Subhaashitas - Ancient Indian Wisdom

SubhAshitAs are a collection of good thoughts or wisdom from Indian wisdom. They are timeless and inspiring.

1. SubhAshitAs The Ancient Indian Wisdom Compiled by : Girish Chandra ananthanarayana 4/1/2014 1

2. No gain greater than happiness! सन्तोषः परमो लाभः सत्सङ्गः परमा गतिः । विचारः परमं ज्ञानं क्षमे परमं सुखम् ॥ santoshah paramo laabhah satsangah param gatih vicharah param gnanam kshame parmam sukham Happiness is the greatest gain , company of the righteous the highest state, reflection (examination, deliberation) the most profound knowledge , and patience (forgiveness) the greatest pleasure. 4/1/2014 2

3. Watch your desires, they may become your destiny! काममया एवायं पुरुष इति | स यथाकामो भवति तत्क्रतु र् भवति | यात्क्रतुर भवति त त् कर्म कुरुते | य त् कर्म कुरुते तदभि ग मपद्यते ॥ kAmamayA evAyaM puruSha iti | sA yathAkAmo bhavati tatkratur bhavati | yAtkratur bhavati tatkarma kurute | yatkarma kurute tadabhigamapadyate || Human is but a result of the driving desires (passions) deep within. As the passion so the will. As the will so the actions. As the actions so the results (states, destiny) one attains (achieves, derives). 4/1/2014 3

4. Be the coach you deserve! गुरवो बहवः सन्ति शिष्यवित्तापहारकाः दुर्लभः स गुरुर्लोके शिष्यचित्तापहारकः guravo bahavaH santi shiShyavittApahArakAH durlabhaH sa gururloke shiShyachittApahArakaH - samayochitapadyamaalikaa Teachers (coaches) are many who take away (plunder) the students' wealth. That teacher is rare (hard to find) in this world who steals the heart (imagination) of the student. 4/1/2014 4

5. What matters are your deeds! अकारणंरूपमकारणं कुलम् महत्सु नीचेषु च कर्मैव शोभते - पञ्चरात्र akAraNaMrUpamakAraNaM kulam mahatsu neecheShu cha karmaiva shobhate It is not just the beauty, neither is it the lineage, among the eminent (mighty, rich) and the insignificant (inferior, lower) ones, its only their deeds that shine (makes them fit). 4/1/2014 5

6. Trying to change a fool could make you one! लभेत सिकतासु तैलमपि यत्नतः पीडयन् पिबेच्च मृगतृष्णिकासु सलिलं पिपासार्दितः । कदाचिदपि पर्यटन् शशविषाणमासादयेत् न तु प्रतिनिविष्टमूर्खजनचित्तमाराधयेत् ॥- नीतिशतक, भर्तृहरि labheta sikatAsu tailamapi yatnataH peeDayan pibechcha mRugatRuShNikAsu salilaM pipAsArditaH | kadAchidapi paryaTan shashaviShANamAsAdayet na tu pratiniviShTa mUrkhajana chittaM ArAdhayet ||- nItishataka , bhartRuhari One may extract oil even from the sands with effort and struggle, and a thirty person may drink water from the mirage; sometimes after wandering around one may even find rabbit horn. However, one may never appease (satisfy) the mind of an uncompromising (adamant, self-possessed) fool. 4/1/2014 6

7. Integrity is tested with money! सर्वेषामेव शौचानां अर्थशौचं परं स्मृतम् | योऽर्थे शुचिर्हि स शुचिर्न मृद्वारिशुचिः शुचिः || - मनुस्मृति sarveShAmeva shauchAnAM arthashauchaM paraM smRutam | yO~rthe shuchirhi sa shuchirna mRudvArishuchiH shuchiH ||  - manusmRuti Among all the purities (cleanliness), purity (integrity) in matters of wealth (purpose) is considered the primary. One who is honest (clean) with money is honest (clean), and cleaning with soap and water is not purification. 4/1/2014 7

8. Letting the potential bloom! bAlo bhavathi mritpindam nirAkaaram sachetanam | mritpindam murthymath kuryAt tAdanam peedanam vina || A child is like a clay, formless but sentient (with senses, intelligence, rationality, and consciousness). [However,] this clay is to be molded into a personality without beating and torture! 4/1/2014 8

9. You are what your association is! यदि सत्सङ्गनिरतो भविष्यसि भविष्यसि । तथा सज्जनगोष्ठिषु पतिष्यसि पतिष्यसि ॥ - हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ yadi satsanganirato bhaviShyasi bhaviShyasi | tathA sajjanagoShThiShu patiShyasi patiShyasi ||- hitopadesha, mitralaabha If you associate with good people (company), then you will become one. Similarly, if you fall off from good association then you shall fall. 4/1/2014 9

10. The Karma in Action! हसद्भिः क्रियते कर्म रुदद्भिरनुभूयते || hasadbhiH kriyate karma rudadbhiranubhooyate || --Mahabharata Sins are committed joyfully; their fruits are endured with sorrow. 4/1/2014 10

11. You are revealed without you saying much! आचारः कुलमाख्याति देशमाख्याति भाषणम् | सम्भ्रमः स्नेहमाख्याति वपुराख्याति भोजनम् || - चाणक्य नीति aachAraH kulamAkhyAti deshamAkhyAti bhAShaNam sambhramaH snehamAkhyaati vapurAkhyaati bhojanam - chANakya nIti Conduct reveals bringing up (family, race); speech (language, accent) reveals the region (nationality, province, area); activities (excitement, travels) inform association (friendship); and the body (form) tells about food habits (what you enjoy). 4/1/2014 11

12. A Tip for Public Speaking and Meetings! उच्चैरुच्चरितव्यं यत्किञ्चिदजानतापि पुरुषेण । मूर्खा बहु मन्यन्ते विदुषामपि संशयो भवति ॥ - सुभाषितसुधानिधि uchchairuchcharitavyaM yatkinchidajAnatApi puruSheNa | mUrkhA bahu manyante viduShAmapi saMshayo bhavati || - subhAShitasudhAnidhi Even if unsure one should pronounce (speak up) loud and clear; the ignorant (less intelligent) ones will regard highly, and even the wise will be put to doubt [that you are well qualified]. 4/1/2014 12

13. Enthusiasm  Success यत्रोऽत्साहसमारम्भो यत्रालस्यविहीनता । नयविक्रमसम्योगस्तत्र श्रीरचला ध्रुवम् ॥ - पञ्चतन्त्र, मित्रसम्प्राप्‍ति yatrOtsAhasamArambho yatrAlasyaviheenatA | nayavikramasamyogastatra shreerachalA dhruvam || - panchatantra, mitrasamprApti Where there is the spirit of enterprise (zeal), where there is absence of laziness, there certainly is the union of conduct and force (intensity , courage), and thus steady good fortune (prosperity, auspiciousness, success ) 4/1/2014 13

14. Education  Humility अनिच्छन्तोऽपि विनयं विद्याभ्यासेन बालकाः । भेषजेनेव नैरुज्यं प्रापणीयाः प्रयत्नतः ॥ - हरिहर सुभाषित anichChantopi vinayaM vidyAbhyAsena bAlakAH | bheShajeneva nairujyaM prApaNeeyAH prayatnataH ||  - harihara subhAShita Even without desiring, children attain wisdom and modesty by education, just as diseases are healed by administering medicine. 4/1/2014 14

15. Parents to be valued like treasure! सर्वतीर्थमयी माता सर्वदेवमयः पिता | मातरं पितरं तस्मात् सर्वयत्नेन पूजयेत् || sarvateerthamayee mAtA sarvadevamayaH pitA | mAtaraM pitaraM tasmAt sarvayatnena pUjayet || Mother is the embodiment of all pilgrimage and father the embodiment of all deities. Mother and father are therefore to be honored by all means (regards, efforts, endeavors). 4/1/2014 15

16. Reading People beyond their words! अकारणेनैव चतुराः तर्कयन्ति परेङ्गितम् । गर्भस्थं केतकीपुष्पम् आमोदेनेव षट्पदाः ॥ - प्रसन्नराघव akAraNenaiva chaturAH tarkayanti parengitam | garbhasthaM ketakIpuShpam aamodeneva ShaTpadAH || - prasannarAghava Without any prompting (cause) the clever ones read others ' gestures (inner thoughts and intentions), just as the bees discover the hidden [ ketakee ] flower just by its fragrance. 4/1/2014 16

17. Water the potential and let it bloom! वनस्पतेरपक्वानि फलानि प्रचिनोति यः । स नाप्नोति रसं तेभ्यो बीजं चास्य विनश्यति ॥ - विदुरनीति vanaspaterapakvAni phalAni prachinoti yaH | sa nApnoti rasaM tebhyo beejaM chAsya vinashyati || - viduraneeti One who plucks the unripe fruit from the fruit trees not only does he not get their sap (juices) but he destroys its seeds (potential) too. 4/1/2014 17

18. SubhAshitAs are endless! What you experience is only a fraction of the infinite ocean of ancient wisdom! You may join us on Facebook: https ://www.facebook.com/groups/shubhashita / May wisdom spread! 4/1/2014 18