सोऽस्य दोषो न मन्तव्यः क्षमा हि परमं बलम्। क्षमा गुणो ह्यशक्तानां शक्तानां भूषणं क्षमा
This fault should not be considered, for patience is the highest strength; patience is a virtue for the powerless, and an ornament for the powerful.
क्षमा वशीकृतीर्लोके क्षमया किं न साध्यते। शान्तिखङ्गः करे यस्य किं करिष्यति दुर्जनः
Patience brings mastery in the world; what cannot be accomplished by patience? For one whose hand holds the sword of peace, what can the wicked do?
अतृणे पतितो वह्निः स्वयमेवोपशाम्यति। अक्षमावान्परं दोषैरात्मानं चैव योजयेत्
A fire that falls where there is no grass extinguishes itself; likewise, a patient person should attribute faults to himself.
एको धर्मः परं श्रेयः क्षमैका शान्तिरुत्तमा । विद्यैका परमा तृप्तिरहिंसैका सुखावहा
There is one supreme virtue—righteousness; one highest peace—patience; one greatest satisfaction—knowledge; and one source of happiness—nonviolence.
द्वाविमौ ग्रसते भूमिः सर्पो बलिशयानिव। राजानं चाविरोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम्
The earth swallows up two, just as a snake swallows those who lie on its path: a king who is not resisted, and a Brahmin who does not travel.
द्वे कर्मणी नरः कुर्वन्नस्मिँल्लोके विरोचते । अब्रुवन्परुषं किंचिदसतोऽनर्चयंस्तथा
A man shines in this world by doing two things: not speaking harsh or false words, and not honoring the unworthy.
द्वाविमौ पुरुषव्याघ्र परप्रत्ययकारिणौ । स्त्रियः कामितकामिन्यो मूर्खाः पूजितपूजकाः
There are two types of men, O tiger among men, who act contrary to others’ expectations: women who desire those who desire them, and fools who honor those who honor them.
द्वाविमौ कण्टकौ तीक्ष्णौ शरीरपरिशोषिणौ। यश्चाधनः कामयते यश्च कुप्यत्यनीश्वरः
There are two sharp thorns that dry up the body: a poor man who desires, and a powerless man who becomes angry.
द्वावेव न विराजेते विपरीतेन कर्मणा । गृहस्थश्च निरारम्भः कार्यवांश्चैव भिक्षुकः
Two do not shine by acting contrary to their nature: a householder who does not undertake action, and a mendicant who is engaged in works.
द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ राजन्स्वर्गस्योपरि तिष्ठतः। प्रभुश्च क्षमया युक्तो दरिद्रश्च प्रदानवान्
Two men, O king, stand above heaven: a powerful man who is patient, and a poor man who is generous.
न्यायागतस्य द्रव्यस्य बोद्धव्यौ द्वावतिक्रमौ । अपात्रे प्रतिपत्तिश्च पात्रे चात्प्रतिपादनम्
There are two transgressions regarding wealth acquired by just means: giving to the unworthy, and not giving to the worthy.
द्वावभ्यसि निवेष्टव्यौ गले बध्वा दृढां शिलाम् । धनवन्तमदातारं दरिद्रं चातपस्विनम्
Two should be bound with a heavy stone and cast into deep water: a wealthy man who does not give, and a poor man who is not diligent.
द्वाविमौ पुरुषव्याघ्र सूर्यमण्डलभेदिनौ। परिव्राड्योगयुक्तश्च रणे चाभिमुखो हतः
There are two, O tiger among men, who pierce the solar orb: a wandering ascetic devoted to yoga, and one who is slain facing the foe in battle.
त्रयो न्याया मनुष्याणां श्रूयन्ते भरतर्षभ । कनीयान्मध्यमः श्रेष्ठ इति वेदविदो विदुः
Three types of justice among men are heard of, O bull of the Bharatas: lesser, middling, and best—so say the knowers of the Veda.
त्रिविधाः पुरुषा राजन्नुत्तमाधममध्यमाः । नियोजयेद्यथावत्तांस्त्रिविधेष्वेव कर्मसु
Men are of three kinds, O king: superior, inferior, and middling; one should assign them to tasks according to their type.
त्रय एवाधना राजन्भार्या दासस्तथा सुतः। यत्ते समधिगच्छन्ति यस्यैते तस्य तद्धनम्
There are three who are not wealthy, O king: a wife, a servant, and a son; whatever they acquire belongs to the one to whom they belong.
हरणं च परस्वानां परदाराभिमर्शनम् । सुहृदश्च परित्यागस्त्रयो दोषाः क्षयावहाः
Theft of another’s property, violation of another’s wife, and abandonment of a friend—these three faults lead to ruin.
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः । कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्रयं त्यजेत्
There are three gates to hell, destructive of the self: desire, anger, and greed; therefore, one should abandon these three.
वरप्रदानं राज्यं च पुत्रजन्म च भारत। शत्रोश्च मोक्षणं कृच्छ्रात्रीणि चैकं च तत्समम्
Granting a boon, sovereignty, the birth of a son, and releasing an enemy—these four, O Bharata, are equally difficult.
भक्तं च भजमानं च तवास्मीति च वादिनम् । त्रीनेताञ्छरणं प्राप्तान्विषमेऽपि कन सन्त्यजेत्
One should abandon, even in adversity, these three who seek refuge: one who has eaten with you, one who serves you, and one who says 'I am yours.'
चत्वारि राज्ञा तु महाबलेन वर्ज्यान्याहुः पण्डितस्तानि विद्यात्। अल्पप्रज्ञैः सह मन्त्रं न कुर्या- न्न दीर्घसूत्रैरलसैश्चारणैश्च
The learned declare that a king of great power should avoid four types; he should not hold counsel with those of little intelligence, with procrastinators, with the lazy, or with those who are careless in their actions.
चतवारि ते तात गृहे वसन्तु श्रियाऽभिजुष्टस्य गृहस्थधर्मे। वृद्धो ज्ञातिरवसन्नः कुलीनः सखा दरिद्रो भगिनी चानपत्या
Let these four, O dear one, dwell in the house of a householder endowed with prosperity: an aged relative, one fallen from fortune though of good family, a poor friend, and a sister without children.
चत्वार्याह महाराज साद्यस्कानि बृहस्पतिः। पृच्छते त्रिदशेन्द्राय तानीमानि निबोध मे
Brihaspati has spoken of four things to be known at the outset, O great king; listen as I recount them to you, as he told them to the lord of the gods when asked.
देवतानां च सङ्कल्पमनुभावं च धीमताम्। विनयं कृतविद्यानां विनाशं पापकर्मणाम्
The resolve of the gods, the influence of the wise, the humility of the learned, and the destruction of those who commit evil deeds.
चत्वारि कर्माण्यभयंकराणि भयं प्रयच्छन्त्ययथाकृतानि । मानाग्निहोत्रमुत मानमौनं मानेनाधीतमुत मानयज्ञः
There are four acts which, if performed with pride, become dangerous and bring fear if done improperly: the agnihotra sacrifice, the vow of silence, the study of the Vedas, and the performance of sacrifice.
पञ्चाग्नयो मनुष्येण परिचर्याः प्रयत्नतः। पिता माताग्निरात्मा च गुरुश्च भरतर्षभ
A man must diligently serve five fires: his father, his mother, fire itself, his own self, and his teacher, O bull among the Bharatas.
पञ्चैव पूजयँल्लोके यशः प्राप्नोति केवलम्। देवान्पितॄन्मनुष्यांश्च भिक्षूनतिथिपञ्चमान्
By honoring these five in the world, one attains pure fame: the gods, the ancestors, humans, mendicants, and guests as the fifth.
पञ्च त्वाऽनुगमिष्यन्ति यत्र यत्र गमिष्यसि। मित्राण्यमित्रा मध्यस्था उपजीव्योपजीविनः
Wherever you go, five will follow you: friends, enemies, those who are neutral, dependents, and those on whom you depend.
पञ्चेन्द्रियस्य मर्त्यस्य छिद्रं चेदेकमिन्द्रियम्। ततोऽस्य स्रवति प्रज्ञा दृतेः पात्रादिवोदकम्
If even one of the five senses of a mortal has a defect, then his wisdom leaks away, just as water from a vessel with a hole.
षड्दोषाः पुरुषेणेह हातव्या भूतिमिच्छता। निद्रा तन्द्री भयं क्रोध आलस्यं दीर्घसूत्रता
A man who desires prosperity must abandon these six faults: sleep, lethargy, fear, anger, laziness, and procrastination.