What is a burden for those who are clever?
What is too distant for those who endeavor?
Where is too foreign for well-rounded folk?
Who is a stranger to people who joke?

ko hi bharah samarthanam kim duram vyavasayinam |
ko videshah suvidyanam kah parah priyavadinam ||

The common ones won't start a venture;
They fear a hard and tough adventure.
The mediocre start but see
A sign of trouble, stop and flee.

The best are those who start and then,
When hardship strikes, and strikes again,
And a thousand hurts and hurdles hit,
Will never waver, never quit.

prarabhyate na khalu vighna-bhayena nichaih
prarabhya vighna-vihata viramanti madhyah |
vighnaih sahasra-gunitair api hanyamanah
prarabdham uttama-guna na parityajanti ||

To succeed you must try and try
And not just dream and wish and sigh.
A lion's prey won't go exploring
Within his mouth while he is snoring.

udyamena hi sidhyanti karyani na manorathaih |
na hi suptasya sinhasya pravishanti mukhe mrigah ||