Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha

upakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sādhutve tasya ko guṇaḥ

upakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sādhutve tasya ko guṇaḥ |
apakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sa sādhuḥ sadbhir ucyate ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 7031)

“What sort of quality is the goodness of one who is good [only] to those who are helpful [to oneself]? One who is good [even] to those who are harmful [to oneself] is said to be good [i.e., a sādhu] by the wise.”

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anasūyā kṣamā śāntiḥ santoṣaḥ priya-vāditā

anasūyā kṣamā śāntiḥ santoṣaḥ priya-vāditā |
kāma-krodha-parityāgaḥ śiṣṭācāra-nidarśanam ||
(Mahābhārata: 3.211.25; Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)

“Non-enviousness, forgiveness, peacefulness, contentment, pleasing [alt., kind] speech, and abandonment of passion and anger are illustrations of cultured conduct (śiṣṭācāra).”

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apriyāṇy api kurvāṇo yaḥ priyaḥ priya eva saḥ

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?”

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api kalpānilasyaiva taraṅgasya mahodadheḥ

api kalpānilasyaiva taraṅgasya mahodadheḥ |
śakyate prasaro roddhuṁ nānuraktasya cetasaḥ ||
(Garuḍa Purāṇa; cited in Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 2009)

“Even the course of strong winds and the waves of a great ocean can be checked, but not that of a loving heart.”

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anirvācyam anirbhinnam aparicchinnam avyayam

anirvācyam anirbhinnam aparicchinnam avyayam |
brahmeva sujana-prema duḥkha-mūla-nikṛntanam ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha; Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāra)

“Like Brahman, the prema of a virtuous person is indescribable, undivided [i.e., unbreakable], uninterrupted [i.e., everlasting], and imperishable, and it cuts out the [very] root of suffering.”

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ārtārte mudite hṛṣṭā proṣite malinā kṛśā

ārtārte mudite hṛṣṭā proṣite malinā kṛśā |
mṛte mriyeta yā patyau sā strī jñeyā pativratā ||
(Garuḍa Purāṇa; cited Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)

“A woman who is distressed when her husband is distressed, pleased when he is happy, and unclean and emaciated when he is abroad, and who dies when her husband dies, is to be known as devoted to her husband.”

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anyān parivadan sādhur yathā hi paritapyate

anyān parivadan sādhur yathā hi paritapyate |
tathā parivadann anyāṁs tuṣṭo bhavati durjanaḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: 1.69.11; cited in Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 1792)

“As a sādhu is certainly pained by speaking ill of others, so the wicked become pleased by speaking ill of others.”

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anabhyāsena vidyānām asaṁsargeṇa dhīmatām

anabhyāsena vidyānām asaṁsargeṇa dhīmatām |
anigraheṇa cākṣāṇāṁ jāyate vyasanaṁ nṛṇām ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)

“The plight [alt., addictions, vices, depravity, misfortune, distress, etc.] of human beings arises from a lack of practice of knowledge [i.e., a lack of adherence to the education they receive], a lack of association with the wise, and a lack of restraint of the senses.”

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anarghyāṇy api ratnāni labhyante vibhavaiḥ sukham

anarghyāṇy api ratnāni labhyante vibhavaiḥ sukham |
durlabho ratna-koṭyāpi kṣaṇo’pi hi gatāyuṣaḥ ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)

“Even invaluable jewels can be obtained easily with riches, but even one moment of life bygone is difficult to attain even with millions of jewels.”

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