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.

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.

ushtranam vivaheshu gitam gayanti gardabhah |
parasparam prashansanti aho rupam aho dhvanih ||

उष्ट्राणां विवाहेषु गीतं गायन्ति गर्दभाः |
परस्परं प्रशंसन्ति अहो रूपम् अहो ध्वनिः ||

At the camel’s wedding party,
The donkey sings, aloud and hearty.
They praise each other all night long:
“O what a beauty!” “What a song!”