vibhūtiḥ tyāga-hīna iva satya-hīna iva bhārati
vibhūtiḥ tyāga-hīna iva satya-hīna iva bhārati |
vidyā praśama-hīna iva na bhāti strī patiṁ vinā ||
(Rāmāyaṇa Mañjarī: Ayodhyā)
“Like wealth without giving, speech without truth, and learning without tranquility, a lady does not shine without her husband.”
hastasya bhūṣaṇaṁ dānaṁ satyaṁ kaṇṭhasya bhūṣaṇam
hastasya bhūṣaṇaṁ dānaṁ satyaṁ kaṇṭhasya bhūṣaṇam |
śrotrasya bhūṣaṇaṁ śāstraṁ bhūṣaṇaiḥ kiṁ prayojanam ||
(Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāra)
“Giving is the hand’s ornament, truth is the throat’s ornament, and śāstra is the ear’s ornament. So, what need is there of ornaments?”
sama-darśanāt svasya samam eva sukha-duḥkhādikaṁ sarvatra paśyataḥ
sama-darśanāt svasya samam eva sukha-duḥkhādikaṁ sarvatra paśyataḥ | yad uktaṁ bhagavatā—ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṁ paśyati yo’rjuna | sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ sa yogī paramo mataḥ … |
(Excerpt from the Sārārtha-darśinī-ṭīkā to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.33)
“‘One of equal vision’ (sama-darśana) means one who sees happiness, unhappiness, and so forth everywhere [i.e., in all other living beings] as equal to one’s own, as stated by Bhagavān [in BG 6.32], ‘O Arjuna, be it happiness or unhappiness, one who sees everywhere in comparison to one’s own self equally is considered the best yogī.‘”
sama-darśanād bhagavad-adhiṣṭhānatā-sāmyenātmavat pareṣv api hitam āśaṁsamānāt
sama-darśanād bhagavad-adhiṣṭhānatā-sāmyenātmavat pareṣv api hitam āśaṁsamānāt |
(Excerpt from the Krama-sandarbha-ṭīkā to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.33, and Bhakti Sandarbha: 106)
“‘One of equal vision’ (sama-darśana) means one who wishes the well-being of others just like oneself on account of the equality of [others and oneself in] being adhiṣṭhānas (dwelling places) of Bhagavān.”
śamo man-niṣṭhatā buddher
śamo man-niṣṭhatā buddher |
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.19.36; cited in Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha: 67, 82; Prīti Sandarbha: 35, 84, 110; Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.19.211)
“Equanimity is fixity of the intellect in me [i.e., Bhagavān, and not merely peacefulness (śānti)].”
utsāho balavān ārya nāsty utsāhāt paraṁ balam
utsāho balavān ārya nāsty utsāhāt paraṁ balam |
sotsāhasya hi lokeṣu na kiñcid api durlabham ||
(Rāmāyaṇa: Kiṣikindhā-kāṇḍa, 4.1.121; cited in Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 6673)
[Lakṣmaṇa to Rāma while distraught after the abduction of Sītā:] “O noble one, enthusiasm is powerful. Nothing is more powerful than enthusiasm. Indeed, there is nothing unattainable in all the worlds for one who has enthusiasm.”
acirād eva sarvārthaḥ sidhyaty eṣām abhīpsitaḥ
acirād eva sarvārthaḥ sidhyaty eṣām abhīpsitaḥ |
sad-dharmasyāvabodhāya yeṣāṁ nirbandhinī matiḥ ||
(Nāradīya Purāṇa; cited in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.2.103 and Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.20.106)
“All desired goals are soon realized by those who are of determined mind to understand true dharma.”
ihāsane śuṣyatu me śarīraṁ
ihāsane śuṣyatu me śarīraṁ
tvag-asthi-māṁsaṁ pralayaṁ ca yātu |
aprāpya bodhiṁ bahu-kalpa-durlabhāṁ
naivāsanāt kāyam ataś caliṣyate ||
(Lalita-vistara: 19.57)
“Let my body dry up on this seat.
And let its skin, bones, and flesh disintegrate.
Without attaining enlightenment (bodhi),
Which is difficult to attain [even] in many kalpas,
Never shall this body move forth from this seat.”
abhīpsāṁ svātmano rakṣāvirataṁ susthiraṁ tathā
abhīpsāṁ svātmano rakṣāvirataṁ susthiraṁ tathā |
yatnam ātiṣṭha dhairyeṇa tataḥ siddhir bhaved dhruvam ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 2353)
“Remain firmly fixed in your own aspiration, continuous [self-] protection, complete steadiness, and endeavor. Then success is certain.”