Wisdom

na tena vṛddho bhavati yenāsya palitaṁ śiraḥ

na tena vṛddho bhavati yenāsya palitaṁ śiraḥ |
yo vai yuvāpy adhīyānaḥ taṁ devās sthaviram viduḥ ||
(Manu-smṛti: 2.156)

“One does not become wise [i.e., venerable, lit., ‘an elder’] just because one has grey hair on one’s head. The devas recognize as an elder one who, although young, remains engaged in studying.”

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lakṣeṣu śṛṇute kaścit koṭiṣv ekas tu budhyate

lakṣeṣu śṛṇute kaścit koṭiṣv ekas tu budhyate |
bhakti-tattvaṁ parijñāya kaścid eva samācaret ||
(Padma Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.543)

“[Śrī Prahlāda to Śrī Bhagavān:] Among lakhs [of people], someone [i.e., a rare person] hears about the nature (tattva) of bhakti, yet among crores [of those who hear], one understands it, and only someone [i.e., an exceedingly rare person] can perform it after having thoroughly understood it.”

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kaḥ paṇḍitas tvad aparaṁ śaraṇaṁ samīyād

kaḥ paṇḍitas tvad aparaṁ śaraṇaṁ samīyād
bhakta-priyād ṛta-giraḥ suhṛdaḥ kṛtajñāt |
sarvān dadāti suhṛdo bhajato’bhi kāmān
ātmanam apy upacayāpacayau na yasya ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.48.26; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.678; Bhakti Sandarbha: 107; Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.22.96)

“What paṇḍita would take full shelter in anyone other than you, to whom bhaktas are dear, whose words are truthful, who are well-wishing, who are grateful, and who bestow all thoroughly desired objects upon a well-wishing worshiper [of yourself] and even your own self [upon them] without any accumulation for, or diminution of, yourself [thereby]?”

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gate śoko na kartavyo bhaviṣyaṁ naiva cintayet

gate śoko na kartavyo bhaviṣyaṁ naiva cintayet |
vartamānena kālena vartayanti vicakṣaṇāḥ ||
(Unknown source)

“Lamentation over the past should not be done, and one should not worry about the future. The wise live in the present time.”

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jñātibhir vibhajyate naiva coreṇāpi na nīyate

jñātibhir vibhajyate naiva coreṇāpi na nīyate |
dāne naiva kṣayaṁ yāti vidyā-ratnaṁ mahādhanam ||
(Unknown source)

“It is not dividable by relatives, it cannot be taken away even by a thief, and it is not depleted even by giving [it away]. The jewel of knowledge is the greatest wealth.”

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Bhārata Sāvitrī

Bhārata Sāvitrī

Śrī Vedavyāsa’s final message to humanity in Mahābhārata.

Excerpted from the Svargārohana Parva, 5.47–51.

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alpa-mātraṁ kṛto dharmo bhavej jñānavatāṁ mahān

alpa-mātraṁ kṛto dharmo bhavej jñānavatāṁ mahān |
mahān api kṛto dharmo hy ajñānān niṣphalo bhavet ||
(Mahābhārata: 13.227.28)

“Dharma performed even slightly shall be great for one possessed of knowledge. Dharma performed even greatly shall be fruitless as a result of ignorance.”

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śīlaṁ saṁvasatā jñeyaṁ śaucaṁ saṁvyavahārataḥ

śīlaṁ saṁvasatā jñeyaṁ śaucaṁ saṁvyavahārataḥ |
prajñā saṁkathanāj jñeyā tribhiḥ pātraṁ parīkṣyate ||
(Unknown source)

“Character is to be known by living together, cleanliness [is to be known] by working together, and wisdom is to be known by conversing together. A recipient is to be examined in these three ways.”

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ye ca mūḍhatamā loke ye ca buddheḥ paraṁ gatāḥ

ye ca mūḍhatamā loke ye ca buddheḥ paraṁ gatāḥ |
te narāḥ sukham edhante kliśyaty antarito janaḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: 12.168.24)

“Those persons who are the most foolish in the world and who have reached the pinnacle of wisdom experience happiness. The people in between suffer.”

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