Indian Scriptures

Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilisation and sent whole nations to despair. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.

— Swami Vivekananda (Response to Welcome, 1893) · Vivekananda's Fire

An object is perceived, or not perceived, according as the mind is, or is not, tinged with the colour of the object.

— Yoga Sutra 4.17, tr. Charles Johnston · Yoga Sutra Daily

उद्धरेदात्मनाऽऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्। आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः।।6.5।। uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ (A man) should elevate his self by his self; he should not debase his self, for even (a man's) own self is his friend, (a man's) own self is also his enemy.

Bhagavad Gita 6.5 · Krishna Speaks

A wise man should control speech by mind, mind by intellect, intellect by the great Atman, and that by the Peaceful One (the Paramatman or Supreme Self).

— Katha-Upanishad Part Third XIII, tr. Swami Paramananda · Upanishad Daily

I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth.

— Swami Vivekananda (Response to Welcome, 1893) · Vivekananda's Fire

Hate is the resting in the sense of pain.

— Yoga Sutra 2.8, tr. Charles Johnston · Yoga Sutra Daily

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते। तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्।।9.22।। ananyāśh chintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate teṣhāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣhemaṁ vahāmyaham To those men who worship me, meditating on me and on no one else, and who are constantly devoted, I give new gifts and preserve what is acquired by them.

Bhagavad Gita 9.22 · Krishna Speaks

These cows have drunk water, eaten grass and given milk for the last time, and their senses have lost all vigour. He who gives these undoubtedly goes to joyless realms.

— Katha-Upanishad Part First III, tr. Swami Paramananda · Upanishad Daily

As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.

— Swami Vivekananda (Response to Welcome, 1893) · Vivekananda's Fire

By perfectly concentrated Meditation on the fixed pole-star comes a knowledge of the motions of the stars.

— Yoga Sutra 3.28, tr. Charles Johnston · Yoga Sutra Daily

His form is not to be seen. No one can see Him with the eye. He is perceived by the heart, by the intellect and by the mind. They who know this become immortal.

— Katha-Upanishad Part Sixth IX, tr. Swami Paramananda · Upanishad Daily

सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः।।18.66।। sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śharaṇaṁ vraja ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣhayiṣhyāmi mā śhuchaḥ Forsaking all duties, come to me as (your) sole refuge. I will release you from all sins. Be not grieved.

Bhagavad Gita 18.66 · Krishna Speaks

Sisters and Brothers of America, it fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions; and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

— Swami Vivekananda (Response to Welcome, 1893) · Vivekananda's Fire

Ceasing from self-indulgence is conscious mastery over the thirst for sensuous pleasure here or hereafter.

— Yoga Sutra 1.15, tr. Charles Johnston · Yoga Sutra Daily

This is the best Support, This is the highest Support; he who knows this Support is glorified in the world of Brahman.

— Katha-Upanishad Part Second XVII, tr. Swami Paramananda · Upanishad Daily

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः। अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे।।2.20।। na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śharīre It is not born, nor does it ever die, nor, having existed, does it exist no more. Unborn, everlasting, unchangeable, and primeval, it is not killed when the body is killed.

Bhagavad Gita 2.20 · Krishna Speaks

Through purity a withdrawal from one’s own bodily life, a ceasing from infatuation with the bodily life of others.

— Yoga Sutra 2.40, tr. Charles Johnston · Yoga Sutra Daily

He who knows this (wisdom of the Upanishad), having been cleansed of all sin, becomes established in the blissful, eternal and highest abode of Brahman, in the highest abode of Brahman.

— Kena-Upanishad Part fourth IX, tr. Swami Paramananda · Upanishad Daily

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्। धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय संभवामि युगे युगे।।4.8।। paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśhāya cha duṣhkṛitām dharma-sansthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge I am born age after age, for the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil-doers, and the establishment of piety.

Bhagavad Gita 4.8 · Krishna Speaks

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदाऽऽत्मानं सृजाम्यहम्।।4.7।। yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham Whensoever, O descendant of Bharata! piety languishes, and impiety is in the ascendant, I create myself.

Bhagavad Gita 4.7 · Krishna Speaks

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि।।2.47।। karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stvakarmaṇi Your business is with action alone; not by any means with fruit. Let not the fruit of action be your motive (to action). Let not your attachment be (fixed) on inaction.

Bhagavad Gita 2.47 · Krishna Speaks

बारिश के दिन छत से एक बाल्टी भर पानी उतारो — बचाना बड़ा काम नहीं, रोज़ का एक कतरा है। जो आज रखा, कल वही कंधे पर रखेगा।

Vivekananda's Fire