yasya naisargikī śobhā tan na saṁskāram arhati |
kaḥ kalām śaśino mārṣṭi kaustubhaḥ kena rajyate ||
(Unknown source)
“That which possesses inherent beauty does not require embellishment [to make it appealing]. Who sweeps the digits of the moon? By whom is the Kaustubha reddened?”
na ratnam anviṣyati mṛgyate hi tat |
(Kumāra-sambhava: 5.45)
“A jewel does not seek. It is rather sought.”
ataś ca dharmibhiḥ pumbhir anīhārthaḥ praśasyate |
prakṣālanād dhi paṅkasya dūrād asparśanaṁ varam ||
(Mahābhārata: 3.2.47)
“Therefore, indifference towards wealth on the part of dharmic persons is praiseworthy. Remaining untouched by mud from afar is certainly better than washing [it off after touching it].”
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.”
mātā garīyasī loke mātṛto’py adhikaṁ khalaḥ |
mātā punāti hastābhyāṁ khalās tu jihvayā malam ||
(Unknown source)
“In this world, a mother is great, but a scoundrel is even greater [i.e., far inferior (as a pun)] than a mother. A mother wipes up refuse with her hands [when she cleans a child who has soiled itself], but scoundrels wipe it up with their tongue [when they speak of others’ defilements].”
para-vācyeṣu nipuṇaḥ sarvo bhavati sarvadā |
ātma-vācyaṁ na jānīte jānann api ca muhmati ||
(Unknown source)
“Everyone is always expert in regard to the faults of others [alt., in commenting on or criticizing others]. They are unaware of their own faults, or, even if they are aware, they are mistaken [about them, as they don’t know how to analyze themselves properly].”
aviśrāmaṁ vahed bhāraṁ śītoṣṇaṁ ca na vindati |
sasantoṣas tathā nityaṁ trīṇi śikṣeta gardabhāt ||
(Cāṇakya-nīti)
“Carrying a load without rest, disregarding cold and heat, and being satisfied always—learn these three [virtues] from a donkey.”
syāc ced īśa-didṛkṣā nāmni śraddhāṁ dṛḍhāṁ sadā kuruta |
satyāsatya-vivekaṁ nityaṁ cānena tattva-vijñānam ||
(Sūkti-muktāvalī)
“One who desires to see the Lord should always have firm śraddhā in the name [of the Lord] and always discriminate between truth and falsity. By this realization of the reality manifests.”
tad etat kṣantavyaṁ janani sakaloddhāriṇe śive |
kuputro jāyate kvacid api kumātā na bhavati ||
(Unknown source)
“All of this is pardonable by you, O Mother, auspicious uplifter of all. There can be bad sons, but there can never be bad mothers.”
hasta-sparśo hi mātṝṇām ajalasya jalāñjaliḥ |
(Pratimāna-nāṭaka: 3.12)
“The touch of mothers’ hands is [like] a palmful of water for one deprived of water [i.e., for the parched].”
