Subhashitams from Hitopadesha
This source contributes 7 subhashitams across 6 themes.
Latest update: Oct 5, 2026
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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.
आत्मोदयः परज्यानिर्द्वयं नीतिरितीयती। तदूरीकृत्य कृतिभिर्वाचस्पत्यं प्रतायते॥
ātmodayaḥ parajānir dvayaṁ nītir itīyatī । tadūrīkṛtya kṛtibhir vācaspatyaṁ pratāyate ॥
Magha's Shishupalavadha defines statecraft through two aims: one’s own advancement and the adversary’s decline.
जलबिन्दुनिपातेन क्रमशः पूर्यते घटः। स हेतुः सर्वविद्यानां धर्मस्य च धनस्य च॥
jalabindunipātena kramaśaḥ pūryate ghaṭaḥ । sa hetuḥ sarvavidyānāṁ dharmasya ca dhanasya ca ॥
A classic nīti verse on steady accumulation: small, regular efforts gradually build knowledge, dharma, and prosperity just as a pot fills one drop at a time.
को हि भारः समर्थानां किं दूरं व्यवसायिनाम्। को विदेशः सुविद्यानां कः परः प्रियवादिनाम्॥
ko hi bhāraḥ samarthānāṁ kiṁ dūraṁ vyavasāyinām । ko videśaḥ suvidyānāṁ kaḥ paraḥ priyavādinām ॥
A timeless verse highlighting how skill, hard work, education, and soft speech dissolve all barriers to success and belonging.
अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम्। उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्॥
ayaṁ nijaḥ paro veti gaṇanā laghucetasām । udāracaritānāṁ tu vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam ॥
Small minds divide people into their own and others, while the generous-hearted regard the whole world as one family.
सिद्धिः साध्ये सतामस्तु प्रसादात्तस्य धूर्जटेः। जाह्नवीफेनलेखेव यन्मूर्ध्नि शशिनः कला॥
siddhiḥ sādhye satām astu prasādāt tasya dhūrjaṭeḥ । jāhnavī-phena-lekheva yan-mūrdhni śaśinaḥ kalā ॥
May the undertakings of the virtuous reach fulfillment through the grace of Lord Shiva, on whose head the crescent moon shines like the foam of the Ganga.
अल्पानामपि वस्तूनां संहतिः कार्यसाधिका। तृणैर्गुणत्वमापन्नैर्बध्यन्ते मत्तदन्तिनः॥
alpanām api vastūnāṁ saṃhatiḥ kārya-sādhikā । tṛṇair guṇatvam āpannair badhyante mattadantinaḥ ॥
Small and fragile things, when carefully joined, can accomplish great work—just as a rope of grass can restrain an elephant.