The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end, nor protects it from the bites of insects. |
The one excellent thing that can be learned from a lion is that whatever a man intends doing should be done by him with a whole-hearted and strenuous effort. |
The poor wish for wealth; animals for the faculty of speech; men wish for heaven; and godly persons for liberation. |
The prostitute has to forsake a man who has no money, the subject a king that cannot defend him, the birds a tree that bears no fruit, and the guests a house after they have finished their meals. |
The rain water enlivens all living beings of the earth both movable (insects, animals, humans, etc.) and immovable (plants, trees, etc.), and then returns to the ocean it value multiplied a million fold. |
The serpent may, without being poisonous, raise high its hood, but the show of terror is enough to frighten people -- whether he be venomous or not. |
The serpent, the king, the tiger, the stinging wasp, the small child, the dog owned by other people, and the fool: these seven ought not to be awakened from sleep. |
The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability. |
The woman who fasts and observes religious vows without the permission of her husband shortens his life, and goes to hell. |
The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman. |
There are many ways of binding by which one can be dominated and controlled in this world, but the bond of affection is the strongest. For example, take the case of the humble bee which, although expert at piercing hardened wood, becomes caught in the embrace of its beloved flowers (as the petals close at dusk). |
There are two ways to get rid of thorns and wicked persons; using footwear in the first case and in the second shaming them so that they cannot raise their faces again thus keeping them at a distance. |
There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy. |
There is no disease (so destructive) as lust; no enemy like infatuation; no fire like wrath; and no happiness like spiritual knowledge. |
There is no water like rainwater; no strength like one's own; no light like that of the eyes; and no wealth more dear than food grain. |