bhadram bhadram kritam maunam kokilairjaladagame |
vaktaro darduro yatra tatra maunam samacharet ||

भद्रं भद्रं कृतं मौनं कोकिलैर्जलदागमे |
वक्तारो दर्दुरो यत्र तत्र मौनं समाचरेत् ||

The silence of the wise is wise.
Like cuckoos under rainy skies,
Where frogs are croaking off their lungs,
It’s best for us to hold our tongues.

kakah krishnah pikah krishnah ko bheda pikakakayoh |
vasantasamaye prapte kakah kakah pikah pikah ||

काकः कृष्णः पिकः कृष्णः को भेद पिककाकयोः |
वसन्तसमये प्राप्ते काकः काकः पिकः पिकः ||

The cuckoo’s black and so’s the crow.
The birds are identical, no?
When lovely spring is here, one knows:
The cuckoo coos, the crow just crows.

sarpa durjanayormadhye varam sarpo na durjanah |
sarpam danshati kalena durjanastu pade pade ||

सर्प दुर्जनयोर्मध्ये वरं सर्पो न दुर्जनः |
सर्पं दंशति कालेन दुर्जनस्तु पदे पदे ||

Between a villain and a snake
The snake is better for your sake.
The snake may bite you once a while.
The villain bites you every mile.