Famous Quotes from Vedic Lietrature

Srimad Bhagavatam SB 10.1.42 : At the time of death, according to the thinking, feeling and willing of the mind, which is involved in fruitive activities, one receives a particular body. In other words, the body develops according to the activities of the mind. Changes of body are due to the flickering of the mind, for otherwise the soul could remain in its original, spiritual body. Arjuna says in Bhagavad-gītā ( 6.34 ): For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind. Srila Prabhupada says: The simile used here is appropriate: one cannot capture the blowing wind. And it is even more difficult to capture the turbulent mind. The easiest way to control the mind, as suggested by Lord Caitanya, is chanting "Hare Krishna," the great mantra for deliverance, in all humility. The method prescribed is sa vai manah krishna-padaravindayoh: one must engage one's mind fully in Krishna. O...

It is stated in Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya [quoted in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Purva 2.2.291]: “Hiranyakasipu said to Prahlada: 'My dear son, association is very influential upon people. Like a crystal takes on the qualities of the one with whom it associates, for this reason intelligent persons should seek the company of high class and like-minded individuals in order to increase the prestige of their families."' ( Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.26.26 ). Sri Krishna has said: “A truly intelligent person should shun evil company but seek the association of holy saints who, with their instructions, gnaw away the knot of our mind’s worldly attachments”

These verses are from Bhakti Vinod Thakurs Book " Dusta Mana" Oh mind, What is the value of contemplating day and night your plans for enjoying wealth and women? All these things are only temporary. Oh mind,When you claim wealth as your own, it creates in you ever-increasing desires for material enjoyment. Your riches should be used for serving Mädhava, the Lord of all wealth. Neither is it your proper place to indulge in lust for women, whose only true proprietor is Lord Yädava. The demon Rävana (lust-incarnate) fought with Lord Rämachandra (love-incarnate) in order to gain the tree of worldly reputation-but that oasis turned out to be but a mirage cast in the desert wasteland of the Lord's illusory material potency. Oh mind,please cultivate fixed determination to attain only the steady and solid platform whereupon a Vaishnava ever stands. If you neglect worshiping the Lord from this position, then you will ultimately attain a hellish existence. Oh mind,Why do you needle...

SB 1.2.19 : As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature's modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy.

Srimad Bhagavatam SB 1.2.6 : The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord . Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self. SB 1.2.8 : The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead. SB 1.2.9 : All occupational engagements are certainly meant for ultimate liberation. They should never be performed for material gain. Furthermore, according to sages, one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service should never use material gain to cultivate sense gratification. SB 1.2.13 : O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one's own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to pleas...

Srimad Bhagavtam SB 1.5.8 : Sri Narada said: The philosophy which does not satisfy the transcendental senses of the Lord is considered worthless. SB 1.5.10 : Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Since the all-perfect persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode, they do not derive any pleasure there. SB 1.5.11 : On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world's misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest SB 1.5.12 : Knowledge of self-realization, ...

Chanakya quotes: Even from poison extract nectar, wash and take back gold if it has fallen in filth, receive the highest knowledge (Krsna consciousness) from a low born person; so also a girl possessing virtuous qualities (stri-ratna) even if she were born in a disreputable family.

Chanakya Niti quote: A wise man should marry a virgin of a respectable family even if she is deformed. He should not marry one of a low-class family, through beauty. Marriage in a family of equal status is preferable. A wicked wife, a false friend, a saucy servant and living in a house with a serpent in it are nothing but death. Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortun. Even from poison extract nectar, wash and take back gold if it has fallen in filth, receive the highest knowledge (Krsna consciousness) from a low born person; so also a girl possessing virtuous qualities (stri-ratna) even if she were born in a disreputable family.

Chanakya Niti quotes: Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortun. He is a true friend who does not forsake us in time of need, misfortune, famine, or war, in a king's court, or at the crematorium (smasana). Do not put your trust in rivers, men who carry weapons, beasts with claws or horns, women, and members of a royal family

Chanakya Niti quotes : Even a pandit comes to grief by giving instruction to a foolish disciple, by maintaining a wicked wife, and by excessive familiarity with the miserable. A wicked wife, a false friend, a saucy servant and living in a house with a serpent in it are nothing but death Save your wealth against future calamity. Do not say, "What fear has a rich man, of calamity?" When riches begin to forsake one even the accumulated stock dwindles away.

Chanakya Niti Quotes: That man who by the study of these maxims from the satras acquires a knowledge of the most celebrated principles of duty, and understands what ought and what ought not to be followed, and what is good and what is bad, is most excellent. Do not inhabit a country where you are not respected, cannot earn your livelihood, have no friends, or cannot acquire knowledge. Do not stay for a single day where there are not these five persons: a wealthy man, a brahmin well versed in Vedic lore, a king, a river and a physician. Wise men should never go into a country where there are no means of earning one's livelihood, where the people have no dread of anybody, have no sense of shame, no intelligence, or a charitable disposition.

Bhagavad Gita. Lord Krishna instructs to arjuna as follows: BG 2.46 : All purposes served by a small well can at once be served by a great reservoir of water. Similarly, all the purposes of the Vedas can be served to one who knows the purpose behind them. BG 15.15 : Lord Krishna says vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo, vedānta-krd veda-vid eva cāham By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas Srila Prabhupada Vedānta mean the last word in Vedic wisdom, and the author and knower of the Vedānta philosophy is Lord Krishna; and the highest Vedāntist is the great soul who takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord. That is the ultimate purpose of all Vedic mysticism.

Bhagavad Gita BG 3.9 : Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage. BG 3.10 :"Be thou happy by this yajña [sacrifice] because its performance will bestow upon you everything desirable for living happily and achieving liberation." BG 3.12 : In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being satisfied by the performance of yajña [sacrifice], will supply all necessities to you. But he who enjoys such gifts without offering them to the demigods in return is certainly a thief. BG 3.13 : The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin. BG 3.16 : My dear Arjuna, one who does not follow in human life the cycle of sacrifice...

Bhagavad Gita BG 3.10 : In the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Vishnu and blessed them by saying, "Be thou happy by this yajña [sacrifice] because its performance will bestow upon you everything desirable for living happily and achieving liberation." BG 3.11 : The demigods, being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you, and thus, by cooperation between men and demigods, prosperity will reign for all. BG 3.12 : In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being satisfied by the performance of yajña [sacrifice], will supply all necessities to you. But he who enjoys such gifts without offering them to the demigods in return is certainly a thief.

Bhagavad Gita BG 3.13 : The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin. BG 3.14 : All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajña [sacrifice], and yajña is born of prescribed duties.