One should practice what one considers to be one’s duty, guided by reasons,
instead of blindly following the practices of the world.
—The Mahabharata
Arjuna chose Krishna, though Krishna had vowed to lay down his arms on the battlefield …
… Krishna asked: “Why did you pick me, knowing I would not fight?.”
I can handle the soldiers myself, O Krishna, if I have your presence to give me moral support. Some of your glory will surely rub off on me.
—The Mahabharata
Truth, self control, asceticism, generosity, non-injury, constancy in virtue—these are the means of success, not caste or family.
—The Mahabharata
Topics: Success
What is weightier (more sustaining) than the earth? – Mother
What is higher than the sky? – Father (bestower of more benefits)
What is swifter than the wind? – Mind
What is more numerous than grass?-
Thoughts (of a sorrow stricken mind) are more numerous than grass.
—The Mahabharata
Good action you will get happiness. Bad actiions you will get misery. To get anything one has to act, perform. Without action one does not get anything.
—The Mahabharata
Revenge is not always better,
but neither is forgiveness;
learn to know them both,
so that there is no problem.
—The Mahabharata
This is the sum of duty: do naught to others which if done to thee, would cause thee pain.
—The Mahabharata
Anger is the enemy of men difficult to conquer and covetousness (greed) is the endless desire. A good man is one who seeks welfare of all beings and a bad man is one who has no compassion or mercy.
—The Mahabharata
This is the sum of all—righteousness. In causing pleasure or in giving pain, in doing good or injury to others, a man obtains a proper rule of action by looking at his neighbor as himself.
—The Mahabharata
Topics: Neighbors
I do not blame you, O King, for hitting an innocent man. For, cruelty comes quick to the powerful.
—The Mahabharata
Time consumes everything and hence one should utilize
the available little time for his own emancipation.
Many people do not realize that they are gradually being consumed
by time and hence that is the news deserving widest publicity.
—The Mahabharata
Cleverness does not always lead to gain nor stupidity to poverty.
—The Mahabharata
These three people are the golden flowers that blossom on the creeper named Earth – the courageous, the learned and the person who knows to serve.
—The Mahabharata
A pessimistic ignorant fool is always disturbed by thousands of reasons to cry and hundreds of reasons to be afraid everyday. A wise person is never affected by these.
—The Mahabharata
The intoxication with power is worse than
drunkenness with liquor and such,
for who is drunk with power does not
come to his senses before he falls.
—The Mahabharata
An ambitious person should overcome the following six weaknesses—resting (oversleeping), lethargy, fear, anger, laziness and procrastination.
—The Mahabharata
Youth, beauty, life, accumulated wealth, health, loved ones none of them are permanent. A wise man will never run behind these.
—The Mahabharata
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
- The Upanishads Sacred Books of Hinduism
- The Vedas Sacred Books of Hinduism
- The Panchatantra Indian Collection of Fables
- The Hitopadesha Indian Collection of Fables
- Bhartrihari Hindu Philosopher, Grammarian
- Subhashita Manjari Sanskrit Anthology of Proverbs
Leave a Reply