Favorite Sanskrit sayings and blessings

Favorite subhāṣitas subhāṣitas

’rthaḥ paśunāpi gṛhyate, hayāś ca nāgāś ca vahanti coditāḥ | udīrito ’rthaḥ paśunāpi anuktam apyūhati paṇḍ ito ito janaḥ , pareṅgita- jñāna  jñāna- phalā  phalā hi buddhayaḥ || [Pañcatantra I.18] Even a beast grasps the meaning of a spoken word; horses and elephants advance when commanded. But wise people discern even what is unspoken, for fathoming others’ demeanor is the reward of a (developed) (dev eloped) mind. [After Olivelle. iṅgita = inner thoughts, secret aim, intention; sign, gesture, body language as it reveals inner states.]

ko ’tibhāraḥ samarthānāṃ ’tibhāraḥ samarthānāṃ , kiṃ dūraṃ vyavasāyinām | ko videśaḥ suvidyānām, videśaḥ suvidyānām, kaḥ paraḥ priyavādinām || [Pañcatantra I.19] What burden too heavy heav y for the strong? What (distance) too far for the resolute/diligent? What land is foreign to men of learning? Who is a foe [lit., ‘other’] to those of gentle speech? [After Olivelle.] k   ṣaṇaṃ bālo bhūtvā kṣaṇam api yuvā kāmarasikaḥ  ṣaṇaṃ vittair hīnaḥ k  ṣaṇam api ca saṃpūrṇa-vibhavaḥ /  k   jarā- jīrṇ  jīrṇair aṅgair naṭa iva valīmaṇḍ ita-tanur  ita-tanur  naraḥ saṃsārāṅke viśati Yama-dhānī -yavanikam -yavanikam // Vairāgya- śatakam

Having become a child for a moment, for a moment a youth juiced by love, for a moment deprived of riches, for a moment filled with wealth and power; powe r; man, like an actor the drama of worldly existence [/in the lap of saṃsāra], his body decorated by wrinkles, his limbs wasted by old age, falls at the curtain to death.

aho na yāmi kṣetraṃ khādyatāṃ śālir khādyatāṃ śālir api kīra-nivahaiḥ |  jānanto ’pi pathikāḥ pṛ cchanti cchanti punaḥ punar mārgam || Oh, I will not go to the field today, the rice is eaten by b y a multitude of parrots; Even knowing (this), travellers ask the way again and again. [1) she is very beautiful and hence the travellers want to l ook at her and talk to her. 2) She is very innocent (mugdhā in the positive sense) because she does not realize this, this makes her even more attractive.]

adrohaḥ sarva-bhūteṣu karmaṇā manasā girā | anugrahaś ca dānaṃ ca satāṃ dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ || Mbh. 3.297.35

The eternal dharma of the Good consists of not harming any creature by action, thought, or speech, and of kindness and giving. [ After  After Johnson]

 Ātmany api na viśvāsas tathā bhavati satsu yaḥ | tasmāt satsu viśeṣeṇa sarvaḥ praṇayam icchati Sauhṛdāt sarva-bhūtānāṃ viśvāso nāma jāyate | tasmāt satsu viśeṣ eṇa viśvāsaṃ kurute  janaḥ ||

 Not even in one’s self does one have so much trust as in the Good; therefore all want to attach themselves to the Good especially. Trust, indeed, ind eed, is born from affection for all

creatures; therefore people place trust in the Good especially.  Mbh 3.297.44-45 [after   Johnson]

 Asti cātra paraṃ kiṃcid adhyātmaṃ deva-nirnitam | ataś ca tvāṃ bravīmy etat kriyatām aviśaṅkayā || Mbh 3.301.9 There is something profound [ para] in your inner Self that has been made by God. And so I will tell you this: act without hesitating. [after Johnson]

Kuntī’s blessing to baby Karṇa

Svasti te cāntarikṣebhyaḥ pārthivebhyaś ca putraka divyebhyaś caiva bhūtebhyas tathā toyacarāś ca ye May the creatures of sky, earth, and heaven, and those that live in the water, protect you, my little boy.

Śivās te santu panthāno mā ca te paripanthinaḥ / paripanthinaḥ / āgatāś ca tathā putra bhavantv adrohacetasaḥ May your roads be auspicious, and nothing stand in your path; and let those who encounter you, my son, have minds without malice. [trans. Johnson]

 Jñānaṃ tattvārtha-sambodhaḥ śamaś citta- praśāntatā  praśāntatā /  dayā sarva- sukhāiṣitvaṃ ārjavam sama-cittatā // Mbh 3.313.90 Wisdom is awareness of the nature of reality. Peace is a composed mind. Compassion C ompassion is wishing happiness for all. Straightforward honesty is evenness of mind.

 guhāyāṃ / mahājano yena gataḥ sa gataḥ sa panthāḥ  Dharmasya tattvaṃ nihitaṃ guhāyāṃ /  Asmin mahā-moha-maye kaṭāhe / sūryāgninā rātri-divendhanena  Māsartu-darvī -parigha -parighaṭṭanena / bhūtāni kālaḥ pacatīti kālaḥ pacatīti vārttā // Mbh 3.313 The reality of dharma is hidden in a cave. The way gone by the great ones – that is the path. In this cauldron made of great delusion, with the sun its fire, days and nights night s its kindling, months and seasons its stirring ladle, Time cooks beings  – that is the news. [after Johnson] Yadā tu divyaṃ yad divyaṃ yad rūpaṃ hrasate vardhate punaḥ  Ko ’nyas tad vedituṃ śakyo? vedituṃ śakyo? Yo ’pi syāt tad -vidho ’paraḥ // Mbh 12.182.34 When the Divine Form contracts and expands over and over again, who else is able to know him? Such a person would have to be of a similar nature. [after Wynne]