Contemplations

A collection of inspirational quotes from various sources.

Content
A rogue’s promise is nothing	Sunlight reflects, like God’s bliss
A snake vs an evil person	Talkativeness vs Silence
A snake vs wicked person	The ideal wife
A noble heart is gentle	The trees shelter everyone
Be good to all	This too shall pass
Be silent when others speak loudly	Thoughts, words and action
Bracelets & rings beautify, not purify	Title cannot define a person
Charcoal cannot give up its darkness	Title is useless if unhelpful
Conquer the inner self first	Truth is mother, knowledge is father
Contentment	Virtuous vs vicious
Cow or snake?	Who is a good friend?
Diamonds are rare, stones are everywhere	Wicked persons come like saints
Don’t give to those who do not need	Wicked people are arrogant
Good children, faithful spouse, loyal friends	Without education
Greed destroys	You reap what you sow
Harsh words cannot heal
He is unseen but real
One’s true nature cannot change
Rivers don’t drink their own water
Scholar or king?

Harsh words cannot heal

संरोहति अग्निना दग्धं वनं परशुना हतं ।
वाचा दुरुक्तं बीभत्सं न संरोहति वाक् क्षतम् ॥

Samrohati agninaa dagdham
vanam parashunaa hatam.
Vaachaa duruktam beebhatsam na
samrohati vaak kshatam.

A forest burnt down by fire, or cut down by axe will eventually grow back. But wounds caused by harsh, inappropriate words will never heal.

Scholar or King?

विद्वत्त्वं च नृपत्वं च नैव तुल्यं कदाचन ।
स्वदेशे पूज्यते राजा विद्वान् सर्वत्र पूज्यते ॥

Vidvatan cha nripatvan cha
naiva tulyan kadaachana
Svadeshe poojyate raajaa
vidvaan sarvatra poojyate

Scholars and Rulers are not alike. A ruler or President is respected in his own country while a wise person scholar is respected everywhere.

Snake or evil person?

सर्पः क्रूरः खलः क्रूरः सर्पात्क्रूरतरः खलः।
मन्त्रौषधिवशः सर्पः खलः केन निवार्यते॥

A snake is cruel and so too an evil person is cruel, but an evil person is worse than a snake because a snake can be controlled by incantation and medicinal herbs, but how can an evil person be controlled?

सर्पः snake क्रूरः cruel, wicked, hard-hearted, pitiless खलः cruel person, pitiless person क्रूरः cruel, wicked, hard-hearted, pitiless सर्पात् snake क्रूरतरः crueler, wickeder खलः cruel person, pitiless person मन्त्रौषधिवशः controlled by incantation and medicinal herb मन्त्र incantation औषधि medicinal herb वश influence, control, subjugation, subjection सर्प snake खल cruel person, pitiless person केन – किम् third person pronoun निवार्यते- निवृ to prohibit, to hinder.

A snake or wicked person

दुर्जनस्य च सर्पस्य वरं सर्पो न दुर्जनः ।
सर्पो दशति काले तु दुर्जनस्तु पदे पदे ॥

Between a wicked person and a snake, the snake is better. A snake bites occasionally only when provoked. But a wicked person does so often without any provocation.

Without education

शुनः पुच्छमिव व्यर्थं जीवितं विद्यया विना ।
न गुह्यगोपने शक्तं न च दंशनिवारणे ॥

Shunah puchchhamiva vyartham
jivitan vidyayaa vinaa
Na guhya-gopane shaktan na
danshani-vaaraṇe

Life without education is as worthless as a dog’s tail. It can neither hide dog’s private parts nor can it ward off flies.

Unseen but real

पुष्पे गन्धं तिले तैलं काष्ठेऽग्निं पयसि घृतम् ।
इक्षौ गुडं तथा देहे पश्यात्मानं विवेकतः ॥

Puṣhpe gandhan tile tailan
kaaṣhṭhe’agnim payasi ghritam
Ikshau giṛan tathaa dehe
pashyaatmaanan vivekatah

The scent in flowers, the oil in seeds, the fire in wood, the ghee in milk, the sugar in sugarcane, and soul in the body – these are not seen from outside.

Sunlight reflects, like God’s bliss

Sun rays are cast upon everything, but they especially reflect from mirror, water and milk. Similarly, God is present everywhere – but his divinity is reflected in the heart of his true devotees.

A person’s true nature cannot change

यः स्वभावो हि यस्यास्ति स नित्यं दुरतिक्रमः ।
श्वा यदि क्रियते राजा स किं नाश्नात्युपानहम् ॥
(समयोचितपद्यरत्नमालिका)

People will always follow their innate qualities, no matter what environment they are put into. If you make a dog the king, will it stop chewing footwear?

Cow or snake?

पात्रापात्रविवेकोऽस्ति धेनुपन्नगयोरिव ।
तृणात्संजायते क्षीरं क्षीरात्संजायते विषम् ॥
(सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार)

Paatra apaatra viveko ‘sti
dhenu pannagayoh iva.
Triṇaat sanjaayate ksheeram
ksheeraat sanjaayate visham.

The definite difference between good and the bad is like the difference between a cow and a snake. One eats grass and gives milk. The other drinks milk and gives out poison.

Contentment

धन्यानामुत्तमं दाक्ष्यं धनानामुत्तमं श्रुतम् ।
लाभानाम् श्रेय आरोग्यं सुखानां तुष्टिरुत्तमा ॥

Of all qualities, efficiency is best. Of all types of wealth, knowledge is best. Of all types of profit, health is best and of all types of happiness, contentment is the best.

Virtuous vs vicious

स्थानं उत्सृज्य गच्छन्ति सिंहाः सत्पुरुषाः गजाः ।
तत्रेव निधनं यान्ति काकाः कापुरुषाः मृगाः ॥

Sthaanam utsrijya gacchanti
simhaah satpurushaah gajaah.
Tatra eva nidhanam yaanti
kaakaah kaapuruṣha mrugaah.

The lions, elephants and the virtuous people with high self-esteem quit their position immediately once their esteem is hurt but the crows, cats and the vicious people wish to continue in the same position.

A rogue’s promise is nothing

असद्भिः शपथेनोक्तं जले लिखितमक्षरम् ।
सद्भिस्तु लीलया प्रोक्तं शिलालिखितमक्षरम् ॥

Asadbhih shapa-thena uktam
jale likhitam-aksharam.
Sadbhih ‘stu leelayaa proktam
shilaa likhitam-aksharam.

A rogue’s promise is as if written in water; it is no without form and is not solid. But when a virtuous people make even a passing remark, it is as if written on stone – permanent and something to stand by.

Conquer the inner self first

आत्मा जेयः सदा राज्ञा ततो जेयाश्च शत्रवः ।
अजितात्मा नरपतिर्विजयेत कथं रिपून् ॥
(महाभारत)

Before thinking of overcoming external enemies, one must first overcome his internal (self-made) enemies. If one cannot be the master of his own senses, how can he master over external enemies?

Title is useless if we cannot help others

यद्युच्चैरपि न परानुपकुरुषे तन्मृषैव ते जन्म ।
यदि नैष जनितवर्षः को नाम पयोधरोत्कर्षः ॥

Yadi ucchairapi na paraan-upakuruṣhe
tat mruṣhaiva te janma.
Yadi naiṣha janitavarṣhah
ko naama payodharot-karṣhah.

If one has a high position and cannot help those who need help when what is the use of such a position, it is a waste. What use is the cloud that seeks to go so high in the sky if it does not serve its purpose and give rains?

Wicked persons appear like saints

विद्वत्सु विमलज्ञाना विरक्ता यतिषु स्थिताः ।
स्वीयेषु च गरोद्गारा नानाकाराः क्षितौ खलाः ॥

Vidvatsu vimala gyaanaa
viraktaa yatiṣhu sthitaah.
Sviyeṣhu cha garodgaaraa
naanaa aakaaraah kṣhitau khalaah.

Wicked persons are in many forms. When is the company of wise people, the wicked ones appear as though they are realised souls. When they are in the company of saints the wicked persons try to look like saints. And, when they are among their own kind, they become vicious and poisonous.

A good heart is soft

म्रुदुलं नवनीतमीरितं नवनीतादपि सज्जनस्य ह्रुत् |
तदिदं द्रवति स्वतापनात् परतापाद्र्वते सतां पुन: ||
सुभाषित सुरद्रुमा

Mrudulam navaneeta meeritam,
navaneetaa dapi sajjanasya hrut
Tadidam dravati svataa-panaat,
parataa paadravate sataam punaha

Butter is considered as super soft. But noble man’s heart is softer. Butter melts when the temperature raises, but noble man’s heart melt even when temperature raises for others. (A noble person is concerned for the welfare of others)

Be good to all

अष्टा दशपुरणानम सारं व्यासेन कीर्थितम |
परोपकारः पुण्याय पपाया परपीडनम |

Aṣhṭaa dasha-puraṇaanam
saaram vyaasena keerthitam.
Paropakaarah puṇyaaya,
papaayaa parapeeḍanam

In all of the eighteen puranas, Sage Vyasa emphasizes only two moral precepts Rendering service to people is merit and harassing them is evil.

Qualities of a good student

काक चेष्टा, बको ध्यानं,
स्वान निद्रा तथैव च ।
अल्पहारी, गृहत्यागी,
विद्यार्थी पंच लक्षणं ॥

Perseverance like a Crow; Concentration like a swan; light sleeping like a dog; light eating and non-attachment of home. These are the five qualities of a student.

Who is a good friend?

शुचित्वं त्यागिता शौर्यं सामान्यं सुखदुःखयोः ।
दाक्षिण्यं चानुरक्तिश्च सत्यता च सुहृद्गुणाः ॥

Shuchitvam tyaagi-taa shouryam
saamaanyam sukha-duhkayoh.
Daakshiṇ-yaṅgcha-anur-jyigta’shcha
satyataa cha suhrid-guṇaah

The qualities of a true friend are Purity, generosity, chivalry, calmness in happiness or distress, politeness, affection and truthfulness.

Title does not define a person

गुणैरुत्तमतां याति नोच्चैरासनसंस्थितः।
प्रासादशिखरस्थोऽपि काकः किं गरुडायते॥

The worth of a person is not dertermined by his seat (position), but by his qualities. Just by sitting on the tip of a palace, a crow cannot become an eagle.

गुणैः merit, virtues उत्तुङ्गता prominence, elevation याति get न not अच्च high आसन seat संस्थितः occupying, sitting प्रासाद palace शिखर top of a dome आरूढ़ perched, sitting काक crow किं can (whom)? गरुड़ायते become an eagle (garuda).

A tree shelter everyone

छायामन्यस्य कुर्वन्तं तिष्ठन्ताम् स्वयमातपे ।
फ़लानार्पय परार्थाय वृक्षाः सतपुरुषाः इव ॥

Chaayaaman-yasya kurvantam
tishtantaam swayam-aatape.
Phalaanaarpaya paraar-thaaya
vrikshaah satpuruṣhaah iva.

Trees themselves stand in the sun and offer shade to the others. Their fruits are also for the sake of others. Noble and righteous persons are also like the trees and live their life for the benefit of mankind.

छाया shade, shelter अन्य other अन्यस्य to others कृ (कुर्वन्ति) to do तिष्ठन्ति stay, stand स्वयं oneself, in one’s own person आतप heat, sunlight फल fruit अपि too, also परार्थ for the sake of others वृक्ष tree सत्पुरुष good person इव as if, like

The ideal wife

The quality of a perfect wife is quoted from the Neeti Saara or Neeti Sastra v91 (A collection of morals written by Baddena, a Telugu poet, 1220-1280 AD)

कार्येषु दासी करणेषु मंत्री रूपेषु लक्ष्मी क्षमया धरित्री।
स्नेहेषु माता शयनेषु वेश्या षट्कर्मनारी कुलधर्मपत्नी ॥

An ideal wife will have these six virtues – exemplary in dutiful actions, advisor, care giver to family, beautiful, romantic and forgiving.
The shloka literally identifies that a wife will be like a counselor in dealing with various situations, like a perfectionist in her duties, like Goddess Lakshmi in beauty, like the earth in patience, like a mother in giving love and be like a courtesan in bedroom.}

कार्येषु perfectionist, careful दासी altar, in serving, one who serves करणेषु advises, acts like मन्त्री advisor, counsellor, thinker रूपेषु लक्ष्मी beauty/form of Mother Lakshmi क्षमया patient, forgiving, supportive धरित्री earth स्नेहेषु affectionate, loving माता

Be silent when others speak loudly

भद्रं भद्रं कृतं मौनं कोकिलैर्जलदागमे l
वक्तारो दुर्दरा यत्र तत्र मौनं हि शोभते ll

Bhadram bhadram krutam maunam
koki-lair-jaladaagame.
Vaktaaro durdaraa yatra
tatra maunam hi shobhate.

On the onset of the rainy season, Nightingale does not sing (but remains silent). That may as well be, because when there are distressing noises (croaking of the frogs), it is better to be silent.

Talkativeness vs Silence

मौखर्यं लाघवकरं मौनमुन्नतिकारकं ।
मुखरं नुपूरं पादे कण्ठे हारो विराजते ॥

Mourkhyam laaghvakaram
mounam-unnati-kaarakam.
Mukharam nupooram paade
kaṇthe haaro viraajate,

Talkativeness leads to disrespect; silence is golden and leads to prosperity. An anklet which makes noise is worn on the feet while a necklace adorns the neck.

Rivers don’t drink their own water

पिबन्ति नद्यः स्वयमेव नाम्भः स्वयं न खादन्ति फलानि वृक्षाः।
नादन्ति सस्यं खलु वारिवाहाः परोपकाराय सतां विभूतयः॥

Pibanti nadyah svayameva naambhah
swayam na khaadanti phalaani vrukshaah.
Naadanti sasyam khalu vaarivaahaah,
paropakaaraaya sataam vibhutayah.

The rivers do not drink their own waters; the trees don’t eat their own fruits. The clouds, indeed, do not eat the crops [they have watered]. The wealth of the good people are for helping others.

नद्यः rivers स्वयम् एव by one-self अम्भः – जलं waters न पिबन्ति do not drink वृक्षाः trees फलानि fruits न खादन्ति do not eat वारिवाहाः clouds (water-bearers) सस्यं crop न अदन्ति do not eat खलु indeed सतां of noble विभूतयः wealth, prosperity परोपकाराय for helping others

Diamonds are rare; stones are everywhere

दृश्यन्ते भुवि भूरिनिम्बतरवः कुत्राSपि ते चन्दनः।
पाषणैः परिपूरिता वसुमती वज्रो मणिर्दुर्लभः ॥

Drishyante bhuvi bhoorinim-batarvah
kutraapi te chandanah.
Paaṣhanaih paripooritaa vasumatee
vajro maṇir-durlabhah.

Lemon trees are in abundance everywhere on earth, but the Sandalwood tree is rare. Stones are everywhere on Earth but precious diamonds are very rare and hard to find.

दृश्यन्ते are seen, are found भुवि the Earth भूरी in abundance निम्ब lemon तरवः trees कुत्र where अपि even (to express emphasis) ते they चन्दनः Sandalwood tree पाषणैः stones परिपूरिता full of, filled by वसुमती the Earth वज्र very hard मणि a diamond दुर्लभ rare, very difficult to find

Bracelets & rings beautify not purify.

श्रोतं श्रुतेनैव न कुण्डलेन दानेन पाणिर्न तु कङ्कणेन।
विभाति कायः खलु सज्जनानां परोपकारेर्न तु चन्दनेन ॥

Shrotam shrute-naiva na kuṇḍalena
daanen paaṇirna tu kaǹkaṇen.
Vibhaati kaayah khalu sajjanaanaam
paropakaarerna tu chandanena.

Our ears become purposeful by listening to scriptures, not by their earrings. Our hands are purposeful by doing good and giving help to others, not by the bracelets we wear. We become noble and pure by our selflessness, not by the decorations and perfume on our body.

श्रोतम् ears श्रुतेन by listening to scriptures इव like कुण्डलेन by earrings दानेन by giving alms पानी hands न not कङ्कणेन by bracelets विभाति becomes beautiful कायः body, personality खलु certainly सज्जनानाम् noble and righteous persons परोपकारेर्न by helping others, doing philanthropic work तु by चन्दनेन by smearing sandalwood paste.

Good children, faithful spouse and loyal friends

यः प्रीणयेत्सुचरितैः पितरं स पुत्रो
यद्भर्तुरेव हितमिच्छति तत्कलत्रम् |
तन्मित्रमापदि सुखे च समक्रियं
यदेतत्रयं जगति पुण्यकृतो लभन्ते ||

Yah preeṇayet-sucharitaih pitaram sa putro
Yad-bhartureva hitamicchati tatkalatram.
Tan-mitramaapadi sukhe cha samakriyam
ya-detatrayam jagati puṇyakrito labhante.

A noble child looks after his parents, a blessed couple looks after each other’s interests, a true friend shares your joys and sorrows with equal care. A good son, a faithful spouse and a loyal friend – these three blessings come to the virtuous and pious persons.

यः who soever प्रीणयेत् pleased, satisfied सुचरित virtuous, moral, with good conduct पितरम् fathers, ancestors स he पुत्रो son यत् who भर्तु husband इव indeed हितम् interests इच्छति desires, wishes तत् he or she कलत्रम् wife तन he मित्र friend अपदि misfortune, calamity सूखे happiness समक्रियम् acting uniformly यत् एट त्रयम where all these three जगति world पुण्यकृतो pious and virtuous persons लभन्ते achieve, get.

Charcoal cannot give up its darkness

अङ्गारः शतधौतेन मलिनत्वं न मुञ्चति।

Aǹgaarah shata-dhautena
malinatvam na muchati.

Charcoal does not lose its blackness even it was washed a hundred times. (People do not give up their intrinsic natures.)

अङ्गारः charcoal शत hundreds धौत washed off, purified एन thus मलिनत्व blackness, moral darkness न not मुञ्चति discharge, cast, set aside

You reap what you sow

अवश्यमेव भोक्तव्यं कृतकर्मफलं नरैः।

What you sow, you shall reap

अवश्यमेव naturally भोक्तव्यं to be enjoyed कृत् act, deed कर्मफलं fruit of actions नरैः people, mankind

जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी!

You reap what you sow!

Thoughts, words and action

यथा चित्तं तथा वाचो यथा वाचस्तथा क्रिया ।
चित्ते वाचि क्रियायां च साधूनामेकरूपता ॥

Yathaa chittam tathaa vaacho
yathaa vaachastathaa kriyaa.
Chitte vaachi kriyaayaam cha
saadhoonaam-eka-roopataa.

Our thoughts, words and actions are interlinked and affect each other. Noble persons unify their thoughts, words and speech.

यथा as, for instance चित्तम् mind’s content, thought तथा thus, so वाचो speech यथा as वाचस् speech तथा thus, so क्रिया action चित्ते thoughts वाचि speech, words क्रियायां actions च and साधू saintly, good एकः uniformity, singularity, one रूपता composed of, shaped by

This too shall pass

एतदपि गमिष्यति ।

Etad-api gamiṣhyati

This too shall pass.

एतद् this अपि too गम् go इष्यति move quickly

Greed destroys us

अपि मेरुसमं प्राज्ञमपि शुरमपि स्थिरम् ।
तृणीकरोति तृष्णैका निमेषेण नरोत्तमम् ॥

Api meru-samam prajaam-api
shuramapi sthiram.
Triṇee-karoti triṣhṇaikaa
nimeṣhena narottamam

Even if a person is intelligent, brave and firm like the mountain, greed can damage him in a matter of moments.

अपि too मेरु mount meru समम् equal, alike, similar प्राज्ञ intelligence dependent अपि too शुरम् hero, brave स्थिरम् stable, constant, fixed अपि too तृणी करोति make light of निमेषेण in barely a moment नरोत्तमम् best of men, best of me

Don’t give to those who do not need

वृथा वृष्टिः समुद्रेषु वृथा तृप्तस्य भोजनम् ।
वृथा दानं समर्थस्य वृथा दीपो दिवापि च ॥

Rain which falls upon the sea is useless; so is food for one who is already full. In vain is a gift for one who is wealthy; and a lighted lamp during the daytime is useless.

Truth is my mother, knowledge is my father

सत्यं माता पिता ज्ञानं धर्मो भ्राता दया सखा।
शान्ति: पत्नी क्षमा पुत्र: षडेते मम बान्धवा:॥

Satyam maataa pitaa gyaanam
dharmo bhraataa dayaa sakhaa.
Shaantih patnee kshamaa putrah
ṣheḍete mama baandhavaah.

Truth is my mother, Knowledge is my father, Righteousness is my brother, Mercy is my friend, Peace is my wife and Forgiveness my son. These six are my kith and kins.

Wicked people are arrogant

ऐश्वर्यमल्पमेत्य प्रायेण हि दुर्जनो भवति मानी।
सुमहत्प्राप्यैश्वर्यं प्रशमं प्रतिपद्यते सुजनः॥

Aishvaryam-alpametya praayeṇa hi
durjano bhavati maanee.
Sumahat-praaṇi-aishvaryam prasham
pratipadyate sujanah.

A scoundrel with even a small amount of prosperity and power becomes very arrogant and proud, whereas a noble person even with abundant power and prosperity will remain humble.

ऐश्वर्यम् prosperity, power अल्पम् little, small एत्य to acquire, to attain, to obtain प्रायेण generally, mostly, as a general rule हि surely दुर्जन: wicked, scoundrel, rascal, bad person भवति to become मानी arrogant, proud सुमहत् abundant प्राप्य to get, to obtain ऐश्वर्यम् prosperity, power प्रशमम् calmness, quiet प्रतिपद्यते to practise, to resort to सुजन: a noble person, a gentleman

म् ṣṇò  è àà, è, ì, ò, ù, à Ḍ è h̀ Ì ì K̀ k̀ M̀ m̀ Ǹ ǹ Ò ò R̀ r̀ S̀ s̀ T̀ t̀ Ù ù V̀ v̀ Ẁ ẁ X̀ x̀ Ỳ ỳ Z̀ z̀ ṛ ṣ ṭṬ ṇ ḍ Ḍ

ṣṇò  è àà, è, ì, ò, ù, À, È, Ì, Ò, Ù À à Ḍ È è H̀ h̀ Ì ì K̀ k̀ M̀ m̀ Ǹ ǹ Ò ò R̀ r̀ S̀ s̀ T̀ t̀ Ù ù V̀ v̀ Ẁ ẁ X̀ x̀ Ỳ ỳ Z̀ z̀ ṛ ṣ ṭṬ ṇ ḍ Ḍ

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