ajñatā kasya nāmeha nopahāsāya jāyate
ajñatā kasya nāmeha nopahāsāya jāyate |
(Kathā-sarita-sāgara: 10.9.176)
“Indeed whose ignorance does not give rise to ridicule in this world?”
Foolishness
yā dustyajā durmatibhir yā na jīryati jīryataḥ
yā dustyajā durmatibhir yā na jīryati jīryataḥ |
yo’sau prāṇantiko rogas tāṁ tṛṣṇāṁ tyajataḥ sukham ||
(Mahābhārata: 12.168.45)
“Happiness comes from casting off desire, that which is difficult to cast away for the ill-minded, which does not age as a result of aging [i.e., does not wane even as the body becomes decrepit], and which is a fatal disease.”
ye ca mūḍhatamā loke ye ca buddheḥ paraṁ gatāḥ
ye ca mūḍhatamā loke ye ca buddheḥ paraṁ gatāḥ |
te narāḥ sukham edhante kliśyaty antarito janaḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: 12.168.24)
“Those persons who are the most foolish in the world and who have reached the pinnacle of wisdom experience happiness. The people in between suffer.”
rājā paśyati karṇābhyāṁ dhiyā paśyanti paṇḍitāḥ
rājā paśyati karṇābhyāṁ dhiyā paśyanti paṇḍitāḥ |
paśuḥ paśyati gandhena bhūte paśyanti barbarāḥ ||
(Unknown source)
“A king sees through his ears [by hearing from his ministers, spies, subjects, and so forth]. The wise see through their intellect. An animal sees through scent [i.e., their sense of smell]. Fools [however] see [only] the past [i.e., they have no foresight at all].”
śreyaś ca preyaś ca manuṣyam etas
śreyaś ca preyaś ca manuṣyam etas
tau samparītya vivinakti dhīraḥ |
śreyo hi dhīro’bhipreyaso vṛṇīte
preyo mando yoga-kṣemān vṛṇīte ||
(Kaṭha Upaniṣad: 1.2.2)
“Śreyas and preyas present themselves to human beings, and the wise fully assess and discriminate between them. The wise choose śreyas exclusively over preyas, but the foolish choose preyas to gain [what they lack] and preserve [what they have, in the worldly sense].”
durbalasya balaṁ rājā bālānāṁ rodanaṁ balam
durbalasya balaṁ rājā bālānāṁ rodanaṁ balam |
balaṁ mūrkhasya maunitvaṁ caurāṇām anṛtam balam ||
(Cāṇakya-nīti)
“The strength of the weak is the king. The strength of children is crying. The strength of a fool is silence, and the strength of thieves is deceit.”
paṭhakāḥ pāṭhakāś caiva ye cānye śāstra-cintakāḥ
paṭhakāḥ pāṭhakāś caiva ye cānye śāstra-cintakāḥ |
sarve vyasanino mūrkhā yaḥ kriyāvān sa paṇḍitaḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: 3.313.110)
“All the students, teachers, and others who consider śāstra but are addicted to vices are fools. One who engages in practice [of all that is taught in śāstra] is wise.”
kāvya-śāstra-vinodena kālo gacchati dhīmatām
kāvya-śāstra-vinodena kālo gacchati dhīmatām |
vyasanena tu mūrkhāṇāṁ nidrayā kalahena vā ||
(Hitopadeśa: Mitra-lābha, 1)
“The time of the wise is spent with the joy of kāvya-śāstra, whereas that of fools with vice, sleep, and quarrel.”
apṛṣṭvaiva bhaven mūḍhaḥ jñānaṁ manasi cintanāt
apṛṣṭvaiva bhaven mūḍhaḥ jñānaṁ manasi cintanāt |
apūrṇaḥ kurute śabdaṁ na pūrṇaḥ kurute ghaṭaḥ ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 2125)
“By not questioning, one becomes foolish. Wisdom comes from reflection in the mind. A vessel that is not full makes noise. A full vessel does not.”
ajñāna-nivṛtteḥ prāk pauruṣa-tyāgo māndyam eva
ajñāna-nivṛtteḥ prāk pauruṣa-tyāgo māndyam eva |
(Bhāvārtha-dīpikā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 8.19.13)
“Giving up exertion [alt., valor] before the cessation of ignorance is simply foolishness.”