इच्छोपशमनं कर्तुं यदि कृत्स्नं न शक्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यनुगन्तव्यं मार्गस्थो नावसीदति ॥
icchopaśamanaṁ kartuṁ yadi kṛtsnaṁ na śakyate |
svalpam apy anugantavyaṁ mārgastho nāvasīdati ||
(Yoga Vāsiṣṭha of Vālmīki: 7.36.30)
“If one is not able to calm one’s desire completely, then doing so should be pursued at least a little. One [who remains] situated on the path will not come to ruin [whereas those who gives up will never be successful].”
Alternate versions
अनुगन्तुं सतां वर्त्म कृत्स्नं यदि न शक्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यनुगन्तव्यं मार्गस्थो नावसीदति ॥
anugantuṁ satāṁ vartma kṛtsnaṁ yadi na śakyate |
svalpam apy anugantavyaṁ mārgastho nāvasīdati ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha; Sāra-samuccaya)
“If one is not able to follow the path of the sādhus completely, then it should be followed at least a little. One [who remains] situated on the path will not come to ruin [whereas those who give up will never be successful].”
अनुगन्तुं सतां धर्म कृत्स्नं यदि न शक्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यनुगन्तव्यं मार्गस्थो नावसीदति ॥
anugantuṁ satāṁ dharma kṛtsnaṁ yadi na śakyate |
svalpam apy anugantavyaṁ mārgastho nāvasīdati ||
(Unknown source)
“If one is not able to follow the dharma of the sādhus completely, then it should be followed at least a little. One [who remains] situated on the path will not come to ruin [whereas those who give up will never be successful].”