Satyameva Jayate
Sanskrit
सत्यमेव जयते नानृतम्॥
Transliteration
Satyameva Jayate Naanritam.
Meaning
Truth alone triumphs, never falsehood. From the Mundaka Upanishad, this half-verse is the national motto of India.
Sanskrit Wisdom
Subhashita Sangrah
"Subhashita" means "well-spoken" — short Sanskrit verses that pack deep observations on truth, dharma, learning, effort and conduct into a couplet or two. Each one comes with the Sanskrit, an IAST transliteration to help with pronunciation, and a plain-language meaning.
Truth & Dharma
Verses on truth, non-violence, and following the path of dharma.
Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah
Sanskrit
अहिंसा परमो धर्मः॥
Transliteration
Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah.
Meaning
Non-violence is the highest dharma — refraining from causing harm is the greatest duty.
Paropakaraya Sataam Vibhootayah
Sanskrit
परोपकाराय सतां विभूतयः॥
Transliteration
Paropakaraya Sataam Vibhootayah.
Meaning
The wealth and strength of the noble exist only to serve others.
Na Matuh Param Daivatam
Sanskrit
न मातुः परं दैवतम्॥
Transliteration
Na Maatuh Param Daivatam.
Meaning
There is no god greater than mother.
Knowledge & Learning
Verses on the value of learning, the power of knowledge, and the endless nature of study.
Vidya Dadati Vinayam
Sanskrit
विद्या ददाति विनयं, विनयाद् याति पात्रताम्। पात्रत्वाद् धनमाप्नोति, धनाद्धर्मस्ततः सुखम्॥
Transliteration
Vidya Dadaati Vinayam, Vinayaad Yaati Paatrataam, Paatratvaad Dhanam-Aapnoti, Dhanaad-Dharmastatah Sukham.
Meaning
Learning gives rise to humility; humility, to worthiness; worthiness, to wealth; wealth, to right action; and right action, to lasting happiness.
Naasti Vidya Samam Chakshuh
Sanskrit
नास्ति विद्यासमं चक्षुर्नास्ति सत्यसमं तपः। नास्ति रागसमं दुःखं नास्ति त्यागसमं सुखम्॥
Transliteration
Naasti Vidya-Samam Chakshur-Naasti Satya-Samam Tapah, Naasti Raaga-Samam Dukham Naasti Tyaga-Samam Sukham.
Meaning
There is no eye like knowledge, no austerity like truth, no sorrow like attachment, and no happiness like renunciation.
Videsheshu Dhanam Vidya
Sanskrit
विदेशेषु धनं विद्या, व्यसनेषु धनं मतिः। परलोके धनं धर्मः, शीलं सर्वत्र वै धनम्॥
Transliteration
Videsheshu-Dhanam-Vidya, Vyasaneshu-Dhanam-Matih, Paraloke-Dhanam-Dharmah, Sheelam-Sarvatra-Vai-Dhanam.
Meaning
In a foreign land, knowledge is your wealth; in a crisis, clear thinking is wealth; in the next life, dharma is wealth; and everywhere, character is the truest wealth.
Swadeshe Pujyate Raja
Sanskrit
स्वदेशे पूज्यते राजा, विद्वान् सर्वत्र पूज्यते॥
Transliteration
Swadeshe Pujyate Raja, Vidvaan Sarvatra Pujyate.
Meaning
A king is honoured only within his own country, but a learned person is honoured everywhere.
Effort & Diligence
Verses praising hard work, courage and steady resolve.
Alasasya Kuto Vidya
Sanskrit
अलसस्य कुतो विद्या, अविद्यस्य कुतो धनम्। अधनस्य कुतो मित्रं, अमित्रस्य कुतः सुखम्॥
Transliteration
Alasasya Kuto Vidya, Avidyasya Kuto Dhanam, Adhanasya Kuto Mitram, Amitrasya Kutah Sukham.
Meaning
How can the lazy gain knowledge? How can the unlearned gain wealth? How can the poor keep friends? How can the friendless find happiness?
Udhyam, Sahas, Satya (Where Effort Dwells)
Sanskrit
उद्यम साहस सत्य नय संस्कृति कला विलास। सरस्वती लक्ष्मी तहाँ अविचल करें निवास॥
Transliteration
Udhyam Sahas Satya Naya, Samskrit Kala Vilas, Saraswati Lakshmi Tahan, Avichala Kare Niwas.
Meaning
Where hard work, courage, truth, culture and art live as guiding values, Saraswati and Lakshmi both settle in and stay.
Udyoginam Purusha Simham
Sanskrit
उद्योगिनं पुरुषसिंहमुपैति लक्ष्मीः॥
Transliteration
Udyoginam Purusha-Simham-Upaiti Lakshmih.
Meaning
Lakshmi comes only to the lion-hearted one who works hard.
Shrama Eva Paro Yajnah
Sanskrit
श्रम एव परो यज्ञः, श्रम एव परं तपः॥
Transliteration
Shrama Eva Paro Yajnah, Shrama Eva Param Tapah.
Meaning
Honest hard work is itself the greatest sacrifice, and the greatest austerity.
Jalavindu Nipaatena
Sanskrit
जलबिन्दुनिपातेन क्रमशः पूर्यते घटः॥
Transliteration
Jala-Vindu-Nipaatena Kramashah Pooryate Ghatah.
Meaning
Drop by drop, a pot fills up. Small, steady effort adds up to great results.
Unity & Fellowship
"Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" and other verses on human oneness.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
Sanskrit
अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम्। उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्॥
Transliteration
Ayam Nijah Paro Veti, Ganana Laghu-Chetasaam, Udaara-Charitaanaam Tu, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
Meaning
"This one is mine, that one is a stranger" — such thinking belongs to the small-hearted. For those of noble character, the whole world is one family.
Sangachhadhwam Samvadadhwam
Sanskrit
सं गच्छध्वं सं वदध्वं सं वो मनांसि जानताम्। देवा भागं यथा पूर्वे संजानाना उपासते॥
Transliteration
Sam Gachhadhwam Sam Vadadhwam Sam Vo Manaamsi Jaanataam, Deva Bhaagam Yathaa Poorve Sanjaanaanaa Upaasate.
Meaning
Walk together, speak together, let your minds be of one accord — as the ancient gods, in unity, accepted their share. From the closing hymn of the Rig Veda, a call to collective harmony.
Speech & Conduct
Verses on sweet speech, upright conduct, and grace in behaviour.
Satyam Bruyat Priyam Bruyat
Sanskrit
सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात्, न ब्रूयात् सत्यमप्रियम्। प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयात्, एष धर्मः सनातनः॥
Transliteration
Satyam Bruyat Priyam Bruyat, Na Bruyat Satyam-Apriyam, Priyam Cha Naanritam Bruyat, Esha Dharmah Sanatanah.
Meaning
Speak the truth; speak what is pleasant; but do not speak an unpleasant truth. Nor speak what is pleasant if it is false. This is the eternal dharma.
Priya Vakya Pradaanena
Sanskrit
प्रियवाक्य प्रदानेन सर्वे तुष्यन्ति जन्तवः। तस्मात् तदेव वक्तव्यं, वचने का दरिद्रता॥
Transliteration
Priya-Vaakya-Pradaanena Sarve Tushyanti Jantavah, Tasmaat Tadeva Vaktavyam, Vachane Kaa Daridrataa.
Meaning
Kind words please everyone, so speak kindly. Why be stingy with speech?
Ati Sarvatra Varjayet
Sanskrit
अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्॥
Transliteration
Ati Sarvatra Varjayet.
Meaning
Avoid excess in everything. Balance is the key to a good life.
Wealth & Virtue
Verses on true wealth, humility, and the primacy of virtue.
Narasyabharanam Rupam
Sanskrit
नरस्याभरणं रूपं, रूपस्याभरणं गुणः। गुणस्याभरणं ज्ञानं, ज्ञानस्याभरणं क्षमा॥
Transliteration
Narasyabharanam Roopam, Roopasyabharanam Gunah, Gunasyabharanam Jnanam, Jnanasyabharanam Kshamaa.
Meaning
A person's adornment is their appearance; appearance is adorned by virtue; virtue by knowledge; and knowledge, in turn, by the ability to forgive.
Mano Hi Mahataam Dhanam
Sanskrit
मानो हि महतां धनम्॥
Transliteration
Mano Hi Mahataam Dhanam.
Meaning
Self-respect is the greatest wealth of the truly noble.
Kokilanam Swaro Rupam
Sanskrit
कोकिलानां स्वरो रूपं, स्त्रीणां रूपं पतिव्रता। विद्या रूपं कुरूपाणां, साधूनां च तथा क्षमा॥
Transliteration
Kokilanam Swaro Roopam, Streenam Roopam Pativrataa, Vidya Roopam Kuroopaanaam, Saadhoonaam Cha Tathaa Kshamaa.
Meaning
The koel's beauty is in its voice; a spouse's beauty is in loyalty; a plain-looking person's beauty is in learning; and a saint's beauty is in forgiveness.
Common questions
What are subhashitas? +
Subhashitas are short Sanskrit verses, usually just a couplet, that carry observations on life, ethics, learning and conduct. They come not from any single text but from many — Hitopadesha, Panchatantra, the Mahabharata, various Puranas and later collections. In Indian schools, subhashitas are among the first Sanskrit verses children learn.
Where does "Satyameva Jayate" come from? +
"Satyameva Jayate" is a half-verse from the Mundaka Upanishad (3.1.6). It is the national motto of India and appears in Devanagari on the country's national emblem.
What does "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" mean? +
"Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" means "the whole earth is one family". The verse comes from the Maha Upanishad and also appears in the Mahabharata and Hitopadesha, contrasting narrow-minded distinctions of "mine and yours" with the noble view that all humanity is kin.
Are subhashitas still relevant today? +
Yes — their advice (speak the truth, but not needlessly harsh truths; let learning bring humility; avoid laziness) reads as sharply today as it did a thousand years ago. Many subhashitas are still quoted in speeches, school prayers, and public inscriptions.
Know your kundli
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