Recommended Reading
- ‘The Guide: A Novel‘ by R. K. Narayan, Michael Gorra
- ‘The Elephant’s Friend and Other Tales from Ancient India‘ by Marcia Williams
- ‘One Hundred & One Folktales From India‘ by Eunice de Souza
- ‘Tales from India‘ by J. E. B. Gray, Rosamund Fowler
- ‘Malgudi Days‘ by R. K. Narayan
- ‘Swami and Friends, The Bachelor of Arts, The Dark Room, The English Teacher‘ by R. K. Narayan
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
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
The Panchatantra Indian Collection of Fables
Bhartrihari Hindu Philosopher, Grammarian
The Hitopadesha Indian Collection of Fables
Kalidasa Indian Sanskrit Poet, Dramatist
The Jataka Tales Genre of Buddhist Literature
Tulsidas Indian Hindu Poet
Indira Gandhi Indian Head of State
Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Head of State
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit Indian Politician, Diplomat
Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi Persian Muslim Mystic