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)
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
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
People who are prejudiced often see no merit in sound logic and wise Sayings. A lotus that is used to harsh sun rays will not bloom even when showered with pleasant rays of moon.
—Subhashita Manjari
Consideration like “he is mine or he is another’s” occur only to the narrow minded persons. To the broad-minded persons the whole world is a family.
—Subhashita Manjari
If the person at the peak of his wealth says ‘No No’ to the poor and needy person then be assured that in future that person will have to say ‘Give Give’!.
—Subhashita Manjari
Whoever is wealthy, is the one who has friends.
Whoever is wealthy, is the one who has acquaintances (kith and kin).
Whoever is wealthy, is the man in this world!
Whoever is wealthy, is also a great scholar.
—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
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
You should be ambitious and achieve them. You should never start with a small aim. Your aim determines the nature of your accomplishments. If you are not ambitious enough, you shall not get enough to eat.
—Subhashita Manjari
Hard work and light food – this is the readily available medicine for any disease. If you do these daily, you shall not be afraid of any ailment.
—Subhashita Manjari
There is no parallel to the peace of mind that people get when they are content and happy. Just look at the other extreme, people who are greedy and dissatisfied are running from pillar to post in search of wealth.
—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
Learning indeed is the highest beauty for a man. It is the wealth well concealed and protected. It is the cause of pleasures, fame and happiness, the preceptor of teachers, a friend while traveling in a foreign land and verily the highest deity. Learning, but not wealth is honored by the kinds. A person devoid of learning is a beast.
—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
So to say every being in this world lives for its own cause. Nothing great about it. That person who lives his life helping others is truly said to have lives his life.
—Subhashita Manjari
Trees give fruits to assist others. Rivers flow to help others. Cows produce milk to feed others. In the same way, our own human body should also be employed for the assistance of others.
—Subhashita Manjari
It may be possible to forcibly snatch a jewel from the midst of powerful jaws of a crocodile. It may also be possible to cross a raging sea swimming across its high-running violent waves. One may even wear a furious snake around his head as if it is a garland of flowers. But it is impossible to win over a conceited fool.
—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
The fruits of an operation are determined by the efforts one puts in. When mind also follows the sincerity of the efforts. Even then, wise men give lot of thought before they start any new task.
—Subhashita Manjari
It is said that when the world ends, even the moutains start moving due to the force of the wind. But even when such a thing happens, the mental state of the brave does not waver since it is very clear. Clarity in thoughts gives you the strength to withstand anything.
—Subhashita Manjari
A wise man should keep far away from an unpleasant person, from injuring others, from other’s views, from unrighteous conduct and from untruth.
—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
Beauty decorates the personality of a man.
Good qualities ornament his beauty.
Knowledge embellishes his qualities.
Forgiveness adorns his knowledge.
—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
This is mine, that belongs to others, this is how narrow-minded people think. Broad minded people consider this whole world to be one family.
—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
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
If a dog finds a dusty piece of bone devoid of any flesh containing a little sinew, it feels happy even if that piece does not quench its hunger. On the other hand, a lion chooses not to attack a nearby jackal and hunts only for a mighty elephant. Everyone hungers for a fruit which befits his abilities though it demands extra effort.
—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
Good fortune follows honesty.
Fame follows sacrifice.
Education follows practice.
Intelligence follows hard work.
—Subhashita Manjari
Any remainder of debt, fire and enemy grow rapidly again and again, hence no remainder should be maintained.
—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
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
A greedy person can be convinced by use of wealth (by giving him bribe). Hot tempered person can be convinced by being polite with him. A fool can be convinced by making him feel that you are acting as he wants. A wise person can be convinced by telling him the gist of the matter.
—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
These are the only two who are free from anxiety and thereby enjoy the eternal bliss – the innocent jobless children and the ones who have gone beyond ‘Guna’s (i.e, those who are spiritually enlightened).
—Subhashita Manjari
Foolish is he, who though prosperous does not help others;
who though poor is generous; and who though ignorant is proud and
swollen.
—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
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
Past should not be repented for. Future should never be worried about. Wise men act by the present time.
—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
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit Indian Politician, Diplomat
Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Head of State
Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi Persian Muslim Mystic