Saturday, January 31, 2015

Do not judge a book by its cover

नवं पुरातनं वापि
लेखं पश्यन्ति पण्डिताः ।
सारमासाद्य तुष्यन्ति
निःसारञ्च त्यजन्ति ते ॥

Whether it is new or old, it is the content of literature that the scholars study. They enjoy the ones that are essentially significant, and reject the ones that are undistinguished.


Do not judge a book by its cover.
A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.

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Friday, January 30, 2015

Perseverance is the key to success

प्रारभ्यते न खलु विघ्नभयेन नीचैः
प्रारभ्य विघ्नविहताः विरमन्ति मध्याः ।
विघ्नैः पुनः पुनरपि प्रतिहन्यमानाः
प्रारभ्य चोत्तमजनाः न परित्यजन्ति ॥
- नीतिशतकम्

Inferior people do not undertake any endeavor apprehending obstacles. Having the undertaken work started, mediocre people give up when they encounter impediments. However, noble people, having commenced a task, never give up even if they are hindered repeatedly by various barriers.

Never give up.
Perseverance is the key to success.
Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.

Related Books:

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Thursday, January 29, 2015

The truth is stranger than fiction

शून्यमापूर्णतामेति
मृत्युरप्यमृतायते ।
आपत्सम्पदिवाभाति
विद्वज्जनसमागमात् ॥

The zero attains completeness, even the 'death' turns into 'deathlessness', calamity appears to be prosperity when scholarly people assemble!
('Zero' refers to the absence of all feelings which is considered as eternal bliss. 'Deathlessness' refers to release from the cycle of birth and death)

The truth is stranger than fiction.
The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush

पुस्तकस्था तु या विद्या
परहस्तगतं धनम् ।
कार्यकाले समुत्पन्ने
न सा विद्या न तद्धनम् ॥
- चाणक्यनीतिः

Knowledge residing in a book and money loaned to others; when in need, neither that knowledge nor that money is of any use.

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

It's no use crying over spilt milk

कृतस्य करणं नास्ति
मृतस्य मरणं तथा ।
गतस्य शोचना नास्ति
ह्येतद् वेदविदां मतम् ॥

What has been done cannot be done again.
What has been dead cannot die again.
What has been lost should not be repented for.
This is the opinion of Vedic Scholars.

Let bygones be bygones.
What's done cannot be undone.
Eggs cannot be unscrambled.

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Monday, January 26, 2015

Truth alone triumphs

सत्यमेव जयते नानृतम्
सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयानः ।
येनाक्रमन्त्यृषयो ह्याप्तकामाः
यत्र तत्सत्यस्य परमं निधानम् ॥
- मुन्डकोपनिषत्

Truth alone triumphs, not falsehood. By truth, the divine paths are unfolded, through which the sages having fulfilled all their desires, reach the supreme adobe of the (eternal) truth.
('Satyameva Jayate' is the national motto of India.)

Truth alone triumphs.

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Sunday, January 25, 2015

A light purse is a heavy curse

दुःखं दुःखमिति ब्रूयात्
मानवो नरकं प्रति ।
दारिद्र्यादधिकं दुःखम्
न भूतं न भविष्यति ॥

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.

A light purse is a heavy curse.

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Saturday, January 24, 2015

Love is blind

यां चिन्तयामि सततं मयि सा विरक्ता
साप्यन्यमिच्छति जनं स जनोऽन्यसक्तः ।
अस्मत्कृते च परिशुष्यति काचिदन्या
धिक्तां च तं च मदनं च इमां च मां च ॥
- नीतिशतकम्

She, of whom I always think, is indifferent towards me. She loves another person who is interested in some other lady. Further, there is a lady who constantly longs for me. Fie on that lady, on him, on Madana (the god of love), on this lady and on me.

Love is blind.

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Friday, January 23, 2015

When it rains, it pours

क्षते प्रहाराः निपतन्त्यभीक्ष्णं
धनक्षये वर्धति जाठराग्निः ।
आपत्सु वैराणि समुद्भवन्ति
छिद्रेष्वनर्थाः बहुलीभवन्ति ॥
- पञ्चतन्त्रम्

When wounded, powerful blows hit us every moment.
When suffering from severe economic loss, the hunger increases.
When in times of trouble, enemies crop up.
When the group is divided, difficulties multiply.

When it rains, it pours.
Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

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Thursday, January 22, 2015

All that is old is not gold

पुराणमित्येव न साधु सर्वम्
न चापि काव्यं नवमित्यवद्यम् ।
सन्तः परीक्ष्यान्यतरद्भजन्ते
मूढः परप्रत्ययनेयबुद्धिः ॥

Not all literature that is old, is good. Similarly, not all modern literature should be condemned simply because it is new. Wise men choose the good ones only after proper examination. Only an idiot goes by others' judgment.

All that is old is not gold.

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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Make hay while the Sun shines

न कश्चिदपि जानाति
किं कस्य श्वो भविष्यति ।
अतः श्वः करणीयानि
कुर्यादद्यैव बुद्धिमान् ॥

Nobody knows what happens to whom tomorrow. That's why, a wise person should complete tomorrow's duties today itself.

Make hay while the Sun shines.
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

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Tuesday, January 20, 2015

It's never too late

अनुगन्तुं सतां वर्त्म
कृत्स्नं यदि न शक्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यनुगन्तव्यम्
मार्गस्थो नावसीदति ॥

Even if it is not possible to follow the righteous path entirely, one should do it as much as he can. One who is in the righteous path, will never suffer.

Doing something is better than doing nothing at all.

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Monday, January 19, 2015

The price of greatness is responsibility

न गणस्याग्रतो गच्छेत्
सिद्धे कार्ये समं फलम् ।
यदि कार्यविपत्तिः स्यात्
मुखरस्तत्र हन्यते ॥

One should never lead a team because everyone gets equal share on success, but the leader is held responsible in case of any failure.

The price of greatness is responsibility.

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Sunday, January 18, 2015

Many a little makes a mickle

क्षणशः कणशश्चैव
विद्यामर्थञ्च साधयेत् ।
क्षणे नष्टे कुतो विद्या
कणे नष्टे कुतो धनम् ॥

One should acquire knowledge and wealth by learning something and saving every penny every moment. If a moment is wasted, how can knowledge be gained? If a penny is wasted, how can wealth be acquired?

Many a little makes a mickle.
A penny saved is a penny gained.

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Saturday, January 17, 2015

A spark neglected burns the house

अग्निः शेषं ऋणः शेषम्
शत्रुः शेषं तथैव च ।
पुनः पुनः प्रवर्धन्ते
तस्माच्छेषं न रक्षयेत् ॥

If fire, debts or enemies remain even in small traces, they keep growing repeatedly. That's why, one should not leave any traces.

A spark neglected burns the house.

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Friday, January 16, 2015

All truths are not to be told

सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात्
न ब्रूयात् सत्यमप्रियम् ।
प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयात्
एष धर्मस्सनातनः ॥

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.

All truths are not to be told.

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Thursday, January 15, 2015

In union there is strength

अल्पानामपि वस्तूनाम्
संहतिः कार्यसाधिका ।
तॄणैर्गुणत्वमापन्नैः
बध्यन्ते मत्तदन्तिनः ॥
- हितोपदेशः

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.

In union there is strength.
United we stand. Divided we fall.

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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

After a storm comes a calm

सुखमापतितं सेव्यम्
दुःखमापतितं तथा ।
चक्रवत्परिवर्तन्ते
दुःखानि च सुखानि च ॥
- हितोपदेशः

One should accept the pleasures which have come in the way of life. Likewise, one should also accept the hardships in life. Pleasures and miseries revolve like a wheel.

Success is never final.
Failure is never fatal.

After a storm comes a calm.

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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

What's duly his, a man receives

प्राप्तव्यमर्थं लभते मनुष्यो
देवोऽपि तं लङ्घयितुं न शक्तः ।
तस्मान्न शोचामि न विस्मयो मे
यदस्मदीयं न हि तत्परेषाम् ॥
- पञ्चतन्त्रम्

What's duly his, a man receives;
This law not even God can break;
My heart is not surprised, nor grieves;
For what is mine, no strangers take.

- translated by Arthur W. Ryder

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Monday, January 12, 2015

No man is wise at all times

न भूतपूर्वं न कदापि वार्ता
हेम्नः कुरङ्गो न कदापि दृष्टः ।
तथापि तृष्णा रघुनन्दनस्य
विनाशकाले विपरीतबुद्धिः ॥

Alternately,
न निर्मितः केन न दृष्टपूर्वः
न श्रूयते हेममयः कुरङ्गः ।
तथापि तृष्णा रघुनन्दनस्य
विनाशकाले विपरीतबुद्धिः ॥
- चाणक्यनीतिः

It has never happened before. It is not even heard about. A golden deer has never ever been seen. Even then, Rama desired it. Surely, mind goes crazy in times of trouble.

No man is wise at all times.

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Sunday, January 11, 2015

Success is never final. Failure is never fatal

सुखस्यानन्तरं दुःखम्
दुःखस्यानन्तरं सुखम् ।
न नित्यं लभते दुःखम्
न नित्यं लभते सुखम् ॥

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.

Success is never final.
Failure is never fatal.

After a storm comes a calm.
Nothing lasts forever, not even your troubles.

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Saturday, January 10, 2015

Careless talk costs lives

जिह्वे प्रमाणं जानीहि
भाषणे भोजनेऽपि च ।
अत्युक्तिरतिभुक्तिश्च
सत्यं प्राणापहारिणी ॥

"Hey tongue, know your limitations while speaking and eating. Excessive talking as well as over-eating can result in death"

Loose lips sink ships.
Careless talk costs lives.

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Friday, January 9, 2015

Every evil has its remedy, except folly

शक्यो वारयितुं जलेन हुतभुक्छत्रेण सूर्यातपः
नागेन्द्रो निशिताङ्कुशेण समदो दण्डेन गोगर्दभौ ।
व्याधिर्भेषजसङ्ग्रहैश्च विविधैर्मन्त्रप्रयोगैर्विषम्
सर्वस्यौषधमस्ति शास्त्रविहितं मूर्खस्य नास्त्यौषधम् ॥
- नीतिशतकम्

Fire can be extinguished with water. The sun can be avoided by using an umbrella. A strong elephant can be subdued with a sharp goad. A donkey or a bull can be controlled with a stick. Diseases can be cured using medicines. A poison can be neutralized by the usage of various spells. For everything, there is a remedy prescribed in scientific scriptures, but there is no remedy for a fool.

Every evil has its remedy, except folly.

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

East or West, home is the best!

अपि स्वर्णमयी लङ्का
न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते ।
जननी जन्मभूमिश्च
स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ॥

"Lakshmana, even this prosperous Lanka with all its gold does not delight me. Mother and motherland are greater than heaven."

(After defeating Ravana, Sri Rama says Lakshmana that he is not interested in ruling Lanka)

East or West, home is the best!

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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

A man is known by the company he keeps

गुणवज्जनसंसर्गात्
याति स्वल्पोऽपि गौरवम् ।
पुष्पमालानुषङ्गेण
सूत्रम् शिरसि धार्यते ॥

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.

A man is known by the company he keeps.
Books and friends should be few but good.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Be a fountain, not a drain

गौरवं प्राप्यते दानात्
न तु वित्तस्य सञ्चयात् ।
स्थितिरुच्चैः पयोदानाम्
पयोधीनां अधः स्थितिः ॥

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.

Be a fountain, not a drain.

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Monday, January 5, 2015

Education is a right, not a privilege

माता शत्रुः पिता वैरी
याभ्यां बाला न पाठिताः ।
सभामध्ये न शोभन्ते
हंसमध्ये बको यथा ॥
- चाणक्यनीतिः

Mother is an enemy and so is the father to a child who is not provided with education. An uneducated person in a gathering (of scholars) is disgraceful, just like a crane among swans.

Education is a right, not a privilege.
Better unborn than untaught.
Better untaught than ill-taught.

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Sunday, January 4, 2015

A scholar knows no boredom

काव्यशास्त्रविनोदेन
कालो गच्छति धीमताम् ।
व्यसनेन तु मूर्खाणाम्
निद्रया कलहेन वा ॥
- हितोपदेशः

An intelligent person spends his time by enjoying poetry and scientific literature. In contrast, a fool spends his time in his addiction to bad habits, laziness or in some kind of quarrel.

A scholar knows no boredom.
It is not who we are but what we do that defines us.
A habit's but a long practice, friend,
And this becomes man's nature in the end.

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Saturday, January 3, 2015

Knowledge is the key to success

कामधेनुगुणा विद्या
ह्यकाले फलदायिनी ।
प्रवासे मातृसदृशी
विद्या गुप्तं धनं स्मृतम् ॥
- चाणक्यनीतिः

Knowledge has the quality of Kamadhenu, which grants all wishes of a true seeker. It is useful at all times. When in a foreign land, our knowledge takes care of us like a mother. Knowledge is aptly believed to be a secret wealth.

Knowledge is power.

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Friday, January 2, 2015

Never disclose your weakness

अर्थनाशं मनस्तापम्
गृहे दुश्चरितानि च ।
वञ्चनं चापमानं च
मतिमान्न प्रकाशयेत् ॥
- चाणक्यनीतिः
- हितोपदेशः

A wise person should never divulge the loss of his wealth, distress in his mind, malpractices at his home or that he has been cheated or insulted.

Never disclose your weakness.

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Thursday, January 1, 2015

The world is my home

अयं निजो परो वेति
गणना लघुचेतसाम् ।
उदारचरितानां तु
वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ॥
- हितोपदेशः

"This is mine, that belongs to others", this is how narrow-minded people think. Broadminded people consider this whole world to be one family.

To him in whom love dwells, the whole world is but one family.
The earth is my altar, the sky is my dome.
The mind is my garden, the heart is my home.

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