knowledge
Nītisāra
विद्या ददाति विनयम्।
विनयाद् याति पात्रताम्।
पात्रत्वात् धनमाप्नोति
धनाद् धर्मं ततः सुखम्॥
Vidya dadati vinayam.
Vinayad yati patratam.
Patratvat dhanam apnoti
Dhanad dharmam tatah sukham.
Knowledge bestows humility. Through humility, one becomes worthy. From worthiness, one gains wealth. From wealth, one fulfills duty — and from that, happiness follows.
character
Nītisāra
अप्रियस्य च लोकस्य वचनं कर्मचेष्टितम्।
लोको भवति संप्रार्थः किं पुनः साधुसंमतः॥
Apriyasya cha lokasya vachanam karma-cheshtitam.
Loko bhavati samprarthah kim punah sadhu-sammatanh.
The world judges you by your words and actions. If even ordinary people are judged thus, what more of those who are considered virtuous?
character
Nītisāra
उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्।
परिच्छिन्नाः तु ये भूता परेषां को हितः भवेत्॥
Udara-charitanam tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam.
Parchinnah tu ye bhuta parisham ko hitah bhavet.
For those of noble character, the whole world is one family. For those who see only division — who can they truly help?
wisdom
Nītisāra
काले वर्तन्ते विद्वांसः काले भवन्ति ते क्षमाः।
काले चापरिहीयन्ते कालो हि बलवत्तरः॥
Kaale vartante vidvamsah kaale bhavanti te kshamah.
Kaale chaaaparihiyante kaalo hi balavattarah.
Wise men act in time, yield in time, and depart in time. Time is the strongest of all — everything bows before it.
life
Nītisāra
यावत्जीवेत् सुखं जीवेत् ऋणं कृत्वा घृतं पिबेत्।
भस्मीभूतस्य देहस्य पुनरागमनं कुतः॥
Yaavat-jiivet sukham jiivet rnam kritva ghritam pibet.
Bhasmi-bhutasya dehasya punaraagamanam kutah.
Live happily while you live. Even if you must borrow, enjoy the good things. Once this body is turned to ash, when will it return again?
wisdom
Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva
सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात्
न ब्रूयात् सत्यमप्रियम्।
प्रियं च नृपलोकस्य
सत्यं च प्रियवादिनः॥
Satyam brooyat priyam brooyat
Na brooyat satyam apriyam.
Priyam cha nrpa-lokasya
Satyam cha priya-vadinah.
Speak what is true. Speak what is pleasant. Do not speak what is true but unpleasant. Speak what is pleasant — for the path of the noble combines both truth and kindness.
wisdom
Nītisāra
आलस्यं हि मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महान् रिपुः।
नास्त्युत्थानपरो लोके स्वर्गोऽपि गतिर्भवेत्॥
Aalasyam hi manushyanam sharira-stho mahaan ripuh.
Naasty-utthana-paro loke swargo-api gatir bhavet.
Laziness is a great enemy dwelling within the body. There is nothing in this world — not even heaven — that one who never rises to act can attain.
service
Nītisāra
परोपकारार्थमिदं शरीरम्।
सूर्योऽपि ज्योतिरहोरात्रकरः॥
Paropakarartham idam shariram.
Suryo-api jyotir-aho-ratra-karah.
This body exists for the service of others. Even the sun shines to give light day and night — without discrimination.
knowledge
Nītisāra
दमो हि दुर्लभो लोके शमश्च विनयस्तथा।
सर्वं ज्ञानेन शक्यं हि यत्नात् कर्म विशेषतः॥
Damohi durlabho loke shamashcha vinayastatha.
Sarvam jnanena shakyam hi yatnatt karma visheshatah.
Self-control, patience, and humility are rare in this world. But through knowledge, everything becomes possible — especially through dedicated effort.
knowledge
Hitopadeśa
नास्ति विद्यासमो बन्धुः नास्ति विद्यासमो गुरुः।
नास्ति विद्यासमं मित्रं नास्ति विद्यासमो धनम्॥
Nasti vidya-samo bandhur nasti vidya-samo guruh.
Nasti vidya-samam mitram nasti vidya-samo dhanam.
There is no friend like knowledge. No teacher like knowledge. No companion like knowledge. No wealth like knowledge.
character
Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva
अष्टादश पुराणेषु व्यासस्य वचनं द्वयम्।
परोपकारः पुण्याय पापाय परपीडनम्॥
Ashtadasha puranesu Vyasasya vachanam dvayam.
Paropakarah punyaya papaya para-peedanam.
In the eighteen Puranas, the essence of Vyasa's words is just two lines: Do good to others, and do not cause them harm.
service
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28
सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद् दुःखभाग्भवेत्॥
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah
Sarve santu niramayah.
Sarve bhadrani pashyantu
Ma kashchid duhkha-bhag bhavet.
May all be happy, may all be free from illness, may all see what is auspicious, and may no one suffer.
wisdom
Unattributed; in circulation
शैले शैले न मणिक्यं, मौक्तिकं न गजे गजे।
साधवो न हि सर्वत्र, चन्दनं न वने वने ॥
Shaille shaille na manikhyam, mauktimam na gaje gaje.
Sadhavo na hi sarvatra, chandanam na vane vane.
Not every rock is a gem; not every elephant is exceptional. Not every person is noble everywhere, and not every forest holds sandalwood. True value is rare and must be sought with discernment.
wisdom
Padma Purana
श्रूयतां धर्मसर्वस्वं श्रुत्वा चैवावधार्यताम्।
आत्मनः प्रतिकूलानि परेषां न समाचरेत्॥
Shrooyataam dharmasarvasvam shrutvaa chaivaavadhaaryaataam.
Aatmaanah pratekuulaani pareShaaM na samaacheyaret.
Listen attentively to the whole of dharma, and having listened, understand it well. Whatever actions you count as adverse to your own interests, never do them to others.
wisdom
Nītisāra
अमन्त्रमक्षरं नास्ति नास्ति मूलमनौषधम्।
अयोग्यः पुरुषो नास्ति योजकस्तत्र दुर्लभः॥
Amantram aksharaM naasti naasti moolam anouShadham.
AyogyaH puruShaH naasti yojakas tatra durlabhaH.
No mantra is complete without the sacred syllable; no medicine works without its root. No person is entirely unfit — but a competent guide who can rightly apply and connect the right remedy to the right soul is rare indeed.
wisdom
Nītisāra
यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः।
यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः॥
Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devatah.
Yatraitastu na pujyante sarvastatra aphalāh kriyaḥ.
Where women are honored, the gods reside and take joy. Where women are disrespected, every action performed there is fruitless.
wisdom
Nītisāra
यस्य नास्ति स्वयं प्रज्ञा शास्त्रं तस्य करोति किम्।
लोचनाभ्यां विहीनस्य दर्पणः किं करिष्यति॥
Yasya naasti svayam prajnaH shastraM tasya karoti kim.
Locanaabhyaam vihinaasya darpaNo kim karishyati.
Scripture is of no use to one who lacks wisdom of their own. A mirror is of no use to one who has no eyes — for understanding must arise from within.
wisdom
Yoga Sūtra 1.9 (Patañjali)
मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः।
बन्धाय विषयासक्तं मुक्त्यै निर्विषयं स्मृतम्॥
Manaa eva manushyaanaM kaaraNaM bandhamokshayoH.
Bandhaaya vishayaasaktaM muktyai nirvishayaM smritam.
The mind alone is the cause of both bondage and liberation for humans. Attachment to sense objects binds; freedom comes through detachment.
