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The moth unwitting rushes on the fire, Through ignorance the fish devours the bait, We men know well the foes that lie in wait, Yet cannot shun the meshes of desire.

Bhartrhari

Let us keep a firm grip upon our money, for without it the whole assembly of virtues are but as blades of grass.
BHARTRHARI

Blades Money Virtue
Idleness is a great enemy to mankind. There is no friend like energy, for, if you cultivate that, it will never fail.
BHARTRHARI

Enemy Energy Friends No
Even the severed branch grows again, and the sunken moon returns: wise men who ponder this are not troubled in adversity.
BHARTRHARI

Adversity Moon Wise
The pearl on my beloved’s neck, Afflicted sore the oyster!
BHARTRHARI

Oysters Pearls Sacrifice
Those from whom we were born have long since departed, and those with whom we grew up exist only in memory. We, too, through the approach of death, become, as it were, trees growing on the sandy bank of a river.
BHARTRHARI

Long Memories Rivers
Fate’s sentence written on the brow no hand can e’er efface.
BHARTRHARI

Fate Hands
Neither rings, bright chains, nor bracelets, perfumes, flowers, nor well-trimmed hair, Grace a man like polished language, th’ only jewel he should wear.
BHARTRHARI

Flower Hair Men
For a moment man is a boy, for a moment a lovesick youth, for a moment bereft of wealth, for a moment in the height of prosperity; then at life’s end with limbs worn out by old age and wrinkles adorning his face, like an actor he retires behind the curtain of death.
BHARTRHARI

Boys Men Wrinkles
Three courses open lie to wealth, to give, enjoy, or lose, Who shrinketh from the former two, perforce the third doth choose.
BHARTRHARI

Giving Lying Two
Man is but a beast without it: such a glorious god is Learning.
BHARTRHARI

Beast Learning Men
Trees bend low with ripened fruit; clouds hang down with gentle rain; noble people bow graciously. This is the way of generous things.
BHARTRHARI

Clouds People Rain
The source of inward happiness which shall outlast the earth– To them e’en kings should yield the palm, and own their higher worth.
BHARTRHARI

Happiness Inward Kings Source
There is no medicine to cure a fool!
BHARTRHARI

Cures Fool Medicine
I’ve wandered over many lands, and reaped withal no fruit, I’ve laid my pride of rank aside, and pressed my baffled suit, At stranger boards, like shameless crow, I’ve eaten bitter bread, But fierce Desire, that raging fire, still clamours to be fed.
BHARTRHARI

Fire Land Pride
Knowledge is wonderful and truth serene But man in their service bleeds.
BHARTRHARI

Knowledge Men Wonderful
A good man may fall, but he falls like a ball [and rebounds]; the ignoble man falls like a lump of clay.
BHARTRHARI

Fall Good Man Men

The moth unwitting rushes on the fire, Through ignorance the fish devours the bait, We men know well the foes that lie in wait, Yet cannot shun the meshes of desire.

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The moth unwitting rushes on the fire, Through ignorance the fish devours the bait, We men know well the foes that lie in wait, Yet cannot shun the meshes of desire.

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Popular Authors

More Bhartrhari Quotes