14-01
पृथिव्यां त्रीणि रत्नानि जलमन्नं सुभाषितम् ।
मूढैः पाषाणखण्डेषु रत्नसंज्ञा विधीयते ॥ १४-०१ ॥
On this earth, there are three true gems: water, food, and well-spoken speech. But fools have attributed the designation of gems to mere fragments of stone.
14-02
आत्मापराधवृक्षस्य फलान्येतानि देहिनाम् ।
दारिद्र्यदुःखरोगाणि बन्धनव्यसनानि च ॥ १४-०२ ॥
The fruits of the tree of one's own transgressions are these for embodied beings: poverty, sorrow, disease, bondage, and calamities.
14-03
पुनर्वित्तं पुनर्मित्रं पुनर्भार्या पुनर्मही ।
एतत्सर्वं पुनर्लभ्यं न शरीरं पुनः पुनः ॥ १४-०३ ॥
Wealth returns again, friends return again, a wife returns again, and even the earth returns again; but the body, once gone, does not return again.
14-04
बहूनां चैव सत्त्वानां समवायो रिपुञ्जयः ।
वर्षाधाराधरो मेघस्तृणैरपि निवार्यते ॥ १४-०४ ॥
Even a large assembly of many creatures can conquer an enemy, just like a dense mass of clouds laden with rain is blocked even by blades of grass.
14-05
जले तैलं खले गुह्यं पात्रे दानं मनागपि ।
प्राज्ञे शास्त्रं स्वयं याति विस्तारं वस्तुशक्तितः ॥ १४-०५ ॥
Oil in water, a secret with a wicked man, a gift, however small, to a worthy recipient, and knowledge imparted to a wise man — these expand of their own accord, by the very power of the object itself.
14-06
धर्माख्याने श्मशाने च रोगिणां या मतिर्भवेत् ।
सा सर्वदैव तिष्ठेच्चेत्को न मुच्येत बन्धनात् ॥ १४-०६ ॥
If the mind that arises in a person while hearing a religious discourse, in a cremation ground, or when afflicted with disease were to remain at all times, who would not be freed from bondage?
14-07
उत्पन्नपश्चात्तापस्य बुद्धिर्भवति यादृशी ।
तादृशी यदि पूर्वं स्यात्कस्य न स्यान्महोदयः ॥ १४-०७ ॥
If the wisdom that arises as a result of subsequent remorse were to have existed beforehand, for whom would there not be great prosperity?
14-08
दाने तपसि शौर्ये वा विज्ञाने विनये नये ।
विस्मयो नहि कर्तव्यो बहुरत्ना वसुन्धरा ॥ १४-०८ ॥
One should never feel amazement in this world at the charity, austerity, heroism, knowledge, humility, or statesmanship of another; the earth is rich with many gems.
14-09
दूरस्थोऽपि न दूरस्थो यो यस्य मनसि स्थितः ।
यो यस्य हृदये नास्ति समीपस्थोऽपि दूरतः ॥ १४-०९ ॥
He who dwells in the mind of another is not far, even if physically distant; but he who does not reside in another's heart is far away, even if he stands close by.
14-10
यस्माच्च प्रियमिच्छेत्तु तस्य ब्रूयात्सदा प्रियम् ।
व्याधो मृगवधं कर्तुं गीतं गायति सुस्वरम् ॥ १४-१० ॥
One should always speak words that are pleasant to the person from whom one desires something pleasant. A hunter, in order to kill a deer, sings a song with a melodious voice.
14-11
अत्यासन्ना विनाशाय दूरस्था न फलप्रदा ।
सेव्यतां मध्यभावेन राजा वह्निर्गुरुः स्त्रियः ॥ १४-११ ॥
One who is excessively close leads to ruin; one who is at too great a distance yields no fruit. Therefore, a king, fire, a preceptor, and women should be served from a middle position.
14-12
अग्निरापः स्त्रियो मूर्खाः सर्पा राजकुलानि च ।
नित्यं यत्नेन सेव्यानि सद्यः प्राणहराणि षट् ॥ १४-१२ ॥
Fire, water, women, fools, serpents, and royal families — these six must constantly be served with utmost care, for they are swift to take one's life.
14-13
स जीवति गुणा यस्य यस्य धर्मः स जीवति ।
गुणधर्मविहीनस्य जीवितं निष्प्रयोजनम् ॥ १४-१३ ॥
He lives who has virtues; he lives who has righteousness. The life of one devoid of virtue and righteousness is utterly fruitless.
14-14
यदीच्छसि वशीकर्तुं जगदेकेन कर्मणा ।
पुरा पञ्चदशास्येभ्यो गां चरन्तीं निवारय ॥ १४-१४ ॥
If you wish to subdue the entire world with a single act, then hold back the cow that is grazing the ripening grain from the mouths of the fifteen senses.
14-15
प्रस्तावसदृशं वाक्यं प्रभावसदृशं प्रियम् ।
आत्मशक्तिसमं कोपं यो जानाति स पण्डितः ॥ १४-१५ ॥
He is a wise man who knows words that suit the occasion, affection that matches one's influence, and anger that is commensurate with one's own strength.
14-16
एक एव पदार्थस्तु त्रिधा भवति वीक्षितः ।
कुणपं कामिनी मांसं योगिभिः कामिभिः श्वभिः ॥ १४-१६ ॥
One and the same material object is perceived in three different ways: as a corpse by a Yogin, as a beloved woman by a lustful man, and as a piece of meat by dogs.
14-17
सुसिद्धमौषधं धर्मं गृहच्छिद्रं च मैथुनम् ।
कुभुक्तं कुश्रुतं चैव मतिमान्न प्रकाशयेत् ॥ १४-१७ ॥
A well-prepared medicine, a righteous deed, domestic secrets, sexual intercourse, badly cooked food, and badly heard learning — a wise man should not reveal these.
14-18
तावन्मौनेन नीयन्ते कोकिलैश्चैव वासराः ।
यावत्सर्वजनानन्ददायिनी वाक्प्रवर्तते ॥ १४-१८ ॥
One should spend one's days in silence, like the cuckoo, only until such time as one's speech can issue forth, giving delight to all people.
14-19
धर्मं धनं च धान्यं च गुरोर्वचनमौषधम् ।
सुगृहीतं च कर्तव्यमन्यथा तु न जीवति ॥ १४-१९ ॥
Righteousness, wealth, grain, the words of the preceptor, and medicine — one should take these only after proper consideration; otherwise, one simply cannot live.
14-20
त्यज दुर्जनसंसर्गं भज साधुसमागमम् ।
कुरु पुण्यमहोरात्रं स्मर नित्यमनित्यतः ॥ १४-२० ॥
Shun the company of the wicked; cherish the association of the virtuous. Do meritorious deeds day and night, and constantly recall the impermanence of all things.