Abhijnaanashaakuntalam Natakam (Mahakavi Kalidasa)

किमिव हि मधुराणां मण्डनं नाकृतीनाम्

Kimivahi madhuraanaam mandanam naakriteenaam?

Which is not an adornment for a beautiful form? (Anything can add to the beauty if one has a beautiful form)

सतां हि सन्देहपदेषु वस्तुषु

प्रमाणमन्तकरण प्रवृत्तयः

Sataam hi sandehapadeshu vastushu

Pramaanam antahkarana pravruttayah

For people of character, when in a dilemma whether a particular conduct or deed is good or bad, their own inner voice or conscience is the final arbiter.

अर्थो हि कन्या परकीय एव

Artho hi kanyaa parakeeya eva

A girl child is another man’s property and she is held in trust by the parents.

औत्सुक्यमात्रमवसाययति प्रतिष्ठा

Autsukyamaatramavasaayayati pratishthaa

When one gets recognition, the enthusiasm which was there while endeavouring to get that recognition, cools down.

अनुभवति हि मूर्ध्ना पादपस्तीव्रमुष्णं ।

शमयति परितापं छायया संश्रितानाम् ॥

Anubhavati hi moordhnaa paadapasteevramushnam

Shamayati paritaapam chchhaayayaa samshritaanaam

The tree bears the intense heat on its head while it lessens the heat for those who take shelter under it.

भवन्ति नम्रास्तरव फलोद्गमैः

नवांबुभिर्भूमिविलंबिनो घनाः

अनुद्धताः सत्पुरुषा समृद्धिभिः

स्वभाव एवैष परोपकारिणाम्

Bhavanti namraastarava phalodgamaih

Navaambubhirbhoomivilambino ghanaah

Anuddhataah satpurushaah samriddhibhih

Swabhaava evaisha paropakaarinaam

Trees laden with fruits bend down so that people may pluck and enjoy the fruits. Clouds laden with water come down in the form of rain cooling the earth and watering plants and trees. In the same way noble men do not become conceited when fortune embraces them but use their wealth to help others. This is the nature of persons who are always eager to be of help to fellow humans.

स्रजमपि शिरस्यन्धः क्षिप्तं धुनोत्यहिशंकया

Srajamapi shirasyandhah kshiptaam dhunotyahishankayaa

One who is blind throws away even a garland of flower placed on his head, thinking it is a snake. 

Raghuvamsam (Mahakavi Kalidasa)

हेम्नः संलक्ष्यते ह्यग्नौ विशुद्धि: श्यामिकाऽपि वा ।

Hemnah samlakshyate hyagnau vishuddhih shyaamikaapi va.

The purity or otherwise of gold can be tested only when it is put through the fire.

क्रिया हि वस्तूपहिता प्रसीदति ।

Kriyaa hi vastoopahutaa praseedati.

Knowledge imparted only to a fit recipient will yield the desired result.

पदं हि सर्वत्र गुणैर्निधीयते ।

Padam hi sarvatra gunairnidheeyat.

Good qualities put their footprints everywhere.

भिन्नरुचिर्हि लोकः ।

Bhinnaruchirhi lokah.

People have varied tastes, likes and dislikes.

मरणं प्रकृतिः शरीरिणां विकृतिर्जीवितमुच्यते बुधैः ।

क्षणमप्यवतिष्ठते श्वसन् यदि जन्तुर्ननु लाभवानसौ ॥

Maranam prakritih shareerinaam vikritirjeevitamuchyate budhaih.

Kshanamapyavatishthate shwasanyadi janturnanu laabhavaanasau..

Wise men say that death is a natural thing for the embodied soul whereas life is accidental. Even if one is able to breathe and be alive for a second, it should be considered as a gain.

स्वशरीरशरीरिणावपि श्रुत संयोग विपर्ययौ यदा ।

विरह्ः किमिवानुतापयेत् वद बाह्यैर्विषयैर्विपश्चिताम् ॥

Swashareerashareerinaavapi shruta samyoga viparyayau yadaa.

Virahah kimivaanutaapayedvada baahyairvishayaih vipashchitaam..

When the union and separation of the body (shareera ) and the indweller of the body (shareeree, Jiva) is common knowledge, how could the separation (viraha) from external entities cause grief to a wise person?

kalidas

Kumarasambhavam (Mahakavi Kalidasa)

विकारहेतौ सति विक्रियन्ते येषां न चेतांसि त एव धीराः ।

Vikaarahetau sati vikriyante Yeshaam na chetaamsi ta eva dheeraah.

Only he can be considered a dheera ( a person of courage) whose mind is not disturbed or overcome by emotions even in the presence of objects of temptation.

प्रायेण सामग्र्यविधौ गुणानां

पराङ्‌मुखी विश्वसृजः प्रवृत्तिः॥

Praayena saamagryavidhau gunaanaam

Paraangmukhee vishwasrijah pravrittih

In most of the cases, the Creator Brahma is reluctant to assemble all the good qualities in one place (person). (The idea is even the best of men will have a few failings).

क ईप्सितार्थस्थिरनिश्चयं मनः

पयश्च निम्नाभिमुखं प्रतीपयेत्॥

Ka eepsitaartha sthiranishchayam manah

Payashcha nimnaabhimukham prateepayet

Who can reverse the course of two things, namely, the mind which is steadfastly clinging to the desired object and water which always flows from higher level to lower level?

शरीरमाद्यं खलु धर्मसाधनम्

Shareeramaadyam khalu dharmasaadhanam

The human body is the first instrument for treading the path of dharma

न रत्नमन्विष्यति मृग्यते हि तत्

Na ratnamanwishyati mrigyate hi tat

A valuable diamond does not seek, it is only sought after.

अलोकसामान्यमचिन्त्यहेतुकं

द्विषन्ति मन्दाश्चरितं महात्मनाम्

Alokasaamaanyam achintyahetukam

Dwishanti mandaashcharitam mahaatmanaam

Fools deride the character of great souls whose conduct and behaviour are different from those of ordinary mortals who cannot think of possible reasons for such difference.

प्रायः प्रत्ययमादत्ते स्वगुणेषूत्तमादरः

Praayah pratyayamaadatte swaguneshoottamaadaarh

Respect or recognition by men of noble character instills into one a belief in one’s own good qualities.

याच्ञा मोघा वरमधिगुणे नाधमे लब्धकामा

Yaachjnaa moghaa varamadhigune naadhame labdhakaamaa

Begging of a noble person and not getting what one wants is much better than begging of a mean person and getting what one wants.

रिक्तः सर्वे भवति हि लघुः पूर्णता गौरवाय

Riktah sarve bhavati hi laghuh poornata gauravaaya

Empty ( of wealth, knowledge, good qualities etc) one loses dignity and respect in society. Fullness ( of wealth, knowledge, good qualities etc.) , on the other hand, gives one dignity and respect in society.

आपन्नार्तिप्रशमनफलाः सम्पदो ह्युत्तमानाम्

Aapannaartiprashamanaphalaah sampado hyuttamaanaam

Noble souls use their wealth for the purpose of wiping out the misery and suffering of those overcome by misfortune.
  

कस्यात्यन्तं सुखमुपनतं दु:खमेकान्ततो वा

नीचैर्गच्छत्युपरि च दशा चक्रनेमिक्रमेण

Kasyaatyantam sukhamupanatam dukhamekaantato vaa

Neechairgachchhatyupari cha dashaa chakranemikramena

There is none who is always happy and comfortable and none who is always unhappy and miserable. Happiness and sorrow alternate like the rim of a wheel which goes up and down.

Sanskrit quotes.

A new angle.

Azhvars and Acharyas have shown us their bhakti through the way they served Him. In Srirangam, when prasada prepared in the temple kitchen was taken every day to be offered to the Lord, Ramanujacharya would wait till the priest came out of the sanctum sanctorum. Ramanuja would then look at the prasada to check if the Lord’s fingers had left an impression in the food!

Seeing the absence of finger marks, he would say that Lord had not touched the food for lack of bhakti! That kind of involvement is needed in serving the Lord.

Live as if you are being watched.

Life must be lived as if one is being watched continuously in action deed and thought as well. once you are able to achieve this life becomes a pleasure. you seem a changed person. you become an open book so to say there is nothing you need hide or be afraid of. life becomes a pleasant journey and you become charged to direct the direction you would take. you can try it consciously for a day you will definitely notice the difference you will enjoy it all false hood negative feelings will vanish you will become a changed person in full control of your life. its a beautiful feeling make it a practice by extending it yes thought too should be controlled. its marvellous this is a sure road to realisation.

In the middle of difficulties lies opportunity

The Vedas prescribe a variety of yagnas or sacrifices for the attainment of many goals in life, ranging from the materialistic to the spiritual. Many purifying ceremonies and disciplined and austere practices are to be observed during the performance of a yagna. But the truth that the entire yagna and the offering is for the Lord who accepts it and grants the wishes should not be ignored and Krishna teaches this subtle wisdom during one of His treks along with the cowherd boys in Brindavan, said Srimati Prema Pandurang in a discourse.

The trek led them to a place where learned rishis were engaged in a yagna. The boys were hungry and Krishna asked them to go the place of sacrifice and ask for food in the name of Krishna and Balarama. The rishis did not hear the appeal as they were engaged in the elaborate rituals. It was a pity that they failed to recognise that this was a direct request from the very Lord whom they were propitiating. They missed the chance to make the offering to the Lord who had come in person since they mistook Him for a mere mortal. When Krishna was told about their reaction, He asked the boys to make the same request to their wives who were preparing the offerings. The women folk were devout and steeped in love of Krishna and willingly brought the food prepared as offering for the yagna. The all-knowing Krishna was impressed by their pure love for Him and accepted the food. He also knew that the women feared the consequences of going against the command of their husbands, kith and kin and hesitated to return to the place of sacrifice. Krishna blessed them and also removed the ignorance of the rishis who now regretted their foolish behaviour.