vṛtty-arthaṁ bhojanaṁ yeṣāṁ santānārthaṁ ca maithunam |
vāk satya-vacanārthāya durgāṇy api taranti te ||
(Hitopadeśa: Sandhi, 92)
“Those who eat for the sake of upkeep, engage in intercourse for the sake of children, and speak for the sake of truthful speech certainly overcome adversities.”
mātā mitraṁ pitā ceti svabhāvāt tratayaṁ hitam |
kārya-kāraṇataś cānye bhavanti hita-buddhayaḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: 1.35)
“Mother, friend, and father—these three by nature are kind [i.e., attentive to your best interests], whereas others are of kind disposition [towards you] because it is their duty [or, because they have some purpose or need of their own to fulfil].”
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.”
atidānād balir baddho naṣṭo mānāt suyodhanaḥ |
vinaṣṭo rāvaṇo laulyād ati sarvatra varjayet ||
(Cāṇakya-nīti)
“Bali was bound by excessive giving. Duryodhana was ruined by [excessive] pride. Rāvaṇa was ruined by [excessive] greediness. [Therefore,] Excess should be given up in all respects.”
udyoginaṁ puruṣa-siṁham upaiti lakṣmīr
daivena deyam iti kāpuruṣā vadanti |
daivaṁ nihatya kuru pauruṣamātma-śaktyā
yatne kṛte yadi na sidhyati ko’tra doṣaḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: 1.33)
“An endeavoring, lion-like person attains good fortune (lakṣmī). Wretches say, ‘Fortune must be given by destiny.’ Set aside destiny and exert yourself with your full energy. If you make an effort but are not successful, what fault is there in that?”
na dharma-śāstraṁ paṭhatīti kāraṇaṁ
na cāpi vedādhyayanaṁ durātmanaḥ |
svabhāva evātra tathātiricyate
yathā prakṛtyā madhuraṁ gavāṁ payaḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: Mitra-lābha, 17)
“Neither reciting dharma-śāstras nor studying the Veda are means for [reforming] a wicked person. The svabhāva [i.e., one’s conditioned nature] alone prevails herein, just as cows milk is naturally sweet.”
durjanena samaṁ sakhyaṁ vairaṁ cāpi na kārayet |
uṣṇo dahati cāṅgāraḥ śīto kṛṣṇāyate karam ||
(Hitopadeśa: 3.81)
“Make neither friendship nor enmity with a wicked person, who is comparable to a piece of coal, which when hot burns your hand and when cold turns it black.”
manasy anyad vacasy anyat karmaṇy anyad durātmanām |
manasy ekaṁ vacasy ekaṁ karmaṇy ekaṁ mahātmanām ||
(Hitopadeśa: 1.102)
“The wicked think one thing, say something else, and do yet another thing. Great souls think, say, and do one [and the same] thing.”
anāgata-vidhātā ca pratyutpanna-matis tathā |
dvāv etau sukham edhete yad-bhaviṣyo vinaśyati ||
(Hitopadeśa: 4.6)
“A provisioner for the future and one endowed with presence of mind—these two certainly live happily. A fatalist [i.e., one who thinks, “Whatever will be will be; it is inevitable”] perishes.”
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.
