Subhashitams

Sanskrit Subhashitams with Meaning

A curated collection of subhashitams shared by PM Narendra Modi, with meanings in English and Hindi.
Kathasaritsagara

वत्सराजोऽपि तं प्राप्तं प्रदत्तोपायनं नृपम्। प्रीत्या सम्मानयामास शूरा हि प्रणतिप्रियाः॥

vatsarājo 'pi taṃ prāptaṃ pradattopāyanaṃ nṛpam । prītyā sammānayāmāsa śūrā hi praṇatipriyāḥ ॥

Vatsaraja honours a king who comes with gifts, illustrating the brave person's regard for respectful homage.

CourageHumilityRespect
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Latest Subhashitams

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Oct 9, 2026
Kathasaritsagara

वत्सराजोऽपि तं प्राप्तं प्रदत्तोपायनं नृपम्। प्रीत्या सम्मानयामास शूरा हि प्रणतिप्रियाः॥

vatsarājo 'pi taṃ prāptaṃ pradattopāyanaṃ nṛpam । prītyā sammānayāmāsa śūrā hi praṇatipriyāḥ ॥

Vatsaraja honours a king who comes with gifts, illustrating the brave person's regard for respectful homage.

CourageHumilityRespect
Oct 8, 2026

भस्मीकृतस्वार्थसौख्यपरिचर्चितविग्रहाः। स्वराज्ययोगनिर्मग्ना धन्यास्ते वीरयोगिनः॥

bhasmīkṛtasvārthasaukhyaparicarcitavigrahāḥ । svarājyayoganirmagnā dhanyās te vīrayoginaḥ ॥

The verse praises heroic practitioners who renounce personal comforts and devote themselves fully to self-rule.

IndependenceCourageSelfless Service
Oct 7, 2026
Mahabharata

नित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥

nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥

Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.

DutyKarmaSuccess
Oct 6, 2026
Samarangana-sutradhara

ज्ञानवांश्च तथा वाग्मी कर्मस्वपि च निष्ठितः। एवं युक्तोऽपि न श्रेयान् यदि शीलविवर्जितः॥

jñānavāṃśca tathā vāgmī karmasvapi ca niṣṭhitaḥ । evaṃ yukto'pi na śreyān yadi śīlavivarjitaḥ ॥

Knowledge, eloquence, and skill in work do not make a person worthy of esteem if good character is absent.

KnowledgeCapabilityCharacterEthics
Oct 5, 2026
Hitopadesha

शुचित्वं त्यागिता शौर्यं सामान्यं सुखदुःखयोः। दाक्षिण्यं चानुरक्तिश्च सत्यता च सुहृद्गुणाः॥

śucitvaṃ tyāgitā śauryaṃ sāmānyaṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ । dākṣiṇyaṃ cānuraktiśca satyatā ca suhṛdguṇāḥ ॥

Purity, generosity, courage, steadiness in joy and sorrow, courtesy, affection, and truthfulness are the qualities of a true friend.

CharacterEthicsCourage
Oct 2, 2026
Bhagavad Gita

अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥

adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca । nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥

The Bhagavad Gita describes a character free from hatred and ego, friendly to all beings and steady in joy and sorrow.

CharacterHumilityHarmony
Oct 1, 2026
Nitishatakam

रत्नैर्महाब्धेस्तुतुषुर्न देवा न भेजिरे भीमविषेण भीतिम्। सुधां विना न प्रययुर्विरामं न निश्चितार्थाद्विरमन्ति धीराः॥

ratnair mahābdhes tutuṣur na devā na bhejire bhīmaviṣeṇa bhītim । sudhāṃ vinā na prayayur virāmaṃ na niścitārthād viramanti dhīrāḥ ॥

Bhartrhari recalls the churning of the ocean to show that resolute people neither settle for partial gains nor abandon their aim when danger appears.

PerseveranceCourage
Sep 30, 2026
Bhagavad Gita

स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥

sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.

KarmaDutySuccess
Sep 29, 2026
Subhashita Ratna Bhandagara

उद्यमः साहसं धैर्यं बुद्धिः शक्तिः पराक्रमः। षडेते यत्र वर्तन्ते तत्र दैवं सहायकृत्॥

udyamaḥ sāhasaṃ dhairyaṃ buddhiḥ śaktiḥ parākramaḥ । ṣaḍete yatra vartante tatra daivaṃ sahāyakṛt ॥

Effort, courage, patience, intelligence, strength, and valor prepare a person to receive the help of providence.

PerseveranceCourageKnowledgePower
Sep 28, 2026
Charaka Samhita

सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्॥

sukhopaviṣṭās te tatra puṇyāṃ cakruḥ kathām imām । dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām ārogyaṃ mūlam uttamam ॥

Charaka Samhita presents good health as the foremost foundation for pursuing dharma, prosperity, desire and liberation.

HealthDharmaWealthSpirituality
Sep 25, 2026
Yoga Vasistha

यथा यथा प्रयत्नः स्याद्भवेदाशु फलं तथा। इति पौरुषमेवास्ति दैवमस्तु तदेव च॥

yathā yathā prayatnaḥ syād bhaved āśu phalaṃ tathā । iti pauruṣam evāsti daivam astu tad eva ca ॥

A Yoga Vasistha verse that links the fruit of an undertaking to human effort and identifies such effort with what people call destiny.

PerseveranceSuccess
Sep 24, 2026
Bhagavad Gita

अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥

anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat । svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ॥

The Bhagavad Gita describes truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and non-agitating words, together with regular study, as austerity of speech.

EthicsPeaceKnowledgeDiscipline

Curated Shloka Selections

Begin with editor-selected Sanskrit shlokas for common questions and moments in life, then open each verse for its complete meaning and source.
Sanskrit Shlokas with Meaning
A carefully selected introduction to Sanskrit wisdom, with Devanagari text, IAST transliteration, English and Hindi meanings, sources, and full explanations.
Motivational Sanskrit Shlokas
Sanskrit verses on enthusiasm, courage, discipline, resilience, and sustained effort, with meanings and practical context.
Sanskrit Shlokas for Students
Verses for students on learning, attentive listening, teachers, reasoning, memory, discipline, and patient progress.
Sanskrit Quotes on Life
Sanskrit shlokas on thoughtful action, truth, character, relationships, self-command, and the everyday choices that shape a good life.
Sanskrit Shlokas for Kids
Short, easy Sanskrit shlokas for children, chosen for clear images and simple ideas, with Devanagari, transliteration, and meanings in English and Hindi.
Short Sanskrit Shlokas with Meaning
The most compact verses in the collection—two lines each, quickly memorised, with Devanagari, transliteration, and full meanings in English and Hindi.
Sanskrit Shlokas on Karma
Verses on action and its fruit—what effort produces, why inaction costs, and how thought, speech, and deed together shape a life.
Sanskrit Shlokas on Vidya
Verses on knowledge itself—what learning is for, what marks a real teacher, and the difference between information and understanding.

Understand Sanskrit Wisdom

Read clear introductions to the language and literary ideas behind the collection.
What Is a Subhashita?
A subhashita is a well-expressed, memorable Sanskrit saying—usually a self-contained verse that conveys wisdom, advice, an observation, or a complete idea.
Shloka vs Subhashita: What Is the Difference?
A shloka is primarily a Sanskrit verse or metrical stanza; a subhashita is a well-expressed, memorable saying. Many subhashitas are shlokas, but the terms are not identical.

Explore by Topic

Browse the strongest themes across the collection, from wisdom and dharma to leadership and peace.
Perseverance
View 48 subhashitams with meanings
Discipline
View 44 subhashitams with meanings
Character
View 43 subhashitams with meanings
Spirituality
View 43 subhashitams with meanings
Wisdom
View 43 subhashitams with meanings
Courage
View 40 subhashitams with meanings

Explore by Source

Browse the texts and traditions behind the verses, from Vedic hymns to niti literature.
Mahabharata
View 44 subhashitams with meanings
Subhashita Ratna Bhandagara
View 31 subhashitams with meanings
Mahasubhashitasamgraha
View 24 subhashitams with meanings
Rigveda
View 20 subhashitams with meanings
Vidura Niti
View 18 subhashitams with meanings
Atharvaveda
View 16 subhashitams with meanings