If he remembers at any time that he has refused a guest, he shall at once leave off eating and fast on that day, And on the following day (he shall search for him), feast him to his heart's content, and accompany him (on his departure).

To all (those who come for food) at (the end of) the Vaisvadeva he shall give a portion, even to dogs and Kandalas. Some declare that he shall not give anything to unworthy people (such as Kandalas).

The husband and wife of the house should not turn away any who comes at eating time and asks for food. If food is not available, a place to rest, water for refreshing one's self, a reed mat to lay one's self on, and pleas... >> more

To old age I make thee over, onto old age I urge thee; may a happy old age guide thee! Away shall go the other deaths, of which, it is said, there are a hundred more!

Heaven and earth here go apart; the paths go in every direction. I free thee from all evil and disease, (and) unite thee with life.

The plants that are brown, and those that are white; the red ones and the speckled ones; the sable and the black plants, all (these) do we invoke. May they protect this man from the disease sent by the gods, the herbs whose father is the sky, whose mother is the earth, whose root is the ocean.

Charity that is given as a matter of duty, to a deserving candidate who does nothing in return, at the right place and time, is considered to be charity in the mode of goodness. Charity that is given unwillingly, or to ge... >> more

You have control over doing your respective duty only, but no control or claim over the results. The fruits of work should not be your motive, and you should never be inactive. Do your duty to the best of your ability, O ... >> more

The Self is present equally in all beings. There is no one hateful or dear to Me. But, those who worship Me with love and devotion are very close to Me, and I am also very close to them.

Anybody can attain the Supreme Abode by just surrendering unto My will with loving devotion, O Arjuna. Then, it should be very easy for the wise and devout sages to attain the Supreme Being. Therefore, having obtained thi... >> more

Lord Krishna said: I am death, the mighty destroyer of the world. I have come here to destroy all these people. Even without your participation in the war, all the warriors standing arrayed in the opposing armies shall ce... >> more

There are only two types (or castes) of human beings in this world: The divine, or the wise; and the demonic, or the ignorant. […] [The demonic] say: The world is unreal, without a substratum, without a God, and without a... >> more

If due to ego you think: I shall not fight; this resolve of yours is vain. Because your own nature will compel you to fight. O Arjuna, you are controlled by your own nature-born Karmic impressions. Therefore, you shall do - even against your will - what you do not wish to do out of delusion.

Sanjaya said: Lord Krishna spoke these words to Arjuna whose eyes were tearful and downcast, and who was overwhelmed with compassion and despair. Lord Krishna said: How has the dejection come to you at this juncture? This... >> more

The contacts of the senses with the sense objects give rise to the feelings of heat and cold, and pain and pleasure. They are transitory and impermanent. Therefore, one should learn to endure them. Because a calm person -... >> more

The invisible Spirit (Atma, Atman) is eternal, and the visible physical body, is transitory. The reality of these two is indeed certainly seen by the seers of truth. The Spirit by whom this entire universe is pervaded is ... >> more

Because there is nothing more auspicious for a warrior than a righteous war. Only the fortunate warriors, O Arjuna, get such an opportunity for an unsought war that is like an open door to heaven. If you will not fight th... >> more

Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, and victory and defeat alike, engage yourself in your duty. By doing your duty this way you will not incur sin.

One who has control over the lower self - the mind and senses - is tranquil in heat and cold, in pleasure and pain, and in honor and dishonor, and remains ever steadfast with the supreme Self.

The one who depends on the Lord and is indifferent to pain and pleasure; to whom a clod, a stone, and gold are alike; to whom the dear and the unfriendly are alike; who is of firm mind, who is calm in censure and in prais... >> more

He created still further the most excellent Law (dharma). Law is the Kshatra (power) of the Kshatra, therefore there is nothing higher than the Law. Thenceforth even a weak man rules a stronger with the help of the Law, as with the help of a king.

Now when Yagnavalkya was going to enter upon another state, he said: "Maitreyi, verily I am going away from this my house (into the forest). Forsooth, let me make a settlement between thee and that Katyayani (my othe... >> more

That Self (atman) is to be described by No, no! He is incomprehensible, for he cannot be (is not) comprehended; he is imperishable, for he cannot perish; he is unattached, for he does not attach himself; unfettered, he does not suffer, he does not fail.

Now as a man is like this or like that, according as he acts and according as he behaves, so will he be: a man of good acts will become good, a man of bad acts, bad. He becomes pure by pure deeds, bad by bad deeds. And he... >> more

He told them the same syllable Da. Then he said: "Did you understand?" They said: "We did understand. You told us, Datta, Give." "Yes," he said, "you have understood." Then the Asur... >> more

Now that which is that subtle essence (the root of all), in it all that exists has its self. It is the True. It is the Self, and thou, O Svetaketu, art it.

There is this verse, "He who sees this, does not see death, nor illness, nor pain; he who sees this, sees everything, and obtains everything everywhere."

That (science) is designated as Ayurveda where advantageous and disadvantageous as well as happy and unhappy (states of) life along with what is good and bad for life, its measurement and life itself are described.

Nakiketas said: "These things last till tomorrow, O Death, for they wear out this vigour of all the senses. Even the whole of life is short. Keep thou thy horses, keep dance and song for thyself. No man can be made happy by wealth. Shall we possess wealth, when we see thee?"

(When the choice is) between a strong king unjustly behaved and a weak king justly behaved, he should march against the strong king unjustly behaved. The subjects do not help the strong unjust king when he is attacked, they drive him out or resort to his enemy.

For, by discarding the good and favouring the wicked, and by starting unrighteous injuries not current before, by discontinuing customary practices that are righteous, by indulgence in impiety and suppression of piety, an... >> more

When one seeth creatures of infinite diversity to be all one and the same and to be but diversified emanations from the same essence, one is then said to have attained Brahma.

That king who rules this wide unbounded earth, and that person who regards gold and pebbles equally, amongst these two, the latter is said to have attained the object of his life and not the former.

The evils of life, O king, overtake one in early or middle or old age. They can never he avoided, while those (sources of bliss) that are coveted never come. The absence, of what is agreeable, the presence of what is disagreeable, good and evil, bliss and woe, follow Destiny.

He who offers shelter to a guest and welcomes him with water to wash his feet as also with food, light and bed, attains to the merits of the sacrifice with the five gifts.

All those tribes in this world, which are excluded from (the community of) those born from the mouth, the arms, the thighs, and the feet (of Brahman), are called Dasyus, whether they speak the language of the Mlekkhas (barbarians) or that of the Aryans.

Abstention from injuring (creatures), veracity, abstention from unlawfully appropriating (the goods of others), purity, and control of the organs, Manu has declared to be the summary of the law for the four castes.

That land where the black antelope naturally roams, one must know to be fit for the performance of sacrifices; (the tract) different from that (is) the country of the Mlekkhas (barbarians). Let twice-born men seek to dwel... >> more

But let him offer, in accordance with the rule, to a guest who has come (of his own accord) a seat and water, as well as food, garnished (with seasoning), according to his ability.

For a man of bad conduct is blamed among people, constantly suffers misfortunes, is afflicted with diseases, and short-lived.

A giver of water obtains the satisfaction (of his hunger and thirst), a giver of food imperishable happiness, a giver of sesamum desirable offspring, a giver of a lamp a most excellent eyesight.

He who is persevering, gentle, (and) patient, shuns the company of men of cruel conduct, and does no injury (to living creatures), gains, if he constantly lives in that manner, by controlling his organs and by liberality, heavenly bliss.

No guest must stay in his house without being honoured, according to his ability, with a seat, food, a couch, water, or roots and fruits.

A householder must give (as much food) as he is able (to spare) to those who do not cook for themselves, and to all beings one must distribute (food) without detriment (to one's own interest).

Let no (man), therefore, transgress that law which favourites, nor (his orders) which inflict pain on those in disfavour.

If the king did not, without tiring, inflict punishment on those worthy to be punished, the stronger would roast the weaker, like fish on a spit.

Let him [the king] daily worship aged Brahmanas who know the Veda and are pure; for he who always worships aged men, is honoured even by Rakshasas.

But where justice, wounded by injustice, approaches and the judges do not extract the dart, there (they also) are wounded (by that dart of injustice).

A blind man, an idiot, (a cripple) who moves with the help of a board, a man full seventy years old, and he who confers benefits on Srotriyas, shall not be compelled by any (king) to pay a tax.

Let him exert himself to the utmost in order to increase his property in a righteous manner, and let him zealously give food to all created beings.

Two birds, inseparable friends, cling to the same tree. One of them eats the sweet fruit, the other looks on without eating. On the same tree man sits grieving, immersed, bewildered by his own impotence (an-isa). But when... >> more

The true prevails, not the untrue; by the true the path is laid out, the way of the gods (devayanah), on which the old sages, satisfied in their desires, proceed to where there is that highest place of the True One.

And can I, Vnar King, forget The great, the universal debt, Ever to aid and welcome those Who pray for shelter, friends or foes? Now hear me, Vnar King, rehearse What Kandu spoke in ancient verse, Saint Kanva's son who lo... >> more

This thine heroic power men of old time have known, wherewith thou breakest down, Indra, autumnal forts, breakest them down with conquering might. Thou hast chastised, O Indra, Lord of Strength, the man who worships not, ... >> more

When they divided Purusa how many portions did they make? What do they call his mouth, his arms? What do they call his thighs and feet? The Brahman was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rajanya made. His thighs became the Vaisya, from his feet the Sudra was produced.

Let fruitful plants, and fruitless, those that blossom, and blossomless, urged onward by Brhaspati, release us from our pain and grief.

Come willingly to our doors that gladly welcome thee, and heal all sickness, Rudra, in our families.

He is the one God, hidden in all beings, all-pervading, the self within all beings, watching over all works, dwelling in all beings, the witness, the perceiver, the only one, free from qualities.

After having taught the Veda, the teacher instructs the pupil: "Say what is true! Do thy duty! Do not neglect the study of the Veda! After having brought to thy teacher his proper reward, do not cut off the line of c... >> more

If your mind is troubled with any doubts as to what is right or wrong, follow the example of gentle and pious elders living in your neighbourhood in regard to those matters. This is the rule and this the teaching.

Disease, inertia, doubt, lack of enthusiasm, laziness, sensuality, mind-wandering, missing the point, instability - these distractions of the mind are the obstacles. Pain, despair, nervousness, and disordered inspiration and expiration are co-existent with these obstacles.