हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - अहिंसा

सर्वहिंसानिवृत्ता ये नराः सर्वंसहाश्च ये ।
सर्वस्याश्रयभूताश्च ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

sarva himsaa nivRuttA ye narAH sarvaM sahAshcha ye ।
sarvaashraya bhUtAshcha te narAH svargagAminaH ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

Those who renounce every form of violence, face all miseries with courage and patience and give shelter to all who seek refuge - will go to heaven.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - बन्धु

स बन्धुर्यो विपन्नानां आपदुद्धरणक्षमः ।
न तु दुर्विहितातीतवस्तूपालंभपण्डितः ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

sa bandhuH yaH vipannanAm Apat uddhAraNa kShamaH ।
na tu durvihita atIta vastu upAlambha panDitaH ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

He is a real friend (or relative) who can get people out of trouble. A person can not be a friend who can not manage other people's troubles or keep reminding them about past failures.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - देशं परिवर्जयेत्

यस्मिन् देशे न संमानो न मित्राणि न बांधवाः ।
न च विद्यागमः कश्चित्तं देशं परिवर्जयेत् ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

yasmin deshe na sammAno na mitrANi na baandhavAH ।
na cha vidyAgamaH kashchittam desham parivarjayet ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

One must never live in a country where he does not have respect, no friends, no relatives, no opportunities to study. He must leave such a state immediately.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - सज्जन संगः

यदि सत्संगनिरतो भविष्यसि भविष्यसि ।
तथाऽसज्जनगोष्ठीषु पतिष्यसि पतिष्यसि ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

yadi satsanga nirato bhaviShyasi bhaviShyasi ।
tathA asajjana goShThIShu patiShyasi patiShyasi ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

If you always stay in the company of virtuous people, you will live and prosper. If you fall into bad company, you will definitely fall.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - अशक्यं

यदशक्यं न तच्छक्यं यच्छक्यं शक्यमेव तत् ।
नोदके शकटं याति न नौका गच्छति स्थले ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

yad ahakyam na tat shakyam yad shakyam shakyameva tat ।
na udake shakaTam yAti na naukA gacChati sthale ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

That which is impossible will never be possible. That which is possible will always remain possible. A cart can not go over water and a ship can not move over land.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - कार्पण्यं न तु गच्छति

मनस्वी म्रियते कामं कार्पण्यं न तु गच्छति ।
अपि निर्वाणमायाति नानलो याति शीतताम् ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

manasvI mriyate kAmam kArpaNyam na tu gacChati ।
api nirvANam AyAti na analo yAti shItatAm ॥

- panchatantra, mitralAbha

Any person with self respect would prefer death to humiliation (or living thus). Fire will cease to exist, but never get cold.

- Panchatantra, Mitralabha

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद -भृत्यः

भक्तं शक्तं कुलीनं च न भृत्यमपमानयेत् ।
पुत्रवल्लालयेन्नित्यं य इच्छेच्छ्रियमात्मनः ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

bhaktam shaktam kulInam cha na bhRutyam apamAnayet ।
putravat lAlayet nityam ya icChet shriyam AtmanaH ॥

- panchatantra, mitralAbha

If you have a loyal, efficient servant from a good family (good culture) - you should never insult him. You must treat him as if he is your own son if you wish for prosperity.

- Panchatantra, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - दुरात्मनः

न धर्मशास्त्रं पठतीति कारणं
    न चापि वेदाध्ययनं दुरात्मनः ।
स्वभाव एवात्र तथातिरिच्यते
    यथा प्रकृत्या मधुरं गवां पयः ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

na dharmashAstram paThatIti kAraNam
    na chApi vedAdhyayanam durAtmanaH ।
svabhAva eva atra tathA atirichyate
    yathA prakRutyaa madhuraM gAvaM payaH ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralaabha

A rogue is rogue for ever. It doe not matter if he is studying the moral code of life, or the vedas. He will stay true to his innate nature. Just like it is natural for cow's milk to be sweet, it is natural for them to wicked.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - मुखरः

न गणस्याग्रतो गच्छेत्सिद्धे कार्ये समं फलम् ।
यदि कार्यविपत्तिः स्यात् मुखरस्तत्र हन्यते ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

na gaNaysa agrato gacchet siddhe kArye samam phalam।
yadi kArya vipattiH syAt mukharaH tatra hanyate ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralabha

One must not go in front of a group (as a leader). If the work gets done, then every one gets equal profits. If it goes wrong, then people will kill the leader here.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

[Translator's note: This is perhaps relevant when it is an unknown group of people - like a mob that has no time to think about morality, This does not deter a good leader from leading 'his' men to glory.]

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - वैद्यः

धनिकः श्रोत्रियो राजा नदी वैद्यस्तु पञ्चमः ।
पञ्च यत्र न विद्यन्ते न कुर्यात्तत्र संस्थितिम् ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

dhanikaH shrotriyaH rAjA nadI vaidyastu panchamaH ।
pancha yatra na vidyante na kuryAt tatra samsthitim ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

One must not live in a town that does not have these five - rich people (to provide employment), wise men (to consult), king (to maintain order), a river (to provide life) and a doctor.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

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

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - शरीर

शरीरस्य गुणानां च दूरमत्यंतमंतरम् ।
शरीरं क्षणविध्वंसि कल्पांतस्थायिनो गुणाः ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

sharIrasya guNAnAm cha dUram atyantam antaraM ।
sharIram kShaNa vidhvamsi kalpAnta sthAyino guNAH ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

There is a lot of difference between body and the qualities it possesses. The body is short lived. But its nature does not die till the end of time. People still talk about the qualities (good or bad) of people long after they are dead.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - सुविचार्य यत्कृतं

सुजीर्णमन्नं सुविचक्षणः सुतः
    सुशासिता स्त्री नृपतिः सुसेवितः ।
सुचिंत्य चोक्तं सुविचार्य यत्कृतं
    सुदीर्घकाले न हि याति विक्रियाम् ॥

- हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ

sujIrNamannaM suvichakShanaH sutaH
     sushAsitA strI nRupatiH susevitaH ।
suchintya choktam suvichArya yatkRutam
    sudIrghakAle na hi yAti vikriyAm ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

The following are of great value and their value does not erode over time: well digested food, well brought up son, well cultured woman, well served king, well thought speech, well deliberated action.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - शास्त्राणि

शास्त्राण्यधीत्यापि भवन्ति मूर्खाः
    यस्तु क्रियावान् पुरुषः स विद्वान् ।
सुचिन्तितं औषधमातुराणां
    न नाममात्रेण करोत्यरोगम् ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

shAstrANi adhItyApi bhavanti mUrkhAH
    yastu kriyAvAn puruShaH sa vidvAn ।
suchintitam auShadha mAturANAm
    na nAmamAtreNa karoti arogam ॥

- hitopadesha, mitralAbha

It is not enough to know what is written in the scriptures. Only he will be called wise who puts those learnings into action. Even a very well thought out medicine will not cure the illness by just uttering its name.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - प्राण

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां प्राणाः संस्थितिहेतवः ।
तन्निघ्नता किं न हतं रक्षता किं न रक्षितम् ॥

- हितोपदेश,मित्रलाभ

The four goals of life being Dharma, Wealth, Attachment (Kama) and liberation (via knowledge) are possible only because of the body we are in. Hence it is very important that we protect this body. If you let it waste away, then you have let everything down. If you protect the body, you would have protected the path to get everything else.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - सज्जनभाष

घर्मार्तं न तथा सुशीतलजलैः स्नानं मुक्तावली
    न श्रीखण्डविलेपनं सुखयति प्रत्यंगमप्यर्पितम् ।
प्रीत्यै सज्जनभाषितं प्रभवति प्रायो यथा देहिनां
    सद्युक्त्या च पुरस्कृष्टिमंत्रोपमम् ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

A tired traveler will appreciate warm talk by a virtuous man which is as attractive and knowledgeable as the hymns. Other pleasantries like fresh cold water, a pearl neck-lace, or sandalwood paste applied to the whole body will not bring as much joy as the good words of a noble man.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ

वरं कार्यं मौनं न च वचनमुक्तं यदनृतं
    वरं क्लैब्यं पुंसां न च परकलत्राभिगमनम् ।
वरं प्राणत्यागो न च पिशुनवादेष्वभिरतिः
    वरं भिक्षाशित्वं न च परधनास्वादनबलम् ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

Better be silent than telling lies. Better be impotent than be promiscuous. Better death than be a rumor-monger. Better live on alms than be feel powerful based on money belonging to someone else.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - अतिथि

बालो वा यदि वा वृद्धो युवा वा गृहमागतः ।
तस्य पूजा विधातव्या सर्वत्राभ्यागतो गुरुः ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

One must treat a guest with lot o respect and affection irrespective of whether he is a child, or youth or an old person. A guest in the house should be treated with the same respect as a teacher.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - साधवः

प्राणा यथात्मनोऽभीष्टा भूतानामपि ते तथा ।
आत्मौपम्येन भूतेषु दयां कुर्वन्ति साधवः ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

Just as one is scared about his own life, so are every body else too. Only virtuous people understand this and treat every one just the same way he treats himself.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

हितोपदेश - मित्रलाभ - धनोपयोग

धनानि जीवितं चैव परार्थे प्राज्ञ उत्सृजेत् ।
सन्निमित्तं वरं त्यागो विनाशे नियते सति ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

Wealth and one's life must be used to help others. So think the wise. Both are bound to be destroyed. So it is best used to help others.

- Hitopadesha, Mitralabha