pūrva-janma-kṛtaṁ karma tad daivam iti kathyate |
tasmāt puruṣakāreṇa yatnaṁ kuryād atandritaḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: 1.31)
“Karma accrued in previous births is called daiva (“destiny”). Therefore, endeavor with virility and without sloth.”
avaśendriya-cittānāṁ hasti-snānam iva kriyā |
durbhagābharaṇa-prāyo jñānaṁ bhāraḥ kriyāṁ vinā ||
(Hitopadeśa: Mitra-lābha, 18)
“The practice of those who are of uncontrolled senses and mind is like the bathing of an elephant, and without practice knowledge is for the most part a burden like an ornament on an unfortunate woman [i.e., a widow].”
ayaṁ nijaḥ paro veti gaṇanā laghu-cetasām |
udāra-caritānāṁ tu vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam ||
(Hitopadeśa: Mitra-lābhaḥ, 71)
“‘This is mine,’ or ‘this is someone else’s,’ is the supposing of the small-minded, whereas for those of magnanimous character, the world itself is a family.”
ātmāparādha-vṛkṣāṇāṁ phalāny etāni dehinām |
roga-śoka-parītāpa-bandhana-vyasanāni ca ||
(Hitopadeśa: Mitra-lābha, 41)
“These are the fruits of the trees of an embodied being’s own offenses: disease, grief, suffering, bondage, and vices [alt., adversities].”
mitraṁ prīti-rasāyanaṁ nayanayor ānandanaṁ cetasaḥ
pātraṁ yat sukha-duḥkhayoḥ saha bhaven mitreṇa tad durlabham |
ye cānye suhṛdaḥ samṛddhi-samaye dravyābhilāṣākulās
te sarvatra milanti tattva-nikaṣa-grāvā tu teṣāṁ vipat ||
(Hitopadeśa: 1.224)
“A friend is a pleasing elixir for the eyes and a joy to the heart. A friend who is a sharer with us in happiness and distress is rare to find. Others who are well-wishes in times of prosperity and full of desire for wealth can be found everywhere. Adversity is the touchstone test of their nature.”
