santoṣo vai svarga-tamaḥ santoṣaḥ paraṁ sukham |
tuṣṭer na kiñcit parataḥ sā samyak pratitiṣṭhati ||
(Mahābhārata: 12.21.2)
“Satisfaction is verily the highest Svarga. Satisfaction is the highest happiness. When that is fully established [in the mind], there is nothing more fulfilling.”
anirvedaḥ śriyo mūlyaṁ duḥkha-nāśe sukhasya ca |
mahān bhavaty anirviṇṇaḥ sukhaṁ cātyantam aśnute ||
(Mahābhārata: 5.39.45; Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)
“Perseverance [lit., non-despondence] is the root of fortune, elimination of suffering, and happiness. One who is perseverant [alt., non-despondent] is great and enjoys the greatest happiness.”
na pāpaṁ prati pāpaḥ syāt sādhur eva sadā bhavet |
ātmanaiva hataḥ pāpo yaḥ pāpaṁ kartum icchati ||
(Mahābhārata: 3.210.33)
“Let no counter-sin arise in response to a sin. One should always and only be a sādhu [i.e., honest and virtuous, and not succumb to a lower standard of behavior just because others are acting in that manner towards oneself]. A sinner who desires to commit sin is destroyed by his own self.”
prajñā-prasādam āruhya aśocyāḥ śocato janān |
jagatīsthān ivādristho manda-buddhīn avekṣate ||
(Mahābhārata: 12.17.19)
“Having risen to the clarity of wisdom, one who need not be grieved for observes grieving persons, those of feeble intellect, as someone situated atop a mountain [observes] those situated on the ground.”
sauhṛde vai ṣaḍ-guṇā veditavyāḥ
priye hṛṣyanty apriye ca vyathante |
syād ātmanaḥ suciraṁ yācate yo
dadāty ayācyam api deyaṁ khalu syāt ||
iṣṭān putrān vibhavān svāṁś ca dārān
abhyarthitaś cārhati śuddha-bhāvaḥ |
tyakta-dravyaḥ saṁvasen neha kāmād
bhuṅkte karma svāśiṣaṁ bādhate ca ||
(Mahābhārata: Udyoga-parva: 45.12)
“Friendship should be know to have six qualities: (1) friends are delighted in that which is pleasing [to their friends] and (2) are troubled by that which is displeasing [to them]. (3) When a friend requests something that has long been one’s own, a friend gives that [to a friend] and considers even something that should not be requested fit to be given. (4) A friend, being of pure disposition, considers even his dear sons, property, self, and wives fit to be given [to a friend] when requested. (5) A friend does not live together with a friend to whom he has given his property out of desire for it and rather subsists on his own work. (6) A friend can neglect his own wishes [for the sake of a friend].”
vyasanaiḥ kliśyamānaṁ hi yo mitraṁ nābhipadyate |
anunīya yathāśakti taṁ nṛśaṁsaṁ vidur budhāḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: Udyoga-parva, 91.10)
“If a friend is in trouble, it is one’s duty to say a few consoling words and help him as much as possible. One who does not do that is considered cruel by wise men.”
guṇāś ca ṣaṇ mita-bhuktaṁ bhajante
ārogyam āyuś ca sukhaṁ balaṁ ca |
anāvilaṁ cāsya bhaved apatyaṁ
na cainam ādyūna iti kṣipanti ||
(Mahābhārata: 5.37.30; Vidura-nīti)
“Six qualities adorn one who eats moderately: (1) [good] health, (2) [long] life, (3) comfort, (4) strength, (5) one’s children becoming wholesome, and (6) others not reviling one for being gluttonous.”
anāgata-vidhātā ca pratyutpanna-matiś ca yaḥ |
dvāv eva sukham edhete dīrgha-sūtrī vinaśyati ||
(Mahābhārata: 12.135.1)
“A provisioner for the future and one endowed with presence of mind—these two certainly live happily. A procrastinator perishes.”
dharmārthaṁ yasya vittehā varaṁ tasya nirīhatā |
prakṣālanād dhi paṅkasya dūrād asparśanaṁ varam ||
(Mahābhārata: 3.2.49; cited in Hitopadeśa: 1.174)
“For one who desires [alt., pursues] wealth for the sake of dharma, desirelessness [alt., non-pursuit] is better, just as remaining untouched by mud from afar is better than washing [it off after touching it].”
yat pṛthivyāṁ vrīhi-yavaṁ hiraṇyaṁ paśavaḥ striyaḥ |
nālam ekasya tat sarvam iti matvā śamaṁ vrajet ||
(Hari-vaṁśa Purāṇa: 22.38; Mahābhārata: 5.63.11; cited in the Sārārtha-varṣiṇī-ṭīkā and Gītā-bhūṣaṇa-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 3.37)
“All the rice, barley, gold, animals, and women on earth are not sufficient for one [person]. Deliberate on this and take to equanimity.”
