What is the source of this Sanskrit verse?

This subhashitam is from Subhashitam.

What are the key themes of this verse?

The key themes of this subhashitam are: wordplay, learning, virtue, character.

All Subhashitams

साक्षराः विपरीताश्चेत्

Subhashitam

साक्षराः विपरीताश्चेत् राक्षसा एव केवलम् । सरसो विपरीतश्चेत् सरसत्वं न मुञ्चति ॥

साक्षराःthe literate

विपरीताःreversed

राक्षसाःdemons

सरसःcultured/refined

सरसत्वम्quality of being refined

नnot

मुञ्चतिleaves / releases

If the word 'sakshara' (literate) is read backwards, it becomes 'rakshasa' (demon). But 'sarasa' (cultured), read backwards, still remains 'sarasa': a truly cultured person never loses that quality.

wordplaylearningvirtuecharacter

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काव्यशास्त्रविनोदेनAn intelligent person spends time in the pursuit of art, science, and philosophy. An unintelligent person wastes time in sleep, disputes, or bad habits.Subhashitam
को हि भारः समर्थानांWhat is heavy for the capable? What is distant for the industrious? What is foreign for the learned? Who is a stranger to those who speak sweetly?Chanakya Niti
आचार्यात् पादमादत्तेA quarter of knowledge is acquired from the teacher, a quarter from one's own intelligence, a quarter from fellow seekers, and the remaining quarter is taught by time in due course.Āpastamba Dharma Sūtra
विद्या विवादाय धनं मदायA wicked person uses knowledge for arguments, wealth for arrogance, and power to torment others. The opposite is true of a saintly person: knowledge for good, wealth for charity, and power for protection.Subhashitam

साक्षराः विपरीताश्चेत्

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