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अलौल्यमारोग्यमनिष्ठुरत्वं गन्धः शुभो मूत्रपुरीषमल्पम्।
कान्तिः प्रसादः स्वरसौम्यता च योगप्रवृत्तेः प्रथमं हि चिह्नम्॥

Freedom from greed, good health, gentleness in speech, pleasing fragrance, minimal bodily excretions, natural glow, peaceful disposition, and sweetnes...

yoga (85) purity (356) health (106) gentleness (44) fragrance (199) transformation (252) self-discipline (12) spiritual practice (19) simplicity (130) yogic symptoms (1)

अल्पं किंचिच्छ्रियं प्राप्य नीचो गर्वायते लघु।
पद्मपत्रतले भेको मन्यते दण्डधारिणम्॥

A low-minded person becomes arrogant even upon attaining a small amount of wealth or fortune. Just as a frog on a lotus leaf imagines itself to be a w...

arrogance (135) wealth (447) low intellect (1) false pride (6) delusion (175) status (41) metaphor (1632) foolishness (88) ego (153) mockery (46)

अल्पं दर्पबलं दैत्य स्थिरमक्रोधज बलम्।
हतस्त्वं दर्पजैर्दोषैर् हित्वा यो भाषसे क्षमाम्॥

The strength born of arrogance is weak, while strength born of calmness is enduring. You were defeated due to your prideful faults, whereas the one wh...

strength (359) pride (317) calmness (29) humility (596) defeat (25) patience (122) wisdom (1611) power (396) comparison (402) inner strength (40)

अल्पं निर्मितमाकाशम् अनालोच्यैव वेधसा।
इदमेवंविधं भावि भवत्याः स्तनजृम्भनम्॥

The small space created (i.e., sky or chest cavity) was not well-considered by the Creator—such will be the expansive blossoming of your breasts in th...

poetic growth (1) maturity (29) creation (117) future (14) body symbolism (2) beauty (1797) divine creation (16) prediction (10) metaphor (1632) imagination (48)

अल्पतोऽधिकतः साध्यं लघुनैव प्रसाधयेत्।
भूप्रदक्षिणतोऽहल्यां गौतमः कपिलां भ्रमन्॥

A great task can be accomplished even through small or subtle means. Just as Sage Gautama purified Ahalya merely by circumambulating the earth (or thr...

subtlety (175) power (396) effectiveness (6) sage (44) purification (85) example (24) allegory (15) simplicity (130) symbolic act (1) wisdom (1611)

अल्पतोयश्चलत्कुम्भो ह्यल्पदुग्धाश्च धेनवः।
अल्पविद्यो महागर्वी कुरूपी बहुचेष्टितः॥

A pot with little water shakes more, cows that yield less milk make more noise, and a person with little knowledge tends to be most arrogant and theat...

arrogance (135) ignorance (301) metaphor (1632) hollowness (8) comparison (402) knowledge (279) showiness (1) humility (596) satire (211) character flaw (4)

अल्पप्रभोस्तु सेवायां भुक्तिमात्रं प्रयोजनम्।
अनुग्रहमजामूल्यं निग्रहं प्राणसंकटम्॥

Serving someone of limited power brings only mundane returns. Their favor has no value, and their displeasure may even endanger one’s life—so choose w...

power (396) service (114) wisdom (1611) danger (229) returns (1) consequences (70) loyalty (180) discernment (142) politics (111) favor (20)

अल्पमप्यवमन्येत न शत्रुर्बलदर्पितः।
रामेण रामः शिशुना ब्राह्मण्यदययोज्झितः॥

A strong enemy should not even belittle a weak opponent. Even a young Rama, moved by compassion and dharma, defeated Ravana’s arrogance and upheld rig...

caution (269) enemy (92) humility (596) strength (359) strategy (222) righteousness (134) dharma (540) ramayana (52) foresight (47) respect (164)

अल्पश्रुतलव एव प्रायः प्रकटयति वाग्विभवमुच्चैः।
सर्वत्र कुनट एव हि नाटकमधिकं विडम्बयति॥

A person with just a bit of learning often speaks the loudest. Just like a poor actor overacts on stage, a shallow person tries to impress with words.

shallow knowledge (3) show-off (2) speech (345) metaphor (1632) exaggeration (34) learning (126) pretense (35) overacting (1) pride (317) wisdom (1611)

अल्पसारोऽपि यो मोहाद् विस्तारं कर्तुमिच्छति।
पश्चाच्छोचति दुर्बुद्धिर् नालिकेरबको यथा॥

One who, out of delusion, tries to expand something of little substance ends up regretting—like a heron who tries to eat the hard-shelled coconut thin...

delusion (175) regret (87) ignorance (301) metaphor (1632) overestimation (2) folly (51) self-deception (11) advice (48) foolishness (88) comparison (402)

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