Subhāṣitāni - सुभाषितानि

• On Learning
• On Knowledge
• उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्ति...
• अजरामरवत् प्राज्ञो...
• सर्वद्रव्येषु विद्यैव...

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आचार्यात्पादमादत्ते   पादं शिष्यः स्वमेधया ।
पादं सब्रह्मचारिभ्यः   पादं कालक्रमेण च ॥

The student receives a quarter (of her learning) from the teacher, a quarter by way of her intelligence,
a quarter from her classmates, and a quarter through the course of time.

पुस्तकस्था च या विद्या   परहस्ते च यद्धनम् ।
कार्यकाले समायाते   न सा विद्या न तद्धनम् ॥

The knowledge that resides in books and the wealth that is in another’s hand
when the time for a task is at hand is neither (true) knowledge nor (true) wealth.

उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः ।
न हि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखं मृगाः ॥

Tasks are accomplished by means of effort alone, not by (mere) wishes.
Certainly it’s not the case that deer enter the mouth of a sleeping lion.

अजरामरवत्प्राज्ञो विद्यामर्थं च चिन्तयेत् ।
गृहीत इव केशेषु मृत्युना धर्ममाचरेत् ॥

A wise man will care for his knowledge and wealth as if he were ageless and immortal.
He will perform his duty as if having been seized by Death by the hair.

सर्वद्रव्येषु विद्यैव द्रव्यमाहुरनुत्तमम् ।
अहार्यत्वादनर्घत्वादक्षयत्वाच्च सर्वदा ॥

Among all possessions, it is knowledge that is the best possession, (so) say (the wise),
because it cannot be stolen, is invaluable and is forever imperishable.