mahabharata quote

Mahabharata Quote #1

As the sun dispels the darkness, so does the Mahabharata by its discourses on Dharma, artha, kama and moksha, dispel the ignorance of men. As the full-moon by its mild light expands the buds of the lotus, so this Purana (story, epic), by exposing the light of the Sruti (scriptures) has expanded the human Intellect. By the lamp of history, which destroys the darkness of ignorance, the whole mansion of nature is properly and completely illuminated.

—Mahabharata 1.1


Whatever is spoken about Dharma, artha (wealth), kama (pleasure), and moksha (salvation) may be seen elsewhere; but whatever is not contained in this is not to be found anywhere.

—Mahabharata 1.62


Just as the swine always look for dirt and filth even in the midst of a flower garden, so will the wicked always choose the toxic out of both the toxic and the pure that others speak. The wise, on hearing the speeches of others that are intermixed with both purity and toxicity, accept only what is pure, like swans that always extract only milk, though it be mixed with water.

—Queen Sakuntala

Mahabharata 1.74


The wise should never exult at receiving honors nor should they grieve at insults.

—King Yayati

Mahabharata 1.90


It has been said that an individual should be cast off for the sake of the family; that a family should be cast off for the sake of a village; that a village should be abandoned for the sake of the whole country; and that the Earth (material world) itself should be abandoned for the sake of the soul.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 1.115


Everything in the world depends on destiny and exertion. But destiny can never be successful except by timely exertion.

—King Pandu

Mahabharata 1.123


One who has never been afflicted with calamity can never have prosperity.

—Minister Kanika

Mahabharata 1.142


If there is a punisher of crimes, people would not dare commit crimes. If there are no punishers, the number of criminals becomes large. If a person who has the power to prevent or punish a crime, does not do so, he or she is also stained by that crime.

—Rishi Aurva

Mahabharata 1.182


Peace of mind is the highest object, for prosperity proceeds from that quality.

—King Yudhishthira

Mahabharata 2.15


Insincere persons, who speak sweet and pleasant words, are common on this Earth. But those who speak unpleasant yet beneficial words, as well as those who are open to hearing such words, are very rare. A true advisor is one who, disregarding what is pleasant and unpleasant, gives that advice that may be unpleasant yet beneficial, like bitter medicine.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 2.61


In an assembly where an unrighteous act is not rebuked, half the demerit of that act is attached to the head of that assembly, a fourth to the person performing the act, and a fourth to those others who are simply present.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 2.67


Prosperity that is acquired through unrighteous acts is soon destroyed, while that which is won by righteous means takes root and descends from generation to generation.

—Queen Gandhari

Mahabharata 2.74


As a hot iron bar immersed in a jar of water makes the water hot, so does mental grief bring on bodily agony. And as water quenches fire, so does true knowledge allay mental agitation. As the mind attains ease, the body also finds ease.

—Saunaka

Mahabharata 3.2


Only the ignorant are discontented. The wise are always content. The thirst of wealth can never be satisfied. Contentment is the highest happiness. Therefore, the wise regard contentment as the highest object of pursuit.

—Saunaka

Mahabharata 3.2


The wise, knowing the instability of youth, beauty, life, wealth, prosperity, and the company of loved ones, never covet them.

—Saunaka

Mahabharata 3.2


The three values of artha (wealth), kama (pleasure), and moksha (salvation) have their foundations in Dharma.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 3.4


Ignorant people think that only the external world is capable of gratifying the senses, and are blind to everything else.

— King Yudhishthira

Mahabharata 3.31


One must act to preserve as well as increase one’s wealth. If, without seeking to earn, one continues to only spend one’s wealth, even if the amount were as large as a mountain in the Himalayas, it would soon be exhausted.

—Queen Draupadi

Mahabharata 3.32


One is not old because one’s head is gray. But the divine regard her or him as old who, although a child in years, is yet possessed of knowledge.

—Ashtavakra

Mahabharata 3.133


Six is the number of the senses.

—Ashtavakra

Mahabharata 3.134


Prosperity intoxicates even wise and valiant people. Those who live in luxury soon lose their reason.

—King Nahusha

Mahabharata 3.180


Among the six senses, the mind that is easily moved is the most dangerous.

—Rishi Markandeya

Mahabharata 3.199


The speaking of truth is good, and the knowledge of truth may also be good. But what is conducive to achieving the greatest good for all creatures is known as the highest truth.

—Rishi Markandeya

Mahabharata 3.212


One must not give way to discontent, for it is like a virulent poison.

—Rishi Markandeya

Mahabharata 3.215


The bodily afflictions should be cured with medicines, and the mental ones with spiritual wisdom. This is the power of knowledge.

—Rishi Markandeya

Mahabharata 3.215


People experience happiness and misery by turns, for no person ever enjoyed continuous happiness. A wise person endowed with high wisdom, knowing that life has its ups and downs, is neither filled with joy nor with grief. When happiness comes, one should enjoy it. When misery comes, one should bear it.

—Maharishi Vyasa

Mahabharata 3.257


The Soul of the Universe has three forms. In the form of Brahma, he is the Creator; in the form of Vishnu, he is the Preserver; and in his form as Shiva, he is the Destroyer of the Universe.

—Lord Shiva

Mahabharata 3.270


The eternal duty of the righteous toward all creatures is never to injure them in thought, word, and deed, but to bear them love and give them their due.

—Savitri

Mahabharata 3.295


It is the righteous upon whom both the past and future depend.

—Savitri

Mahabharata 3.295


A good office is never wasted if it is assigned to the good and righteous.

—Savitri

Mahabharata 3.295


The mind is fleeter than the wind.

Our thoughts are more numerous than grass.


Mahabharata 3.311


The best of all possessions is knowledge.


Mahabharata 3.311


Non-injury (ahimsa) is the highest Dharma.


Mahabharata 3.311


The world is enveloped with ignorance. It is ignorance that does not permit a thing to show itself.


Mahabharata 3.311


True ignorance consists in not knowing one’s duties.


Mahabharata 3.311


To not discharge one’s duties is idleness.


Mahabharata 3.311


A true bath consists in washing the mind clean of all impurities.


Mahabharata 3.311


Charity consists in protecting all creatures.


Mahabharata 3.311


One is to be called learned who knows one’s duties.


Mahabharata 3.311


That person goes to everlasting hell, which though in possession of wealth, neither gives it away nor enjoys it from greed, saying that he or she has none.


Mahabharata 3.311


Argument leads to no certain conclusion. The scriptures are different from one another and there is not even one sage whose opinion can be accepted by all. The truth about righteousness and duty is hidden in caves. Therefore, seclusion and withdrawal is the path along which the great have traveled.


Mahabharata 3.311


Dharma abandons those who abandon Dharma. Dharma protects those who protect Dharma.


Mahabharata 3.311


When unrighteousness assumes the aspect of righteousness and righteousness assumes the aspect of unrighteousness, and righteousness again appears in its true form, they who are learned should discern between the two by means of their Intellects.


Mahabharata 5.28


Poison slays only one person, and a weapon also only one. Bad counsel, however, destroys an entire kingdom with king and subject.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 5.33


None is more heartless than a wealthy person who enjoys fine food and clothing without distributing wealth among his or her dependents.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 5.33


While one person commits unrighteous acts, many reap the advantage resulting therefrom. Yet, in the end, it is the doer alone to whom the demerit of unrighteousness attaches itself, while those who enjoy the fruit escape unhurt.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 5.33


An intelligent person who has applied proper means should not grieve if a purpose pursued does not succeed.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 5.34


Ignorant people seek to injure the wise by false reproaches and evil speeches. The consequence is that they take upon themselves the demerit of the wise, while the latter, freed from their demerits, are forgiven.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 5.34


Repeatedly perpetrating unrighteous acts destroys intelligence. And the person who has lost intelligence repeatedly commits unrighteous acts. Dharma, repeatedly practiced, enhances intelligence. And the person whose intelligence has increased repeatedly practices Dharma.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 5.35


The gap that one seeks to fill with wealth acquired wrongfully remains uncovered, while new ones appear in other places.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 5.35


A wise person who has been injured by another’s wordy arrows, should, even if deeply wounded and burning with pain, bear the words patiently. The wise person should do so remembering that she or he gains the slanderer’s merits.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 5.36


The tree that stands alone, though gigantic, strong, and deep-rooted, has its trunk soon smashed and twisted by a mighty wind. Those trees, however, that are close together are better able, due to mutual dependence, to resist winds that are more violent.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 5.36


One’s purposes depend on means for their success. Means are dependent upon the nature of the purposes sought to be accomplished by them. They are intimately connected with each other, so much so that success depends on both.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 5.37


That pleasure, the pursuit of which does not injure one’s Dharma and wealth, should certainly be pursued to one’s fill. One should not, however, act like a fool by giving free indulgence to one’s senses.

—Mahatma Vidura

Mahabharata 5.39


One should never regard oneself as honored who is honored by others. One should not, therefore, grieve when one is not honored by others. People act according to their nature just as they open and shut their eyelids. It is only the learned who pay respect to others. They who are ignorant, unrighteous, or deceitful, never pay respect to those who are worthy of respect. On the other hand, they always show disrespect to such persons.

—Rishi Sanat-sujata

Mahabharata 5.42


Great will be the merit earned by the person who will liberate from the meshes of death the whole Earth, with her elephants, vehicles, and horses, overwhelmed with a dreadful calamity.

—Lord Krishna

Mahabharata 5.93


If a person striving to the best of her or his abilities to perform a righteous act meets with failure, I have not the least doubt that the person gains the merit of that act, notwithstanding such failure.

—Lord Krishna

Mahabharata 5.93


I bow to Dharma which is superior to all. It is Dharma that supports all creatures.

—Queen Kunti

Mahabharata 5.137


Everything springs from the earth and everything, when destroyed, merges with the Earth. The Earth is the stay and refuge of all creatures and the Earth is eternal.

—Minister Sanjaya

Mahabharata 6.4


They that are desirous of victory do not conquer by might and energy so much as by truth, compassion, righteousness and energy. Discerning between righteousness and unrighteousness, and understanding what is meant by covetousness, and having recourse to exertion, fight without arrogance, for victory is there where righteousness is.

—Brahman

Mahabharata 6.19

From: http://yogicmanagement.com/yoga-vedanta/mahabharata-quotes/

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