hutāśane hāṭaka-saṁparīkṣā vipatti-kāle gṛhiṇī-parīkṣā |
raṇa-sthale śastra-bhṛtāṁ parīkṣā vidyāvatāṁ bhāgavate parīkṣā ||
(Unknown source)
“The test of gold is in fire.
The test of a wife is at the time of adversity.
The test of warriors [lit., ‘weapon-bearers’] is at the battle ground.
And the test of the knowledgable is in the Bhāgavatam.”
yasya sarve samārambhāḥ kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ |
jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇaṁ tam āhuḥ paṇḍitaṁ budhāḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 4.19)
“The wise say that one whose every undertaking is free from resolve for an object of desire [i.e., free from being a selfish pursuit], since it is an action burnt by the fire of jñāna, is a paṇḍita [i.e., learned].”
upāsanīyaṁ yatnena śāstraṁ vyākaraṇaṁ mahat |
pradīpa-bhūtaṁ sarvāsāṁ vidyānāṁ yad avasthitam ||
(Unknown Source)
“The great śāstra of vyākaraṇa, which remains fixed as the lamp of all [other] vidyās, is to be studied with exertion.”
śamārthaṁ sarva-śāstrāṇi vihitāni manīṣibhiḥ |
sa eva sarva-śāstra-jñaḥ yasya śāntaṁ manaḥ sadā ||
(Mahābhārata)
“All the śāstras have been compiled by the wise for the purpose of equanimity. One whose mind is always peaceful is truly learned in all the śāstras.”
paropadeśa-velāyāṁ śiṣṭāḥ sarve bhavanti vai |
vismarantīha śiṣṭatvaṁ svakārye samupasthite ||
(Mahābhārata)
“At the time of giving advice to others, everyone is certainly wise [alt., cultured, proper, etc., or so they think]. When their own duty [alt., tasks, responsibility, difficulty, etc.] arises [however] they then forget all their wisdom [alt., culturedness, propriety, etc.].”
paropadeśe pāṇḍityaṁ sarveṣāṁ sukaraṁ nṛṇām |
dharme svīyam anuṣṭhānaṁ kasyacit tu mahātmanaḥ ||
(Hitopedeśa: 1.107; cited in the Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā on Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.4.18)
“Erudition in instructing others is easy for everyone; only a few great souls actually practice dharma themselves.”
paṇḍitā bahavo rājan bahu-jñāḥ saṁśaya-cchidaḥ |
sadasas patayo’py eke asantoṣāt patanty adhaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.15.21)
“O King! Many paṇḍitas who have vast knowledge and can cut away [others’] doubts, and even numerous assembly leaders [i.e., paṇḍitas of the highest rank], fall down because of dissatisfaction [i.e., the inability to be satisfied, that is, because of greed].”
vidvattvaṁ ca nṛpatvaṁ ca naiva tulye kadācana |
svadeśe pūjyate rājā vidvān sarvatra pūjyate ||
(Hitopadeśa)
“Being wise and being a ruler are never comparable [i.e, equal]. A king is honored in his own country. A wiseman is honored everywhere.”
prajñām evāgamayati yaḥ prājñebhyaḥ sa paṇḍitaḥ |
prājño hy avāpya dharmārthau śaknoti sukham edhitum ||
(Mahābhārata: 5.35.57)
“One who procures wisdom from the wise is a paṇḍita, and a wise person, by attaining dharma and artha, is able to increase his happiness.”
śrīr guṇā nairapekṣyādyāḥ sukhaṁ duḥkha-sukhātyayaḥ |
duḥkhaṁ kāma-sukhāpekṣā paṇḍito bandha-mokṣa-vit ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.19.41)
“[Kṛṣṇa to Uddhava:] Embellishment is qualities beginning with indifference [i.e., and not crowns and so forth]. Happiness is overcoming [worldly] suffering and happiness [i.e., and not mere worldly enjoyment]. Suffering is regard for the pleasure of sense objects [i.e., and not being burned in a fire, etc.]. A paṇḍita is one knows bondage and liberation [i.e., and not simply one who is knowledgeable or explains śāstra].”
