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)
Shadow of clouds, friendship with a wicked person, ground near the ocean indeed disappear shortly, similarly as youth and wealth.
—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
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
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
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 fool has five characteristic qualities; vanity, bad-mouthing, anger, stubbornness, lack of respect for others’ opinions.
—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
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
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
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
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
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 in hundreds is a brave person.
One In Thousands Is A Scholar.
A Great Orator Is One In Ten Thousands.
One Can Hardly Find A Good Listener.
—Subhashita Manjari
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
Good fortune follows honesty.
Fame follows sacrifice.
Education follows practice.
Intelligence follows hard work.
—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
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
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
There is no alphabet from which a holy word (mantra)
can not be made. There is no herb from which a medicine
can not be made. There is no person who is incapable.
What is rare is the one who can organize.
—Subhashita Manjari
Milk gave its qualities such as sweetness to the water that came to it. The water having observed the suffering of milk when boiled burnt itself in fire. The milk in turn got ready to go to fire on seeing the trouble of his friend. However when united with its friedn water, it colled down. Like this is the friendship of the noble.
—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
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
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
One should never lead a team because everyone gets equal share on success, but the leader is held responsible in case of any failure.
—Subhashita Manjari
An unimportant person becomes important, as soon as he is employed by a prince (and) an important person becomes unimportant as soon as he is unemployed.
—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
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
Good conduct is the highest mortality, it is the highest penance and it is the highest knowledge. What cannot be achieved through good conduct?
—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
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
The destiny is never fair. The pollen smeared bees get to drink nectar from the lotus flowers. But the swans which share the same ecology have to live by eating moss and algae.
—Subhashita Manjari
A restless person (person wandering behind earthly pleasures) will not be happy anywhere in the world – be it in forest or among people. While leaving in society, he wants solitude, and while in the forest he wants company.
—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
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 well born, though insulted, does not hit back
in the same strain due to his inborn natural courtesy.
The sandal tree does not exude filth even to him who cuts it with an axe.
—Subhashita Manjari
Life in a bad village, serving a wicked boss, sticking to a bland diet, ill-tempered wife with an angry face, a foolish half-witted son, a widowed daughter-these situations destroy (burn) a person without the need of any fire.
—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
A person with good qualities serves good purpose even if he gets angry. Milk which is naturally sweet becomes more delicious when boiled.
—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
Forgiveness is a virtue of the learned. To err is human, to forgive divine.
—Subhashita Manjari
Topics: Mistakes, Forgiveness, Failures
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