mṛga-tṛṣṇā-samaṁ vīkṣya saṁsāraṁ kṣaṇa-bhaṅguram |
sajjanaiḥ saṅgataṁ kuryād dharmāya ca sukhāya ca ||
(Hitopadeśa: Sandhi, 138)
“Seeing the world of saṁsāra to be perishable in a moment like a mirage, associate with the sādhus for the sake of dharma and happiness.”
sad-bhāvena haren mitraṁ sambhrameṇa tu bāndhavān |
strī-bhṛtyau dāna-mānābhyāṁ dākṣiṇyenetarān janān ||
(Hitopadeśa: Sandhi, 112)
“Win over a friend with sincerity, relatives with honor, a wife or a servant with gifts and recognition, and others with cordiality.”
yathā kāṣṭhaṁ ca kāṣṭhaṁ ca sameyātāṁ mahodadhau |
sametya ca vyapeyātāṁ tadvad-bhūta-samāgamaḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: 12.28.36; Hitopadeśa: 4.75)
“As a piece of wood may meet another piece of wood atop a vast sea, and after meeting may also become separated—such is the conjunction of living beings.”
apriyāṇy api kurvāṇo yaḥ priyaḥ priya eva saḥ |
dagdha-mandira-sāre’pi kasya vahnāv anādaraḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: 2.133; Mahāsubhāsīta-saṅgraha: 2198)
“Even after doing displeasing things, one who is dear certainly remains dear. Even after burning down one’s home and property, by whom is fire disrespected?”
kurvann api vyalīkāni yaḥ priyaḥ priya eva saḥ |
aśeṣa-doṣa-duṣṭo’pi kāyaḥ kasya na vallabhaḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: 2.132; Samayocita-padya-ratna-mālikā)
“Even after committing wrongs, one who is dear certainly remains dear. Even though it is culpable of endless faults, for whom is the body not beloved?”
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.”
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.”
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.”
āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunaṁ ca
sāmānyam etat paśubhir narāṇām |
dharmo hi teṣām adhiko viśeṣo
dharmeṇa hīnāḥ paśubhiḥ samānāḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: Maṅgalācaraṇam, 25)
“Eating, sleeping, fearing, and mating—these on the part of humans are common with animals. Dharma is their [i.e., humans’] greater, distinguishing quality. Those who are devoid of dharma are the same as animals.”
aprārthitāni duḥkhāni yathaivāyānti dehinām |
sukhāny api tathā manye daivam atrātiricyate ||
(Tantrākhyāyika: 121; cited in ṭīkās to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.5.18)
“As unrequested sufferings certainly come to the embodied, so too do pleasures. I consider that destiny prevails in this regard.”
