आहारनिद्राभयमैथुनं च
सामान्यमेतत्पशुभिर्नराणाम् ।
धर्मो हि तेषामधिको विशेषो
धर्मेण हीनाः पशुभिः समानाः ॥
āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunaṁ ca
sāmānyam etat paśubhir narāṇām |
dharmo hi teṣām adhiko viśeṣo
dharmeṇa hīnāḥ paśubhiḥ samānāḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: Maṅgalācaraṇam, 25)
“Eating, sleeping, fearing, and mating—these on the part of humans are common with animals. Dharma is their [i.e., humans’] greater, distinguishing quality. Those who are devoid of dharma are the same as animals.”
Alternate version
आहारनिद्राभयमैथुनानि
सामान्यमेतत्पशुभिर्नराणाम् ।
ज्ञानं नराणामधिको विशेषो
ज्ञानेन हीनाः पशुभिः समानाः ॥
āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunāni
sāmānyam etat paśubhir narāṇām |
jñānaṁ narāṇām adhiko viśeṣo
jñānena hīnāḥ paśubhiḥ samānāḥ ||
(Cāṇakya-nīti-darpaṇa: 17.17)
“Eating, sleeping, fearing, and mating—these on the part of humans are common with animals. Jñāna (knowledge) is the greater, distinguishing quality of humans. Those who are devoid of jñāna are the same as animals.”