Scriptural Quotes

यस्मिन्देशे न सम्मानो न वृत्तिर्न च बान्धवाः । न च विद्यागमोऽप्यस्ति …

Do not make your home in a place where there is no respect, no means of livelihood, no relatives, and no opportunity to acquire… Read more

आतुरे व्यसने प्राप्ते दुर्भिक्षे शत्रुसङ्कटे । राजद्वारे श्मशाने च …

He who stands by you during illness, in times of sorrow, during a famine, when facing an enemy attack, at the king's court (legal… Read more

विषादप्यमृतं ग्राह्यममेध्यादपि काञ्चनम् । अमित्रादपि सद्वृत्तं बालादपि …

One should accept nectar even if it comes from poison, gold even if it is found in filth, good conduct even from an enemy,… Read more

लालनाद्बहवो दोषास्ताडने बहवो गुणाः । तस्मात्पुत्रं च शिष्यं …

Overindulgence breeds many flaws, while strict correction instills many virtues. Therefore, correct your son and your student firmly when needed; do not ruin them… Read more

श्लोकेन वा तदर्धेन तदर्धार्धाक्षरेण वा । अबन्ध्यं दिवसं कुर्याद्दानाध्ययनकर्मभिः …

One should make every single day fruitful by studying a full verse, a half verse, or even a quarter of a verse, or by… Read more

आचारः कुलमाख्याति देशमाख्याति भाषणम् । सम्भ्रमः स्नेहमाख्याति वपुराख्याति …

A person's conduct reveals their family upbringing; their speech reveals their native country; their eagerness reveals their affection; and their physical build reveals the… Read more

त्यजेदेकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् । ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे …

For the sake of saving a family, a single individual may be sacrificed. For the sake of saving a village, a family may be… Read more

अतिरूपेण वा सीता अतिगर्वेण रावणः । अतिदानाद्बलिर्बद्धो ह्यतिसर्वत्र वर्जयेत् …

Sita was abducted because of her extraordinary beauty; Ravana met his downfall due to his excessive pride; and King Bali was bound because of… Read more

लालयेत्पञ्चवर्षाणि दशवर्षाणि ताडयेत् । प्राप्ते तु षोडशे …

Pamper and shower love on a child for the first five years. For the next ten years, guide and discipline them strictly. But once… Read more

उपसर्गेऽन्यचक्रे च दुर्भिक्षे च भयावहे । असाधुजनसम्पर्के यः पलायेत्स …

He who knows when to flee from a massive disturbance, a foreign invasion, a devastating famine, or the dangerous company of wicked individuals is… Read more

कः कालः कानि मित्राणि को देशः कौ व्ययागमौ । कश्चाहं का च …

One must constantly reflect upon these questions: What are the current times? Who are my true friends? What is this place? What are my… Read more

यथा चतुर्भिः कनकं परीक्ष्यते निघर्षणच्छेदनतापताडनैः । तथा चतुर्भिः पुरुषः …

Just as gold is tested in four ways, by rubbing, cutting, heating, and beating, so a person is tested in four ways: by their… Read more

निःस्पृहो नाधिकारी स्यान्नाकामो मण्डनप्रियः । नाविदग्धः प्रियं ब्रूयात्स्पष्टवक्ता …

A person completely free of selfish desires cannot easily be drawn into office; one who lacks passion does not care for ornamentation; an unrefined… Read more

आलस्योपगता विद्या परहस्तगतं धनम् । अल्पबीजं हतं क्षेत्रं …

Knowledge that is neglected due to laziness is ruined; wealth that has passed into another person's hands is effectively lost; a field sown with… Read more

जनिता चोपनेता च यस्तु विद्यां प्रयच्छति । अन्नदाता भयत्राता पञ्चैते …

The biological father, the priest who performs the initiation, the teacher who imparts knowledge, the provider of food, and the protector from danger: these… Read more

राजपत्नी गुरोः पत्नी मित्रपत्नी तथैव च । पत्नीमाता स्वमाता च …

The queen, the wife of one's spiritual master, the wife of a close friend, the mother-in-law, and one's own mother: these five are revered… Read more

तादृशी जायते बुद्धिर्व्यवसायोऽपि तादृशः । सहायास्तादृशा एव यादृशी …

When destiny wishes to bear fruit, a person's intellect bends accordingly; their effort aligns with it; and the companions they attract are exactly of… Read more

न पश्यति च जन्मान्धः कामान्धो नैव पश्यति । मदोन्मत्ता न पश्यन्ति …

A person born blind cannot see; a person blinded by lust does not see (moral boundaries); the intoxicated by pride do not see (reality);… Read more

राजा राष्ट्रकृतं पापं राज्ञः पापं पुरोहितः । भर्ता च स्त्रीकृतं …

A ruler bears the burden of the sins committed within his realm; the royal priest absorbs the sins of the ruler; a husband shares… Read more

लुब्धमर्थेन गृह्णीयात्स्तब्धमञ्जलिकर्मणा । मूर्खं छन्दोऽनुवृत्त्या च …

Win over a greedy person with money; win over an arrogant person with folded hands and humility. Win over a fool by humouring his… Read more

सिंहादेकं बकादेकं शिक्षेच्चत्वारि कुक्कुटात् । वायसात्पञ्च शिक्षेच्च षट्शुनस्त्रीणि …

Learn one quality from the lion, one from the stork, four from the rooster, five from the crow, six from the dog, and three… Read more

प्रभूतं कार्यमल्पं वा यन्नरः कर्तुमिच्छति । सर्वारम्भेण तत्कार्यं सिंहादेकं …

Whether a task is great or small, a person should approach it with their full strength and total effort. This is the one supreme… Read more

इन्द्रियाणि च संयम्य रागद्वेषविवर्जितः । समदुःखसुखः शान्तः तत्त्वज्ञः …

Restraining the senses, free from attachment or hatred, balanced in pleasure and pain, peaceful and patient: such a person is called wise; this is… Read more

प्रत्युत्थानं च युद्धं च संविभागं च बन्धुषु । स्वयमाक्रम्य भुक्तं च …

Rising early, fighting boldly when challenged, sharing with kinsmen, and earning one's own food by personal effort: these are the four lessons to learn… Read more

गूढमैथुनचारित्वं काले काले च सङ्ग्रहम् । अप्रमत्तमविश्वासं पञ्च शिक्षेच्च …

Keeping intimate matters private, storing up resources at the right times, vigilance, alertness, and not trusting blindly: these five qualities are to be learned… Read more

बह्वाशी स्वल्पसन्तुष्टः सनिद्रो लघुचेतनः । स्वामिभक्तश्च शूरश्च षडेते …

Eating heartily when food is available, being content with little when it is not, deep sleep yet waking instantly at the slightest sound, loyalty… Read more

सुश्रान्तोऽपि वहेद्भारं शीतोष्णं न च पश्यति । सन्तुष्टश्चरते नित्यं त्रीणि …

Carrying its burden even when exhausted, paying no mind to cold or heat, and going about its duty always content: these three lessons are… Read more

य एतान्विंशतिगुणानाचरिष्यति मानवः । कार्यावस्थासु सर्वासु अजेयः …

Any human being who adopts and practises these twenty virtues in their life will remain undefeated and successful in all their endeavours.

विप्रयोर्विप्रवह्न्योश्च दम्पत्योः स्वामिभृत्ययोः । अन्तरेण न गन्तव्यं …

One should never walk between two scholars, between a scholar and his sacred fire, between a husband and wife, between a master and his… Read more

अनुलोमेन बलिनं प्रतिलोमेन दुर्जनम् । आत्मतुल्यबलं शत्रुं विनयेन …

Neutralize a stronger adversary by going along with him; counter a wicked person by acting opposite to his expectations. Face an enemy of equal… Read more

नात्यन्तं सरलैर्भाव्यं गत्वा पश्य वनस्थलीम् । छिद्यन्ते सरलास्तत्र कुब्जास्तिष्ठन्ति …

Do not be excessively straightforward in your dealings. Go and observe the forest: it is the perfectly straight trees that are chopped down first,… Read more

अत्यंतकोपः कटुका च वाणी दरिद्रता च स्वजनेषु वैरम् । नीचप्रसंगः कुलहीनसेवा चिह्नानि …

Uncontrolled anger, bitter speech, severe poverty, hostility toward one's own kin, association with the vile, and serving the dishonourable: these six are the marks… Read more

पुष्पे गन्धं तिले तैलं काष्ठेऽग्निं पयसि घृतम् । इक्षौ गुडं तथा …

Just as fragrance is hidden in a flower, oil in a sesame seed, fire in wood, ghee in milk, and jaggery in sugarcane, so… Read more

दीपो भक्षयते ध्वान्तं कज्जलं च प्रसूयते । यदन्नं भक्षयते नित्यं …

A lamp consumes darkness and produces black soot. Likewise, the food a person consumes daily shapes their character and the nature of their offspring.

अजीर्णे भेषजं वारि जीर्णे वारि बलप्रदम् । भोजने चामृतं वारि …

During indigestion, water acts as medicine; after food has digested, water imparts strength. Small sips during a meal are like nectar, but gulping water… Read more

क्रोधो वैवस्वतो राजा तृष्णा वैतरणी नदी । विद्या कामदुधा धेनुः …

Anger is like Yama, the lord of death; greed is like the dreadful river Vaitarani of hell. Knowledge is like the wish-fulfilling cow Kamadhenu,… Read more

मांसभक्ष्यैः सुरापानैर्मुखैश्चाक्षरवर्जितैः । पशुभिः पुरुषाकारैर्भाराक्रान्ता हि …

Those who indulge in meat, intoxicate themselves with liquor, and remain wholly unlettered are mere animals in human form, and a burden upon the… Read more

मुक्तिमिच्छसि चेत्तात विषयान्विषवत्त्यज । क्षमार्जवदयाशौचं सत्यं पीयूषवत्पिब …

My dear child, if you desire liberation, cast away the objects of sensual pleasure as if they were poison. Drink deeply of forgiveness, straightforwardness,… Read more

सर्वौषधीनाममृता प्रधाना सर्वेषु सौख्येष्वशनं प्रधानम् । सर्वेन्द्रियाणां नयनं प्रधानं …

Among all medicinal herbs, Amrita (Giloy) is foremost; among all comforts, food is foremost; among all the senses, the eye is foremost; and among… Read more

अहिं नृपं च शार्दूलं वृद्धं च बालकं तथा । परश्वानं च मूर्खं …

A venomous snake, a king, a tiger, an elderly person, an infant, another's dog, and a fool: these seven, when asleep, should never be… Read more

निर्विषेणापि सर्पेण कर्तव्या महती फणा । विषमस्तु न चाप्यस्तु …

Even a non-venomous snake should raise its hood high. Whether the poison is real or not, an intimidating display is itself fearsome.

दह्यमानाः सुतीव्रेण नीचाः परयशोऽग्निना । अशक्तास्तत्पदं गन्तुं ततो …

Base individuals burn with intense jealousy in the blazing fire of another's success. Unable to reach those heights themselves, they take refuge in slander… Read more

सुखार्थी चेत्त्यजेद्विद्यां विद्यार्थी चेत्त्यजेत्सुखम् । सुखार्थिनः कुतो विद्या …

If one longs for comfort, one must give up learning. If one seeks learning, one must give up comfort. How can a pleasure-seeker acquire… Read more

येषां न विद्या न तपो न दानं ज्ञानं न शीलं न गुणो न धर्मः । ते मर्त्यलोके भुवि …

Those who possess neither learning, austerity, charity, wisdom, character, virtue, nor any sense of duty are a burden upon the earth. They wander the… Read more

दुर्जनं सज्जनं कर्तुमुपायो नहि भूतले । अपानं शातधा धौतं …

There is no method on earth that can transform a wicked person into a virtuous one. Even an organ of elimination, though washed a… Read more

दाक्षिण्यं स्वजने दया परजने शाठ्यं सदा दुर्जने प्रीतिः साधुजने स्मयः खलजने विद्वज्जने चार्जवम् । शौर्यं शत्रुजने क्षमा …

Politeness to one's kin, compassion to strangers, sharp cunning toward the wicked, love for the virtuous, a detached coldness for the vile, straightforwardness with… Read more

जलबिन्दुनिपातेन क्रमशः पूर्यते घटः । स हेतुः सर्वविद्यानां …

A water pitcher is filled drop by drop. The same principle is the cause of all learning, the cultivation of righteousness, and the building… Read more

गते शोको न कर्तव्यो भविष्यं नैव चिन्तयेत् । वर्तमानेन कालेन वर्तयन्ति …

One should not grieve over the past, nor obsess about the future. The truly wise direct their focus entirely toward managing the present moment.

राज्ञि धर्मिणि धर्मिष्ठाः पापे पापाः समे समाः । राजानमनुवर्तन्ते यथा राजा …

If the king is righteous, the subjects are righteous; if he is corrupt, they too become corrupt; if he is balanced, so are they.… Read more

जीवन्तं मृतवन्मन्ये देहिनं धर्मवर्जितम् । मृतो धर्मेण संयुक्तो …

A living person devoid of righteousness I regard as already dead. One who has died yet was joined to righteousness lives on long, without… Read more

यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो गच्छति मातरम् । तथा यच्च कृतं …

Just as a calf finds its own mother among a thousand cows, so the deeds one has done track down and follow the one… Read more

बहूनां चैव सत्त्वानां समवायो रिपुञ्जयः । वर्षाधाराधरो मेघस्तृणैरपि निवार्यते …

An alliance even of small creatures conquers a formidable enemy, just as a heavy rain-bearing cloud can be warded off by a roof of… Read more

प्रस्तावसदृशं वाक्यं प्रभावसदृशं प्रियम् । आत्मशक्तिसमं कोपं यो …

He who knows how to speak words that fit the occasion, how to show affection in proportion to his actual influence, and how to… Read more

त्यज दुर्जनसंसर्गं भज साधुसमागमम् । कुरु पुण्यमहोरात्रं स्मर …

Renounce the company of the wicked; embrace the company of the noble. Perform virtuous deeds day and night, and constantly remember what is eternal… Read more

खलानां कण्टकानां च द्विविधैव प्रतिक्रिया । उपानन्मुखभङ्गो वा दूरतो …

There are only two effective responses to malicious people and to sharp thorns: crush them beneath the sole of your shoe, or leave them… Read more

बन्धनानि खलु सन्ति बहूनि प्रेमरज्जुकृतबन्धनमन्यत् । दारुभेदनिपुणोऽपि षडंघ्रिर्निष्क्रियो भवति …

There are many kinds of bondage, but the bond made by the cord of love is of a different order. The honeybee, skilled even… Read more

गुणैरुत्तमतां याति नोच्चैरासनसंस्थिताः । प्रासादशिखरस्थोऽपि काकः किं …

A person attains true excellence by virtues, not merely by sitting on a high seat. Does a crow become a Garuda simply by perching… Read more

गुणैः सर्वज्ञतुल्योऽपि सीदत्येको निराश्रयः । अनर्घ्यमपि माणिक्यं हेमाश्रयमपेक्षते …

Even one as virtuous as a sage may suffer if left without support. A priceless ruby still requires a setting of gold to be… Read more

संसारविषवृक्षस्य द्वे फलेऽमृतोपमे । सुभाषितं च सुस्वादु …

On the poison-tree of worldly existence, two fruits taste like nectar: the savour of wise words, and the company of the virtuous.

कृते प्रतिकृतिं कुर्याद्धिंसने प्रतिहिंसनम् । तत्र दोषो न …

Meet a kind act with kindness, and meet aggression with a counter-defense. No fault falls on one who returns malice in kind; one may… Read more

यद्दूरं यद्दुराराध्यं यच्च दूरे व्यवस्थितम् । तत्सर्वं तपसा साध्यं …

Whatever is far, whatever is hard to attain, whatever lies remote: all of it is achievable through tapas. For tapas (sustained effort) is insurmountable.

तक्षकस्य विषं दन्ते मक्षिकायास्तु मस्तके । वृश्चिकस्य विषं पुच्छे …

The cobra's venom lies in its fangs, the fly's in its head, the scorpion's in its tail; but the wicked person is poisonous through… Read more

आहारनिद्राभयमैथुनानि समानि चैतानि नृणां पशूनाम् । ज्ञानं नराणामधिको विशेषो …

Eating, sleeping, fear, and reproduction: these are common to both humans and animals. Knowledge is what sets humans apart. Without knowledge, a person is… Read more