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 Kâsínâtha 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)

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

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

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 friend is tested in bad times, a warrior in the battlefield. A person’s humility is a test of his up bringing. A person’s character is tested when he needs money and does not have it.
—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

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

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

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

Base men do not undertake any work apprehending obstacles. Mediocres make a start, but cease working when they encounter hindrances. The men of excellence, however, after commencing a job do not give up despite of recurrence of impediments.
—Subhashita Manjari

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

In this world every one wants to out do the other. It is a rat race going on every one’s mind. Every one will try to do the best of his abilities. Still, not every one will succeed. That is the way of nature.One must not be depressed at failure not overly joyed at success.
—Subhashita Manjari

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

“I am alone and helpless. I am old and destite”. Such thoughts do not worry a lion even in its dreams.
—Subhashita Manjari

Developing good character which is characterized by a good behavior is our first and the most important duty. So one should develop, preserve and observe them greater than one’s life.
—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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Even if a teacher teaches a student just one letter in an alphabet the student is indebted to the teacher. there is no object in the world that the student can give the teacher to repay his debt.
—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

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

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

Even good people get themselves corrupted by their
close association with the undesirable. Water which
is sweet and cool becomes hot associated with fire.
—Subhashita Manjari

One’s knowledge is his wealth when in a foreign country.
One’s intelligence is his wealth when in adversity.
One’s righteousness is his wealth in the netherworld.
One’s character is a wealth everywhere and at all times.
—Subhashita Manjari

How can one attain education, if he is lazy?
How can one acquire wealth, if he is uneducated?
How can one make friends, if he is not wealthy?
How can a person without friends, be happy?
—Subhashita Manjari

A true friend gives you so much of confidence that cannot be equaled to the confidence given by a mother, wife, sister, brother, or even his own conscience. That is how strong a true friendship is.
—Subhashita Manjari

Wondering Whom to Read Next?