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Inspirational Quotations

by RightAttitudes.com

Inspirational Quotes from Subhashita Manjari (Sanskrit Anthology of Proverbs)

Inspirational Quotations by Subhashita Manjari (Sanskrit Anthology of Proverbs)

The Subhâshita (Sanskrit: “well-spoken” or “eloquent adage”) is a genre of witty, epigrammatic, instructive verses and proverbs that convey worldly wisdom and righteous deeds. The subhâshitas have survived from ancient and medieval India, not only in Sanskrit but also in the vernacular languages.

Generally, Sanskrit subhâshita verses are four or two lines (pādas) set to the anuṣṭubh meter of Sanskrit verse.

Anthologies of subhâshitas are referred to as subhâshitavali, subhâshitani, subhâshita manjari, subhâshita bhandara, and subhâshita saṅgraha.

Subhâshita Manjari verse 1.5 clarifies the importance of subhâshita with a subhâshita, “On this earth, there are three jewels—water, food, and subhâshita. But the fool calls pieces of stone, jewel.”

Traditionally subhâshitas were originated, memorized, and transmitted by word of mouth. They are sourced in the works of Bhartṛhari (5th century CE,) Chanakya (3rd century BCE,) Thiruvalluvar (4th or 5th century CE,) Kalidasa (5th century CE,) and other literary figures. Besides, the animal fables Pañcatantra (3rd century BCE) and Hitopadeśa (12th century CE) and the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gītā, Purāṇas, Rāmāyaṇa, and Mahabharata are correspondingly prominent sources of subhâshitas.

Famous collections of subhâshitas include Krishna Shastri Bhatavadekar’s Subhâshita Ratnakara (1888) and Kâsí^nâtha Panduranga Paraba’s Subhâshita Ratna Bhâṇdâhâram (1952, ‘Gems of Sanskrit Poetry.’)

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Subhashita Manjari

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Inspirational Quotes from Subhashita Manjari (Sanskrit Anthology of Proverbs)

Accumulating the drops of water one by one, the pot gets filled gradually. Similarly, one should acquire all the knowledge, dharma (virtuousness) and wealth with continuous effort.
—Subhashita Manjari

One should avoid wicked people even if they are adorned with the quality of education. Isn’t a snake decorated with jewels dreadful?
—Subhashita Manjari

A true gem shines steadfastly by itself and is not affected by external factors, unlike a lamp which needs oil to burn and can be snuffed out by wind and which is discarded during day time, as unnecessary. So are the good men unaffected by prosperity or adversity.
—Subhashita Manjari

As soon as the words “I beg you. Please give me” are uttered, the five inherent divine qualities—intelligence, modesty, riches, countenance and reputation go away immediately.
—Subhashita Manjari

It may be possible to extract oil even by squeezing sand. It may also be possible to quench thirst by drinking water from a mirage. One may even find horns of a rabbit possibly while travelling. But it is impossible to win over a conceited fool.
—Subhashita Manjari

Whether the philosophers praise him or criticize, whether wealth enters the house or goes away as it wishes, whether death is today itself or after an eon, great men never step a foot away from the path of justice.
—Subhashita Manjari

Truth is my mother, knowledge is my father,
‘Dharma’ is my brother, Mercifulness is my friend,
Calmness(peacefulness) is my wife and forgiveness my son.
These six are my kith and keens.
—Subhashita Manjari

Grains collected by ants, honey accumulated by bees, and wealth collected by a greedy miser, all perish along with the source.
—Subhashita Manjari

Bracelets do not adorn a person. Nor do pearl necklaces shining like the moon, or a cleansing bath; nor anointment of the body, nor flowers, nor decoration for the hair. It is cultured speech alone which embellishes a man. All other ornaments lose their glitter, only the jewel of speech ever remains the jewel of jewels.
—Subhashita Manjari

One should try to develop qualities/skills in him
rather than making noise. A cow cannot be sold by
ringing a bell in her neck if it cannot be milked.
—Subhashita Manjari

The gods were not happy with the precious gems obtained from the milky ocean. They were not afraid of the deadly poison. They did not rest until they obtained the nectar of immortality. In fact, the steadfast do not relax without accomplishing the determined task.
—Subhashita Manjari

The sun, the moon, huge trees, rivers, cows and virtuous people are created by the almighty for helping others.
—Subhashita Manjari

If you look at people less fortunate, less wealthy than you – you will not become richer. But if you keep looking at people wealthier than you and try to imitate them, you will definitely become poorer.
—Subhashita Manjari

Not even a single moment of life can be bought with all the gold and jewels on earth. Therefore, one should utilize every single moment, failing which leads to an irremediable disaster. Bad days follow good times and similarly, happy days always follow the miserable ones. Everyday can never be a bad day, nor can one derive happiness everyday.
—Subhashita Manjari

Past should not be repented for. Future should never be worried about. Wise men act by the present time.
—Subhashita Manjari

Knowledge is a friend when on journey.
Wife is a friend at home.
For the sick, medicine is a friend.
Dharma is a friend for the dead.
—Subhashita Manjari

The company of the distinguished, fetches respect even to the unworthy. Because of its association with flowers (in a garland), the thread is also worn on head.
—Subhashita Manjari

Patience in adversity, magnanimity in ascendancy, eloquence in assembly, bravery in battle, aspiration for eminence and engrossment in the scriptures are the self-evident attributes of great men.
—Subhashita Manjari

Even insignificant things can be grouped together and can effectively be used to accomplish great tasks. A rope made of hay sticks controls a powerful elephant by firmly binding it.
—Subhashita Manjari

There are only three ends of wealth-charity,
enjoyment or destruction. One who neither gives,
nor enjoys, leaves open only the third course for it.
—Subhashita Manjari

All good qualities are possessed by a scholar.
Only few bad habits constitute a fool’s character.
That’s why, for every thousand fools, you can witness one scholar.
—Subhashita Manjari

Any remainder of debt, fire and enemy grow rapidly again and again, hence no remainder should be maintained.
—Subhashita Manjari

An enemy, though powerful can be easily uprooted by a patient person, if he is shaken by the wind of disaffection and if his supporters are gradually estranged, like a tree which, though big, can be easily uprooted shaken by the wind and its mass of roots gradually giving way.
—Subhashita Manjari

Useless is the rain that precipitates into seas.
Useless is the food that is fed to a satisfied person.
Useless is the money that is given to an able person.
Useless is the lamp that is lighted during the day time.
—Subhashita Manjari

The status of a learned person can never be compared with that of a king. A king is worshiped only in his kingdom, whereas a learned person is honored everywhere.
—Subhashita Manjari

Those who are blinded by jelousy, cannot appreciate the good qualities in others, even if he is a scholar. The knowledge of such people is as useless as bathing an elephant, which rejoices wallowing in the mud.
—Subhashita Manjari

One who influences (inspires, motivates and contributes to) the lives of his friends and relatives is the only one whose life is worthwhile. Who in this world lives without any selfish motives?
—Subhashita Manjari

Hunger, Thirst, and desire are like man’s three wives. Until he is alive these three will never leave him or go else where. In comparison of the three, desire NEVER EVER leaves the man. Unlike hunger and thirst which disappear for some time after eating /drinking, desire is the thing which never disappears from man’s mind!.
—Subhashita Manjari

Anger is foremost enemy of humankind, which inherently resides within oneself only to destroy him, just like fire which is enkindled by a piece of wood ends up burning the piece.
—Subhashita Manjari

Wealth is transient, Mind is unstable. Youth and life are temporary. Everything in this world is short-lived, but the one who has acquired fame lives forever.
—Subhashita Manjari

No one knows what will happen to whom tomorrow. Therefore, a wise man should do all of tomorrow’s tasks today.
—Subhashita Manjari

It is said that hell is the place of intense pain and severe torture. But in reality, there is no pain (or torture) as intense as that of poverty, neither was there in past, nor will be in future.
—Subhashita Manjari

Forgiveness is a virtue of the learned. To err is human, to forgive divine.
—Subhashita Manjari
Topics: Forgiveness, Mistakes, Failures

The brave people do not like being praised in front of them.
They display their valor not by words but by doing difficult deeds.
—Subhashita Manjari

Shadow of clouds, friendship with a wicked person, ground near the ocean indeed disappear shortly, similarly as youth and wealth.
—Subhashita Manjari

One who travels abroad and serves scholars is broad-minded. His intellectual ability is extensive just like a drop of oil on water which expands and covers the surface completely.
—Subhashita Manjari

Oil in water, a secret confined to the treacherous, donation to the deserving even in a small measure; and knowledge in a wise person, expand by themselves because of inherent nature.
—Subhashita Manjari

A man’s ornament is his form. The ornament of beauty is virtue. Virtue’s ornament is knowledge. Of knowledge the ornament is forgiveness.
—Subhashita Manjari

Diligence, audacity, courage, intelligence, strength and bravery -wherever these six qualities exist, there is divine assistance.
—Subhashita Manjari

A servant has nothing to gain if he impresses the king by his sevice. The king is not going to give him anything more than his salary. Even if the clouds rain all day and night, the Phalasha (Curcuma Zedoaria) plant is going to have only 3 leaves.
—Subhashita Manjari

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