Subhashitas Flashcards
आशाया ये दासास्ते दासास्सर्वलोकस्य ।
आशा येषां दासी तेषां दासायते लोकः ।।
Those who are slaves of desire, are slaves of the entire world. The world itself acts like a slave of those (to those) to whom desire is a slave
साधूनां दर्शनं पुण्यं तीर्थभूता हि साधवः ।
तीर्थं फलति कालेन सद्यः साधुसमागमः ।।
The sight of Nobel men, brings merit. Nobel men, are indeed like holy places. However, a holy place bears fruit after a lapse of time. Meeting noblemen yields results instantly.
अङ्गं गलितं पलितं मुण्डं दशनविहीनं जातं तुण्डम् ।
वृद्धो याति गृहीत्वा दण्डं तदापि न मुञ्चत्याशापिण्डम् ।।
The Limb is worn out. The head, has grey hair. The mouth, has no teeth in it. The old man, goes holding a staff. But still, he does not leave the tie of desire (attachment).
धनानि जीवितं चैव परार्थे प्राज्ञ उत्सृजेत् ।
सन्निमित्ते वरं त्यागो विनाशे नियते सति ।।
A wise man, must give up wealth, and also his life for the sake of others. When destruction is sure to come, for a good cause, sacrificing is better.
श्लोकार्धेन प्रवक्ष्यामि यदुक्तं ग्रन्थकोटिभिः ।
परोपकारः पुण्याय पापाय परपीडनम् ।।
By millions of works, what has been said, that with half a stanza I shall say. Helping others brings merit, troubling others gives rise to sin.
जलबिन्दुनिपातेन क्रमशः पूर्यते घटः ।
स हेतुः सर्वविद्यानां धर्मस्य च धनस्य च ।।
By water drops falling, gradually a pot is filled. For all branches of learning, Dharma and money, the same rule applies
स्वभावं न जहात्येव साधुरापद्गतोऽपि सन् ।
कर्पूरः पावकस्पृष्टः सौरभं लभतेतराम् ।।
Camphor that is burnt gives out more fragrance. A pious man even in difficulty does not give up his nature.
गुणेषु क्रियतां यत्नः किमाटोपैः प्रयोजनम् ।
विक्रीयन्ते न घण्टाभिर्गावः क्षीरविवर्जिताः ।।
To acquire good qualities, efforts must be made. By putting on a show, what is the use? Cows, that do not give milk cannot be sold with just bells.
पद्माकरं दिनकरो विकचीकरोति
चन्द्रो विकासयति कैरवचक्रवालम् ।
नाभ्यर्थितो जलधरोऽपि जलं ददाति
सन्तः स्वयं परहिते निहिताभियोगाः ।।
The sun causes to bloom, the lotus pond. The moon causes to bloom, a bunch of lilies. The cloud even when not requested gives water. Nobel men, of their own accord, undertake to do something for the welfare of others
आरभन्तेऽल्पमेवाज्ञाः कामं व्यग्रा भवन्ति च ।
महारम्भाः कृतधियः तिष्ठन्ति च निराकुलाः ।।
Fools begin only a small job, and they become very tense. However, even when they undertake great jobs, wise men remain unagitated.
यदा किञ्चिज्ज्ञोऽहं गज इव मदान्धः समभवम्
तदा सर्वज्ञोऽस्मीत्यभवदवलिप्तं मम मनः ।
यदा किञ्चित् किञ्चित् बुधजनसकाशादवगतम्
तदा मूर्खोऽस्मीति ज्वर इव मदो मे व्यपगतः ।।
Knowing a little, I got blind with pride like an elephant. Then I arrogantly thought of myself as omniscient. When I did learn something, little by little, from the learned and realized that I was after all ignorant, my pride subsided like fever.
विपदि धैर्यमथाभ्युदये क्षमा सदसि वाक्पटुता युधि विक्रमः ।
यशसि चाभिरुचिर्व्यसनं श्रुतौ प्रकृतिसिद्धमिदं हि महात्मनाम् ।।
Courage in adversity, patience in prosperity, oratory in an assembly, bravery in battle, interest in fame, desire for acquiring knowledge- all these are naturally found in the great persons.
रत्नैर्महाब्धेस्तुतुषुर्न देवा
न भेजिरे भीमविषेण भीतिम् ।
सुधां विना न प्रययुर्विरामं
न निश्चितार्थाद्विरमन्ति धीराः ।।
When they churned the ocean for nectar, the gods were not pleased with the gems they secured from the ocean. Nor were they scared of the terrible poison. They churned and churned the ocean until they got nectar. Thus, determined persons do not stop till they reach their goal.
पापान्निवारयति योजयने हिताय
गुह्यं निगूहति गुणान् प्रकटीकरोति ।
आपद्गतं च न जहाति ददाति काले
सन्मित्रलक्षणमिदं प्रवदन्ति सन्तः ।।
A good friend will always pull you out of the sinful path and put you on the beneficial path. He will keep your secrets while letting others know your good qualities. When you are in trouble he will be by your side and will give you what you want at the need of hour. Pious men call these a true friends characteristics.
लभेत सिकतासु तैलमपि यत्नतः पीडयन्
पिबेच्च मृगतृष्णिकासु सलिलं पिपासार्दितः ।
कदाचिदपि पर्यटन् शशविषाणमासादयेत्
न तु प्रतिनिविष्टमूर्खजनचित्तमाराधयेत् ।।
Crushing sand with effort one might find oil in it. Perhaps a thirsty person will drink water from a mirage. Sometimes while wandering one might find the horn of a hare. All these impossible things may become possible. But, it is not possible to please an obstinate fool.
व्याघ्रीव तिष्ठति जरा परितर्जयन्ती
रोगाश्च शत्रव इव प्रहरन्ति देहम् ।
आयुः परिस्त्रवति भिन्नघटादिवाम्भः
लोकस्तथाप्यहितमाचरतीति चित्रम् ।।
Old age frightens man like a tigers. Diseases strike the body like enemies. Like water leaking from a broken pot life is spent. Yet, people think of harming others. They do not realize that their life is getting shorter day by day. Instead of earning merit (punya) they indulge in harmful deeds. This behavior of men is strange indeed.
त्यागो गुणो वित्तवतां वित्तं त्यागवतां गुणः ।
परस्परवियुक्तौ तु वित्तत्यागौ विडम्बना ।।
If the rich have a mind to give money away, it is indeed a merit. If generous people have enough money, this is also a merit. However, wealth and generosity do not go together. This is ironical indeed.
न सा सभा यत्र न सन्ति वृद्धाः
वृद्धा न ते ये न वदन्ति धर्मम् ।
धर्मो न वै यत्र च नास्ति सत्यम्
सत्यं न तद्यच्छलनानुविद्धम् ।।
There is no assembly where there are no elders. They are no elders if Dharma is not taught by them. It is not Dharma is it does not contain truth. It is not truth if it is tainted with deceit.
गुणायन्ते दोषाः सुजनवदने दुर्जनमुखे
गुणा दोषायन्ते तदिदमपि नो विस्मयपदम् ।
महामेघः क्षारं पिबति कुरुते वारि मधुरं
फणी क्षीरं पीत्वा वमति गरलं दुःसहतरम् ।।
Defects turn into virtues when they come from good persons. On the other hand, virtues turn into defects when they come from the wicked. There is nothing surprising in this. While the big cloud takes in salty water from the sea and showers sweet rain water. The serpent drinks milk, but emits intolerable poison. Good people are comparable to the cloud and the wicked are like serpents.
वनेऽपि सिंहा मृगमांसभक्षिणो
बुभुक्षिता नैव तृणं चरन्ति ।
एवं कुलीना व्यसनाभिभूता
न नीचकर्माणि समाचरन्ति ।।
Lions which feed on the flesh of wild animals do not eat grass even when they are very hungry. Similarly, people of noble origin do not stoop to a low level and commit crimes even when they re in adversity.
