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.”
markaṭasya surāpānaṁ madhye vṛścika-daṁśanam |
tan-madhye bhūta-sañcāro yadvā tadvā bhaviṣyati ||
(Samayocita-padya-mālikā)
“Anything may become of a monkey who, while drinking alcohol, is bitten by a scorpion and possessed by a ghost.”
kṣaṇe ruṣṭaḥ kṣaṇe tuṣṭaḥ ruṣṭe tuṣṭe kṣaṇe kṣaṇe |
avyavasthita-cittasya prasādo’pi bhayaṅkaraḥ ||
(Unknown source; cited partially in Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 3434)
“He is angry at one moment and pleased in the next. He is angry and satisfied from moment to moment. Even the favor of one of unstable mind is fearsome.”
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.”
śanaiḥ panthāḥ śanaiḥ kanthā śanaiḥ parvata-laṅghanam |
śanaiḥ vidyā śanaiḥ vittaṁ pañcaitāni śanaiḥ śanaiḥ ||
(Unknown source)
“Gradually a path, gradually a quilt, gradually climbing a mountain, gradually knowledge, and gradually wealth—gradually, gradually these five [come about].”
māteva rakṣati piteva hite niyuṅkte
kānteva cābhiramayaty apanīya duḥkham ।
kīrtiṁ ca dikṣu vitanoti tanoti lakṣmīṁ
kiṁ kiṁ na sādhayati kalpa-lateva vidyā ॥
(Samayoccita-padya-ratna-mālikā)
“Like a mother it protects you. Like a father, it guides you for your well-being. Like a love, it delights you and dispels your distress. It spreads your renown in all directions and increases your wealth. Indeed, what can it not accomplish? Knowledge is like a wish-fulfilling creeper.”
vidvattvaṁ ca nṛpatvaṁ ca naiva tulye kadācana |
svadeśe pūjyate rājā vidvān sarvatra pūjyate ||
(Hitopadeśa)
“Being wise and being a ruler are never comparable [i.e, equal]. A king is honored in his own country. A wiseman is honored everywhere.”
itara-pāpa-phalāni yathecchayā
vitara tāni sahe caturānana |
arasikeṣu kavitva-nivedanaṁ
śirasi mā likha mā likha mā likha ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)
“I shall bear [all] those other reactions to my sins you allocate as per your wish, O Brahmā. Just do not write, do not write, do not write on my forehead, “Presenting poetics to the tasteless.”
kāvya-śāstra-vinodena kālo gacchati dhīmatām |
vyasanena tu mūrkhāṇāṁ nidrayā kalahena vā ||
(Hitopadeśa: Mitra-lābha, 1)
“The time of the wise is spent with the joy of kāvya-śāstra, whereas that of fools with vice, sleep, and quarrel.”
