svādhikāraṁ nirīkṣyaiva
svādhikāraṁ nirīkṣyaiva karma kuryād atandritaḥ |
(Padma Purāṇa: 6.283.38)
“One free from laziness should engage in action only after having considered one‘s eligibility (adhikāra).”
Adhikāra
antaḥsāra-vihīnānām upadeśo na jāyate
antaḥsāra-vihīnānām upadeśo na jāyate |
malayācala-saṁsargān na veṇuś candanāyate ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 1604; Cāṇakya-nīti-darpaṇa: 10.8)
“Instruction should not be given to those who lack inner substance. Bamboo does not become sandalwood [just] by proximity to the Malaya Mountains.”
antaḥsāra-vihīnānāṁ sahāyaḥ kiṁ kariṣyati
antaḥsāra-vihīnānāṁ sahāyaḥ kiṁ kariṣyati |
malaye’pi sthito veṇur veṇur eva na candanaḥ ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 1603)
“What can a companion [alt., assistant] do for those who lack inner substance? Even bamboo situated in the Malayas is just bamboo and not sandalwood.”