SUBHASHITHAM



One should not come empty-handed near the holy fire, house, a field, pregnant woman, old man, child, king, deity & guru.



Good conduct is the highest mortality, it is the highest penance and it is the highest knowledge. What cannot be achieved through good conduct?

Dharmam is born of good conduct, the Vèdam (scriptures) have sprung from Dharmam alone; the holy sacrifices are born of (performed with) the Vèdam the gods are established (propitiated) by the sacrifices



Dharmam is born of good conduct, it is that which brings the highest welfare to man; great is the fame here that he gets by observing it and supreme beatitude in the world yet to come.



Everything is not good simply because it is old; nor a poem should be condemned simply because it is new; the wise resort to the one or the other after (proper) examination; (only) a fool has his mind led by the judgment of another.



The conferrers of mighty benefits & of high honours are always easily found in this world, but their appreciators are rare.



What has been done cannot be done again; what is dead cannot (come to life and) die again; what is lost cannot be repented for; such is the view of those learned in the Vèdam.



Ears are to be adorned by listening to the Scriptures and not with earrings; hands by alms giving and not with bracelets, and body by benevolence and not with the application of sandal-paste.



Indeed, a son is he who makes his father happy with his good deeds. The woman who is a well wisher of her husband is a wife in the real sense. A friend, who remains alike in times of happiness and misery, is a true friend. Verily, men obtain these three only as a result of their good deeds.



The path of service is formidable. It is difficult even for a Yògi to follow. If a man in service remains quiet, then he is called dumb. If he is quick-witted, then he is described as loquacious. If he stays close by, then he is taken to be audacious, and if he maintains a distance, then is considered as shy. If he is tolerant, then he is regarded as timid, and if he is unable to bear indignities, then he is known as ill bred.



Bracelets do not adorn a person. Nor do pearl necklaces shining like the moon, or a cleansing bath; nor anointment of the body, nor flowers, nor decoration for the hair. It is cultured speech, alone which embellishes a man. All other ornaments lose their glitter; only the jewel of speech ever remains the jewel of jewels.



Knowledge is certainly a man's greatest beauty. It is a safe and hidden treasure. It provides prosperity, fame and happiness. Knowledge is the guru of all gurus. It acts as one's friend in a foreign country. Knowledge is the Supreme God. It is the knowledge, not wealth, which is adored by kings. Without knowledge one remains as animal.



By honouring his mother he gains this world, by honouring his father the middle sphere, but by obedience to his teacher the world of Brahman.



One should honour one’s preceptor there with food, drink, etc. as well as clothes and decorating materials, pleasing unguents and flower garlands.



The preceptor (guru) should be resorted to, by a person desiring his own welfare, who ever selfless, remains in the right path and leads others also on into it, who is capable of liberating himself as well as others from the bonds of the world.



With the glance (careful attention) bestowed by a guru (preceptor) or by 2 (glances), what is gained? the same (gain) is not obtained by someone with the assistance of 3, 8 or even a thousand (teachers).



Who does not consider as a guru a person who taught him even a single syllable will be re-born in a family of chañdàla after having been first re-born hundreds of times as a dog.



Some exhibit acting very well in their own person; while others show greater skill in imparting (that art) to another; he who excels in both these qualities deserves a pre-eminent place among teachers.



The companionship of good people removes the inertia of one's mind, nurtures truth in the speech, enhances prestige, expiates the sins, comforts the conscience, spreads the name and fame in all directions. Say! What good is there which the company of devout does not bring to a man?



Basemen do not undertake any work apprehending obstacles. Mediocre make a start, but cease working when they encounter hindrances. The men of excellence, however, after commencing a job do not give up despite of recurrence of impediments.



A lion's cub also attacks a frenzied elephant. Valour is inherent in the nature of the powerful, and age, as such, is of no consequence to their prowess. 

Patience in adversity, magnanimity in ascendancy, eloquence in assembly, bravery in battle, aspiration for eminence and engrossment in the Scriptures are the self-evident attributes of great men.



A well born though insulted, doesn’t hit back in the same strain due to innate breeding (natural courtesy). The sandal tree of the Malaya Mountain does not exude filth (even) to him who cuts it with an axe.



People worship the lord of waters (ocean) by offering (consecrated) water to him and wave lights before the sun (to illumine him). Do these two things enhance their fullness? Great people are indeed pleased by devotion.



One who ever stands for reason must accept a science, though man made, if it stands to reason; and he must reject the other (the unreasonable) though it may be propounded by the sages (of yore).



A man of culture does not speak unpleasantly though burnt by the burning coals of displeasing talk. Does the fragrant aloe wood abandon its natural fragrance when being burnt?



Innocent persons, though they may not commit any sinful acts, are punished as a consequence of their mere association with evildoers [wicked]. Even so the fishes in a serpent-pond are destroyed by the snake destroyers along with the snakes



A virtuous person may spring even from a bad source and one of bad conduct even from the virtuous. The beautiful lotus springs from dirtymud but worms are seen to spring even from a lotus



Before taking any action, whether good or bad, wise men should carefully ponder over its consequences. Or else, the result of an act done in haste keeps piercing the heart like an arrow even after death.



A stream of tasteful water, having flown into the sea, becomes saline and thus undrinkable. For this simple reason, a wise man should never associate with one of wicked and impure soul.



The result of men's efforts depends upon fate. Intelligence is also determined by fate, yet wise men should think before acting



Wise men should get friends, even if they live in abundance, the lord of rivers [ocean], although filled, impatiently waits for the rise of the moon.



A wise man should rather remain inactive like a branchless truck, and wither away with oppressive hunger, then seek a means of maintenance from the worthless.



Those who are devoid of learning, restraint, charity, knowledge, moral conduct, virtue and righteousness are virtually animals living in the garb of men, and burdening the Earth.



If a person, though of noble birth, associates himself with low people, considering it important is doomed to a fall, as a person though holding a bamboo stick may precipitate into a fall if he takes a difficult path leading downwards.



Even good people get themselves corrupted by their close association with the undesirable. Water, which is sweet and cool, becomes hot associated with fire.

Wanting to reform the wicked with nectar-sweet advice, is like trying to control an elephant with the pith of a lotus-stem, or cutting a diamond Sirisha flower or sweetening the salty ocean with a

drop of honey.



It is wise to keep a wicked man at arm's length even if he is embellished with knowledge. Is it not true that a snake even though crowned with a jewel is yet dreadful?



In this world there is not to be found a friend equal to an abusive person; for he takes away all our demerits and gives back in their place all the goodness he possess.



Quarrels destroy homes. Bad words destroy friendship. Bad kings ruin empires & the fame of men gets destroyed by a bad act.



The Ganges descended from the heavens upon the head of Siva and thence to the mountain. From the high mountain, she flowed down the plains to finally lapse into the sea. Thus, the Ganges kept drifting downwards from one level to another. Similarly, those who have lost their sagacity plunge downwards in a hundred ways.

Note: The Ganges became proud that she emerged from Vishñu's feet, and lost her sense of bearing.



He restrains his friend from committing sins, and induces him to do good deeds. He conceals the unseemly secrets of a friend, projecting only his good qualities. He does not desert his friend in difficulties, but gives timely assistance. Saints describe these as the characteristics of a true friend.



With noble persons friendship lasts for the lifetime; anger is transitory & lasts for a moment only; & they have no desire for wealth.



He gives what is liked by us & also takes it similarly, he tells us all his (private) affairs & enquiries the same of us, he takes food with us & also invites us to die with him; thus these are the 6 characteristics of a good friend.



What is a grain? It is the companionship of the virtuous. What is grief? It is the company of fools. What is loss? It is the dissipation of time. What is prudence? It is devotion to virtue. What is velour? It is the conquest of the senses. Who is the beloved wife? One who is devoted to her husband. What is wealth? It is knowledge. What is happiness? It is to remain settled in one's own country. What is ruler ship? It is to command obedience.



Discerning men may slight or laud them, the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, may come or go as she likes, death may occur today or after ages; but strong-willed men do not deviate from the path of justice.



Courageous, cultivated minds their fate would supervise; but linked causation masters them & makes it otherwise.



A well wisher (friendly) but not learned, and a learned man but unreliable (is no good), for kingship is maintained by wise counsel and therefore it (state secrets) should be well guarded.