Learning and knowledge

विषाद् अप्य् अमृतं ग्राह्यम् अमेध्याद् अपि काञ्चनम् । नीचाद् अप्युत्तमां विद्या स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलाद् अपि

viṣād apy amṛtaṃ grāhyam amedhyād api kāñcanam | nīcād apyuttamāṃ vidyā strīratnaṃ duṣkulād api

In plain words: Take nectar even from poison, gold even from filth and the best learning even from a humble person. (The last line of the verse is about marriage and reflects the society of its time.)

रूपयौवनसम्पन्ना विशालकुलसम्भवाः । विद्याहीना न शोभन्ते निर्गन्धा इवकिशुकाः

rūpayauvanasampannā viśālakulasambhavāḥ | vidyāhīnā na śobhante nirgandhā ivakiśukāḥ

In plain words: People with beauty, youth and a noble family who have no learning do not shine, like the scentless kimshuka flower.

कोऽतिभारः समर्थानां किं दूरं व्यवसायिनाम्। को विदेशः सुविद्यानां कः परः प्रियवादिनाम्

ko'tibhāraḥ samarthānāṃ kiṃ dūraṃ vyavasāyinām| ko videśaḥ suvidyānāṃ kaḥ paraḥ priyavādinām

In plain words: What is too heavy for the capable, too far for the hard-working, a foreign land for the learned, or a stranger for the sweet-spoken?

कामधेनुगुण विद्या ह्यकाले फलदायिनी । प्रवासे मातृसदृशी विद्या गुप्तं धनं स्मृतम्

kāmadhenuguṇa vidyā hyakāle phaladāyinī | pravāse mātṛsadṛśī vidyā guptaṃ dhanaṃ smṛtam

In plain words: Learning is like the wish-granting cow: it gives its fruit at any time; in a foreign land it is like a mother; it is hidden wealth.

अभ्यासाध्दार्यते विद्या कुलं शीलेन धार्यते । गुणेन ज्ञायते त्वार्यः कोपो नेत्रेण गम्यते

abhyāsādhdāryate vidyā kulaṃ śīlena dhāryate | guṇena jñāyate tvāryaḥ kopo netreṇa gamyate

In plain words: Learning is held by practice; a family by good conduct; a noble person is known by qualities; anger is known by the eyes.