Pañcatantra

apamānaṁ puraskṛtya kṛtvā mānaṁ tu pṛṣṭhataḥ

apamānaṁ puraskṛtya kṛtvā mānaṁ tu pṛṣṭhataḥ |
sva-kāryam uddharet prājñaḥ kārya-dhvaṁsena mūrkhatā ||
(Pañcatantra: 3.237; cited the Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā on Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.4.244)
“Putting disrespect ahead and respect behind [i.e., accepting and learning from disrespect and not becoming conceived by receiving respect], a wise person shall accomplish one’s aim. Foolishness occurs by spoiling one’s aim [i.e., it is foolish to become preoccupied with the disrespect or respect one receives such that one fails to accomplish one’s aim].”

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svāmini guṇāntarajñe guṇavati bhṛtye’nuvartini kalaye

svāmini guṇāntarajñe guṇavati bhṛtye’nuvartini kalaye |
suhṛdi nirantara-citte nivedya duḥkhaṁ sukhī bhavati ||
(Pañcatantra: Mitra-bheda, 110)

“By expressing one’s troubles to a master cognizant of one’s special qualities, a qualified servant, a devoted wife, or a faithful-hearted [alt., steady-minded] friend, one becomes content [i.e., one feels relief from one’s troubles].”

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udyamena hi sidhyanti kāryāṇi na manorathaiḥ

udyamena hi sidhyanti kāryāṇi na manorathaiḥ |
na hi suptasya siṁhasya praviśanti mukhe mṛgāḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: Maṅgalācaraṇa, 36; Pañcatantra: Mitra-samprāpti)

“Tasks are accomplished verily by industriousness, and not just by desires. Animals do not enter the mouth of a sleeping lion.”

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kva kasya karma saṁvīkṣya karoty anyo’pi garhitam

kva kasya karma saṁvīkṣya karoty anyo’pi garhitam |
gatānugatiko loko na lokaḥ pāramārthikaḥ ||
(Pañcatantra: 373)

“After observing the contemptible act of someone somewhere, another also does it. People are imitative [lit., they just follow, that is, blindly copy, those who have gone before them]. People are not seekers of a higher object [alt., the ultimate attainment, i.e., they do not really care for virtue, truth, ideals, or a spiritual end].”

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vācyaṁ śraddhā-sametasya pṛcchateś ca viśeṣataḥ

vācyaṁ śraddhā-sametasya pṛcchateś ca viśeṣataḥ |
proktaṁ śraddhā-vihīnasya araṇya-ruditopamam ||
(Pañcatantra: 1.424)

“Advice should be given to one who has trust [in you] and who has asked in particular [for it]. Speaking to someone who has no trust is like crying in the forest [i.e., it is futile].”

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upadeśo na dātavyo yādṛśe tādṛśe nare

upadeśo na dātavyo yādṛśe tādṛśe nare |
(Pañcatantra: 1.421)

“Advice should not be given to any sort of person [i.e., it should not be given to anyone indiscriminately without consideration regarding what is suitable for that person in particular].”

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tyajed ekaṁ kulasyārthe grāmasyārthe kulaṁ tyajet

tyajed ekaṁ kulasyārthe grāmasyārthe kulaṁ tyajet |
grāmaṁ janapadasyārthe svātmārthe pṛthivīṁ tyajet ||
(Cāṇakya-nīti-darpaṇa: 3.10; Hitopadeśa: 1.143; Pañcatantra: 1.386)

“Give up an individual for the sake of a family. Give up a family for the sake of a village and a village for the sake of a nation. Give up [however] the earth for the sake of one’s self.”

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ko’tibhāraḥ samarthānāṁ kiṁ dūraṁ vyavasāyinam

ko’tibhāraḥ samarthānāṁ kiṁ dūraṁ vyavasāyinam |
ko videśaḥ savidyānāṁ kaḥ paraḥ priyavādinām ||
(Pañcatantra)

“What is too heavy for the capable? What is far for the assiduous? What is a foreign land for the learned? Who is a stranger for those who speak kindly?”

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yayor eva samam vittam yayor eva samam śrutam

yayor eva samam vittam yayor eva samam śrutam |
tayor vivahaḥ sakhyaṁ ca na tu puṣṭa-vipuṣṭayoḥ ||
(Pañcatantra)

“Marriage and friendship are for those who are equal in wealth and equal in learning, and not for those between whom one is well-endowed and the other is not.”

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