Sūkti Sudhākara – Page 230

yadā kiñcij-jño’haṁ dvipa iva madāndhas samabhavaṁ

yadā kiñcij-jño’haṁ dvipa iva madāndhas samabhavaṁ
tadā sarvajño’smīty abhavad avaliptaṁ mama manaḥ |
yadā kiñcit kiñcid budhajana-sakāśād avagataṁ
tadā mūrkho’smīti jvara iva mado me vyapagataḥ ||
(Nīti-śatakam: 8)

“When I had a little knowledge
and became blinded with pride
like an elephant [in rut],
then my mind became arrogant,
as I thought, ‘I know everything.’
When I understood a little something from wise persons,
then I thought, ‘I am a fool,’
and my pride faded away like a fever.

Read on →

dīnere adhika dayā kare bhagavān

dīnere adhika dayā kare bhagavān |
kulīna, paṇḍita, dhanīra baḍa abhimāna ||
(Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 3.4.68)

”Bhagavān bestows greater grace upon the humble. The noble, learned, and wealthy have great pride.”

Read on →

mātā śatruḥ pitā vairī bālo yena na pāṭhitaḥ

mātā śatruḥ pitā vairī bālo yena na pāṭhitaḥ |
na śobhate sabhā-madhye haṁsa-madhye bako yathā ||
(Unknown source)

“A mother by whom a child is not educated is an enemy, and such a father is a foe, as such a child, like a crane among swans, will not shine in an assembly [i.e., will have no means of accomplishing anything in human society].”

Read on →

vidyā dadāti vinayaṁ vinayād yāti pātratām

vidyā dadāti vinayaṁ vinayād yāti pātratām |
pātratvād dhanam āpnoti dhanād dharmaṁ tatas sukham ||
(Hitopadeśa: Maṅgalācaraṇam, 6)

“Knowledge gives one humility [alt., discipline]. Through humility one attains worthiness. Through worthiness one acquires wealth, and through wealth come dharma and thereafter happiness.”

Read on →

anna-dānaṁ mahādānaṁ vidyā-dānaṁ mahattaram

anna-dānaṁ mahādānaṁ vidyā-dānaṁ mahattaram |
annena kṣaṇikā tṛptir yāvaj jīvaṁ tu vidyayā ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 1713)

“Giving food is a great gift, but giving education is even greater. With food, satisfaction is momentary, whereas with education, it is lifelong.”

Read on →

naratvaṁ durlabhaṁ loke vidyā tatra sudurlabhā

naratvaṁ durlabhaṁ loke vidyā tatra sudurlabhā |
kavitvaṁ durlabhaṁ tatra śaktis tatra sudurlabhā||
(Agni Purāṇa; cited in Sāhitya-darpaṇa: 1.2)

“In this world, human life is rare, and therein [i.e., among human beings] education is very rare. Therein [i.e., among the educated], being poetic is rare, and therein [i.e., among the poetic], prowess [in poetics] is very rare.”

Read on →

naratvaṁ durlabhaṁ loke vidyā tatra sudurlabhā

naratvaṁ durlabhaṁ loke vidyā tatra sudurlabhā |
śīlaṁ ca durlabhā tatra vinayas tatra sudurlabhaḥ||
(Agni Purāṇa)

“In this world, human life is rare, and therein [i.e., among human beings] education is very rare. Therein [i.e., among the educated], character is rare, and therein [i.e., among persons of good character], humility is very rare.”

Read on →

anavyaye vyayaṁ yāti vyaye yāti suvistṛtim

anavyaye vyayaṁ yāti vyaye yāti suvistṛtim |
apūrvas tava kośo’yaṁ vidyā-kośeṣu bhārati ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)

“When it is not spent [i.e., shared], it becomes spent [i.e., lost], and when it is spent [i.e., shared], it becomes greatly enlarged. Among treasuries of learning, this treasury of yours is extraordinary, O Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)!”

Read on →

apūrvaḥ ko’pi kośo’yaṁ vidyate tava bhārati

apūrvaḥ ko’pi kośo’yaṁ vidyate tava bhārati |
vyayato vṛddhimāyāti kṣayamāyāti sañcayāt ||
(Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāra)

“How extraordinary is this treasury of yours, O Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)! By spending [i.e., distributing it], it increases, and by stocking [i.e., keeping it to yourself], it depletes!”

Read on →

api mānuṣyakaṁ labdhvā bhavanti jñānino na ye

api mānuṣyakaṁ labdhvā bhavanti jñānino na ye |
paśutaiva varā teṣāṁ pratyavāyāpravartanāt ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 2052)

“For those who even after attaining human birth do not become educated, being [born as] an animal would have been better as they would [in that case] not engage in degrading behavior.”

Read on →