Bhartrihari quotes

Bhartrihari was an ancient Indian philosopher, poet, and grammarian, renowned for his influential works in Sanskrit literature. His collections of poetry explore themes such as love, renunciation, and ethics. He is also known for his treatises on linguistics and has significantly impacted Indian philosophical thought. Here are 7 of his quotes:

When I knew but a little, I was blinded by pride as an elephant is blinded by rut from excitement, and my mind was puffed up with the idea that I knew everything. When, however, I gradually gained knowledge through the contact of the wise I found I was a fool; and the pride, which had possessed me like a fever, left me.

Bhartrihari

Life is flowing away like water running out from a leaky vessel.

Bhartrihari

In opulence the heart of great men is as soft as that of a lotus flower, but in adversity the same hardens like a rock of a big mountain.

Bhartrihari

Those men are good who study the good of others without regarding themselves. Those men are ordinary men who, while they benefit others, do not neglect their own interests. Those men are demons who destroy another's good for their own profit. What shall we call those who aimlessly destroy that which is another's?

Bhartrihari

The maid my true heart loves would not my true love be; She seeks another man; another maid loves he; And me another maid her own true love would see: Oh, fie on her and him and Love and HER and me!

Bhartrihari

The sun opens the lotuses; the moon illuminates the beds of water-lilies; the cloud pours forth its water unasked: even so the liberal of their own accord are occupied in benefiting others.

Bhartrihari