Subhashitams from Nitishatakam
This source contributes 5 subhashitams across 6 themes.
Latest update: Oct 1, 2026
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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.
भवन्ति नम्रास्तरवः फलोद्गमैर्नवाम्बुभिर्दूरविलम्बिनो घनाः। अनुद्धताः सत्पुरुषाः समृद्धिभिः स्वभाव एवैष परोपकारिणाम्॥
bhavanti namrāstaravaḥ phalodgamair navāmbubhir dūravilambino ghanāḥ । anuddhatāḥ satpuruṣāḥ samṛddhibhiḥ svabhāva evaiṣa paropakāriṇām ॥
A Nitishatakam verse comparing fruit-laden trees and rain-filled clouds to noble people who become humbler in prosperity.
जयन्ति ते सुकृतिनो रससिद्धाः कवीश्वराः। नास्ति येषां यशःकाये जरामरणजं भयम्॥
jayanti te sukṛtino rasasiddhāḥ kavīśvarāḥ । nāsti yeṣāṃ yaśaḥkāye jarāmaraṇajaṃ bhayam ॥
A verse from Bhartrhari's Nitishatakam on master poets whose body of fame is untouched by old age and death.
पद्माकरं दिनकरो विकचीकरोति चन्द्रो विकासयति कैरवचक्रवालम्। नाभ्यर्थितो जलधरोऽपि जलं ददाति सन्तः स्वयं परहितेषु कृताभियोगाः॥
padmākaraṁ dinakaro vikacīkaroti candro vikāsayati kairavacakravālam । nābhyarthito jaladharo’pi jalaṁ dadāti santaḥ svayaṁ parahiteṣu kṛtābhiyogāḥ ॥
A classic verse comparing the spontaneous actions of the sun, moon, and clouds to the innate benevolence of noble people who do good to others without being asked.
एकेनापि हि शूरेण पादाक्रान्तं महीतलम्। क्रियते भास्करेणेव स्फारस्फुरिततेजसा॥
ekenāpi hi śūreṇa pādākrāntaṃ mahītalam । kriyate bhāskareṇeva sphārasphuritetejasā ॥
A single brave person can conquer the entire earth by the force of their valor, just as the sun alone illuminates the whole world with its brilliant radiance.