipet vAkya sharAn ghorAn na pAruShya viSha plutAn ।
vAk pAruShyaruShA chakre bhImaH kurukula kShayam ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
One must not throw arrows dipped in the venom of harsh speech at any one. It can only lead to destruction of self. It is the harsh words of Duryodhana that angered Bheema to eventually destroy all the Kauravas.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
केचिदज्ञानतो नष्टाः केचिन्नष्टाः प्रमादतः ।
केचित् ज्ञानावलेपेन केचिन्नष्टैस्तु नाशिताः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
kechit ajnAnato naShTAH kechit naShTAH pramAdataH ।
kechit jnAnAvalepena kechit naShTaistu nAshitaH ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Some losses happen due to ignorance. Some due to a hot mind. Some losses happen because we illusion of knowledge. Some losses will destroy us altogether.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
कुलीनैः सह संपर्कः पण्डितैः सह मित्रताम् ।
ज्ञातिभिश्च समं मेलं कुर्वाणो न विनश्यति ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
kulInaiH saha saMparkaH paNDitaiH saha mitratAm ।
jnAtibhiH cha samam melam kurvANo na vinashyati ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
He shall not be ever destroyed who has acquaintance with people of powerful families, friendship with scholars and networks among knowledgeable people.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
किं तेन जातु जातेन मातुर्यौवनहारिणा ।
आरोहति न यः स्वस्य वंशस्याग्रे ध्वजो यथा ॥
- पञ्चतंत्र
kim tena jAtu jAtena mAtuH yauvana hAriNA ।
aarohati na yaH svasya vamshasya agre dhvajo yathA ॥
- panchatantra
It is about people who can not do enough good deeds to cause the uplift of the entire family – just like the flag on the mast. What is the use of such a person being born? They take birth only to spoil the youth of their mother.
- Panchatantra
क्षांतितुल्यं तपो नास्ति संतोषान्न सुखं परम् ।
नास्ति तृष्णासमो व्याधिर्न च धर्मो दयापरः ॥
- सम्योचितपद्यमालिका
kShAntitulyo tapo nAsti santoSha anna sukham param ।
nAsti tRuShNaa samo vyAdhiH na dharmo dayA paraH ॥
- samayochitapadyamAlikA
There is no greater penance than to forgive; no greater happiness than having food to eat; no greater disease than desire and no greater dharma (moral code for life) than being compassionate.
- Samayochitapadyamalika
क्षते प्रहारा निपतंत्यभीक्ष्णं
धनक्षये दीप्यति जठराग्निः ।
आपत्सु वैराणि समुल्लसंति
छिद्रेष्वनर्था बहुलीभवंति ॥
- पञ्चतंत्र
kShate prahArA nipatanti abhIkShNam
dhanakShaye dIpyati jaTharAgniH ।
aapatsu vairANi samullAsanti
ChidreShu anarthA bahulI bhavanti ॥
- panchatantra
A wound gets hurt again and again before healing. You feel more hungry when he has no money. All your enemies rejoice (and perhaps unite) when you are in trouble. When your life is being torn apart, you commit more blunders.
- Panchatantra
क्षणशः कणश्चैव विद्यामर्थं च साधयेत् ।
क्षणत्यागे कुतो विद्या कणत्यागे कुतो धनम् ॥
- समयोचितपद्यमालिका
kShaNashaH kaNashaH chaiva vidyAm artham cha sAdhayet ।
kShaNatyAge kuto vidyA kaNatyAge kuto dhanam ॥
- samyochitapadyamAlikA
Wisdom must be accumulated second by second spent in reading. Wealth must be accumulated grain by grain. If you don't pay attention and lose seconds, you can not get good wisdom. If you don't pay attention to grains, you cannot get wealthy.
- Samyochitapadyamalika
क्षंतवो मन्दबुद्धीनामपराधो मनीषिणा ।
न हि सर्वत्रपाण्डित्यं सुलभं पुरुषे क्वचित् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
kShAntavo mandabuddhInAm aparAdhaH manIShiNA।
na hi sarvatra pANDityam sulabhaM puruShe kvachit ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Wise men should forgive mistakes by people less intelligent than them. They must understand that it is not possible to find common sense everywhere.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
कश्चित् कस्यचिदेव स्यात्सुहृद्विसंभभाजनम् ।
पद्मं विकासयत्यर्कः संकोचयति कैरवम् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
kashchit kasyachit eva syAt suhRudvisambhabhAjanam ।
padmaM vikAsayati arkaH sankochayati kairavam ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
One can only be friends and help only a few. It is not possible to be friends with everyone and be good to all. Every morning, the Sun makes the pink lotus bloom while the white lotus wilts.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
औषधार्थसुमंत्राणां बुद्धेश्चैव महात्मनाम् ।
असाध्यं नास्ति लोकेऽत्र यद्ब्रह्मांडस्य मध्यगम्॥
- पञ्चतंत्र
auShadhaaH artha sumantrANAm buddheH chaiva mahAtmanAm ।
asAdhyam nAsti loke atra yad brahmAnDasya madhyagam ॥
- panchatantra
There is nothing in this world that is impossible for - good medicine, lots of money, a sound genuine plan (not sinister) and wisdom of the virtuous men.
- Panchatantra
एहि गच्छ पतोत्तिष्ठ वद मौनं समाचर ।
एवमाशाग्रहग्रस्तैः क्रीडंति धनिनोऽर्थिभिः ॥
- समयोचितपद्यरत्नमालिका
ehi gacCha patottiShTha vada maunam samAchara ।
evam aashAgraha grastaiH krIDanti dhanino arthibhiH ॥
- samayochitapadyaratnamAlikA
Wealthy people play with poor people who are bit by the 'desire' bug. They ask the poor people to - come here, go there, fall down, get up, speak, be silent - as they wish before giving them any money.
- Samayochitapadyaratnamalika
एकोऽहमस्मीति च मन्यसे त्वं
न हृच्छयं वेत्सि मुनिं पुराणम् ।
यो वेदिता कर्मणः पापकस्य
तस्यांतिके त्वं वृजिनं करोषि ॥
- महाभारत, आदि
eko aham asmi iti cha manyase tvam
na hRucChayam vetsi muniM purANam ।
yo veditA karmaNaH pApakasya
tasyAMtike tvaM vRujinam karoShi ॥
- mahAbhArata, aadi
You are thinking that you are acting alone and there are no witnesses for your action. But you are forgetting about the greatest ancient saint who resides in your heart (God). He keeps track of all your actions and sins associated with them. How can you commit such sins in his presence?
- Mahabharata, Adi
एकेन राजहंसेन या शोभा सरसोऽभवत् ।
न सा बकसहस्रेण परितस्तीरवासिना ॥
- भोजप्रबंध
ekena rAja hamsena yA shobhA saraso abhavat ।
na sA baka sahasreNa paritaH tIravAsinA ॥
- bhojaprabandha
The beauty that one royal swan imparts on to the lake can not be matched by the thousands of ducks that live on the banks of the lake.
- Bhojaprabandha
उशना वेद यच्छास्त्रं यच्च वेद बृहस्पतिः ।
स्वभावेनैव तच्छास्त्रं स्त्रीबुद्धौ सुप्रतिष्ठितम् ॥
- समयोचितपद्यरत्नमालिका
ushanA veda yat shAstraM yat cha veda bruhaspatiH ।
svabhAvena eva tat shAstraM strIbuddhau su pratiShThitam ॥
- samayochitapadyaratnamAlikA
All the wisdom and intelligence attributed to Shukracharya and Bruhaspati is already present naturally in a woman.
- Samayochitapadyaratnamalika
उपदेशो हि मूर्खाणां प्रकोपाय न शांतये ।
पयः पानं भुजंगानां केवलं विषवर्धनम् ॥
- पञ्चतंत्र
updesho hi mUrkhANAm prakopAya na shAntaye।
payaH pAnam bhujangAnAm kevalam viSha vardhanam ॥
- panchatantra
Advice is of no use to a fool. Instead of placating him, it will only anger him more. If you let a snake drink milk, it will only lead to more venom.
- Panchatantra
उपकारिषु यः साधुः साधुत्वे तस्य को गुणः ।
अपकारिषु यः साधुः स साधुः सद्भिरुच्यते ॥
- पञ्चतंत्र
upakAriShu yaH sAdhuH sAdhutve tasya ko guNaH ।
apakAriShu yaH sAdhuH sa sAdhuH sadbhiH uchyate ॥
- panchatantra
If you find a person helping others, he is mostly a virtuous person. there is nothing special there. But if you see a person not helping (hurting) others and he still a virtuous person, then that person is special and is showing real virtue.
- Panchatantra
उद्योगेन विना नैव कार्यं किमपि सिध्यति ।
न हि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगाः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
udyogena vinA naiva kAryaM kimapi sidhyati ।
na hi suptasya simhasya pravishanti mukhe mRugAH ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Without effort no work will ever get done. Even for a ferocious lion, the deer will not go into its mount when it is sleeping.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
उदयति यदि भानुः पश्चिमे दिग्विभागे
प्रचलति यदि मेरुः शीततां याति वह्निः।
विकसति यदि पद्मं पर्वताग्रे शिलायां
न भवति पुनरुक्तं भाषितं सज्जनानाम् ॥
- समयोचित पद्यमालिका
udayati yadi bhAnuH pashchime dig vibhAge
prachalati yadi meruH shItatAm yAti vahniH।
vikasati yadi padmaM parvatAgre shilAyAm
na bhavati punaruktam bhAShitam sajjanAnAm ॥
- samayochitapadyamAlikA
Even if the Sun were to rise in the western sky, or the Mt Meru were to move, or fire would go cold, or lotus starts blooming on top of mountains among the rocks - words spoken by a virtuous person will never need to be repeated (corrected).
- Samayochitapadyamalika
उत्तमोऽप्यधमस्य स्याद्याज्ञानम्रकरः क्वचित् ।
कौस्तुभादीनि रत्नानि ययाचे हरिरंभुधिम् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
uttamaH api adhamasya syAt yAjnA namrakaraH kvachit ।
kausthubhAdIni ratnAni yayAche hariH ambhudhim ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Sometimes even the virtuous people will have spread their hands asking for favours from lowly persons. Didn't Lord Vishnu have to ask the Lord of Seas for gems like Kaustubha?
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
उत्तमं स्वार्जितं भुक्तं मध्यमं पितुरार्जितम् ।
कनिष्ठं भ्रातृवित्तं च स्त्रीवित्तमधमाधमम् ॥
- महाभारत, शान्ति
uttamam svArjitam bhuktam madhyamam pituH aarjitam ।
kaniShTham bhrAtRuvittam cha strIvittam adhamAdhama ॥
- mahAbhArata, shAnti
A virtuous person will earn and spend his own money. A normal person will spend his father's money. A lowly person will spend his brother's money. A rogue among rogues will spend money that belongs to a lady.
- Mahabharata, Shanti
ईहंते सर्वभूतानि तदिदं कर्मसंज्ञितम् ।
सिद्धिक्षेत्रमिदं पुण्यमयमेवाश्रमो महान् ॥
- भारतमंजरी
eehante sarva bhUtAni tadidam karma sanjitam ।
siddhi kShetram idam puNyamayam eva aashramo mahAn ॥
- bhArata manjarI
All the beings of the world depend on this state of man - running a household. In this state, a lot of importance is given to action - which sustains the cycle of actions in the whole world. This is a state reachable by people who have done good deeds before.
- Bharatamanjari
इदं लब्धमिदं नष्टमिदं लप्स्ये पुनर्धिया ।
इति चिंतयतामेव जीर्णमायुः शरीरिणाम् ॥
- महाभारत, शान्ति
idam labdham idam naShTam idam lapsye punaH dhiyA ।
iti chintayatAm eva jIrNam AyuH sharIriNAm ॥
- mahAbhArata, shAnti
Got this, lost that, will think about how to regain that later - people spend their entire lives in such thoughts.
- Mahabharata, Shanti
