Skip links

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

Recommended Reading

Inspirational Quotes from Subhashita Manjari (Sanskrit Anthology of Proverbs)

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

The courage of a hero cannot be wiped off even though he is worried. Though (source of the flame) reversed, the flames do not point downwards.
—Subhashita Manjari

A stream of tasteful water, having flown into the sea, becomes saline and thus undrinkable. For this simple reason, a wise man should never associate with one of wicked and impure soul.
—Subhashita Manjari

Reactions to calamities should be considered well in advance. It is no good to start digging a well when the house is on fire.
—Subhashita Manjari

A successful person is the one who really lives.
Likewise, a famous person too really lives.
A infamous loser though alive, is no better than the dead.
—Subhashita Manjari

Even fate cannot touch him whose heart is filled with compassion, whose words always reflect the truth and whose body is always meant to help others.
—Subhashita Manjari

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

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

The path shown by uncontrolled senses always leads to trouble. The right path is always having control over one’s senses. Now that you know, you can chose which one to follow.
—Subhashita Manjari

Children are usually very fickle minded. Training them must be like training a new horse. Some times you have to scold them and some times you have to pamper them.
—Subhashita Manjari

When rituals or any task is performed under the fear of fate or due to the greed will never pay off. It is as useless as trying to create fire from ash.
—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

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

In times of prosperity, the minds of great people are as soft as gentle water lilies, whereas in adversity when going gets tough, they become as hard as a huge mass of solid rock.
—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

A mountain is big. Bigger than the mountain is the ocean. The sky is bigger than the ocean. The universe is bigger than the sky. Greed is even bigger than the universe.
—Subhashita Manjari

Unless an enemy completely destroyed, one can not rule his kingdom peacefully. Only when flying dust is drenched with rain, brought down to earth and made into damp mud can water stay still within it.
—Subhashita Manjari

They make shade for others and stand in the heat themselves. Even fruits are for the good of others: Trees are indeed like good men.
—Subhashita Manjari

The companionship of good people removes the inertia of one’s mind, nurtures truth in the speech, enhances prestige, expiates the sins, comforts the conscience, spreads the name and fame in all directions. Say! what good is there which the company of devout does not bring to a man.
—Subhashita Manjari

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

Fire, Loan and enemy traces, even if they remain in small amount, they grow back repeatedlyHence finish them without leaving a trace.
—Subhashita Manjari

Good fortune follows honesty.
Fame follows sacrifice.
Education follows practice.
Intelligence follows hard work.
—Subhashita Manjari

The oath taken by the wicked person is like the letters written on the water. In contrast, even the informal words uttered by the saintly person are like the letters imprinted on rocks.
—Subhashita Manjari

Interests of one person should be sacrificed for the sake of a family.
Interests of one family should be sacrificed for the sake of a village.
Interests of one village should be sacrificed for the sake of a society.
All worldly interests should be sacrificed for the sake of self-realization.
—Subhashita Manjari

One gains respect by donating wealth and not by accumulating it. Clouds which give water have a higher position and seas which accumulate water occupy a lower position.
—Subhashita Manjari

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

If anyone would know how close to death they are, they would not even be interested in eating food, let alone doing any harm to anyone. But bad things are done in this world mostly because they think they will live forever.
—Subhashita Manjari

What is a grain? It is the companionship of the virtuous.
What is grief? It is the company of fools.
What is loss? It is the dissipation of time.
What is prudence? It is devotion to virtue.
What is valour? It is the conquest of the senses.
Who is the beloved wife? One who is devoted to her husband.
What is wealth? It is knowledge.
What is happiness? It is to remain settled in one’s own country.
What is rulership? It is to command obedience.
—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

One who is not interested in literature, music and arts is veritably an animal without tail or horns. Other animals are indeed fortunate, that he lives without eating grass.
—Subhashita Manjari

By doing good deeds all the time, the mind gets purified. Such a pure mind devoid of any bad thoughts is like a temple in itself.
—Subhashita Manjari

Wealth which does not help the needy, and a mind which is proud without meditation and a body which moves not towards a holy place (in pilgrimage) come to grief at the end.
—Subhashita Manjari

When you are sad, look at people who are more unfortunate than you. When you are happy, don’t get carried away. Look at people who are more happier and strive to achieve that level of happiness. The key is not to give in to the emotion – happiness or despair. Just like you never surrender to enemies.
—Subhashita Manjari

A King desiring to attack (an enemy) should first make his soldiers contented (by good pay and just treatment) and having injured (weakened) the enemy by strategy should himself then advance to attack.
—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

Untill you befriend a person, you have to be courteous and nice to him. Mind one’s demeanor. But once the friendship is earned, being courteous and nice amounts to deciet. We owe it to our friends to be frank and forthright. This clearnly indicates the difference between an acquintance and a friend.
—Subhashita Manjari

One should speak pleasant truth. One should not (directly) say truth if it is harsh, neither should one cook up pleasing words that are not true. This is an eternal principle.
—Subhashita Manjari

Wanting to reform the wicked with nectar-sweet advice, is like trying to control an elephant with the pith of a lotus-stem, or cutting a diamond with delicate petals of the Shireesh flower, or sweetening the salty ocean with a drop of honey.
—Subhashita Manjari

Money which is gained by hurting others, or by deviating from righteous principles, or by self insult (for example, by begging), does not bring any happiness. (Such money is of no use).
—Subhashita Manjari

A fool has five characteristic qualities; vanity, bad-mouthing, anger, stubbornness, lack of respect for others’ opinions.
—Subhashita Manjari

Wondering Whom to Read Next?