अल्पानामपि वस्तूनां संहतिः कार्यसाधिका। तृणैर्गुणत्वमापन्नैर्बध्यन्ते मत्तदन्तिनः॥
alpanām api vastūnāṁ saṃhatiḥ kārya-sādhikā । tṛṇair guṇatvam āpannair badhyante mattadantinaḥ ॥
Meaning of Alpanām Api Vastūnāṁ Saṃhatiḥ
Even small things, when put together in a well planned manner, can do a great work. A rope made up of hay sticks can even entangle powerful elephants.
Word by word
- अल्पानाम्alpānām
of small things
अल्प
- अपिapi
even
- वस्तूनाम्vastūnām
of things
√वस्
- संहतिःsaṁhatiḥ
union, joining
सम् + √हन्
- कार्यसाधिकाkāryasādhikā
accomplishes the task
√कृ + √साध्
- तृणैःtṛṇaiḥ
by blades of grass
तृण
- गुणत्वम्guṇatvam
the state of being a strand
गुण
guṇa means both strand and quality; the verse takes both.
- आपन्नैःāpannaiḥ
having attained
आ + √पद्
- बध्यन्तेbadhyante
are bound
√बन्ध्
- मत्तदन्तिनःmattadantinaḥ
maddened elephants
मत्त + दन्तिन्
Commentary
This classic subhashita from the Hitopadesha uses a vivid metaphor to explain the power of unity. A single blade of grass is fragile and easily broken, but when many such blades are woven together into a rope, they gain the strength to bind even a powerful, intoxicated elephant. It teaches that collective effort and organization can achieve goals that are impossible for individuals acting alone, emphasizing that no contribution is too small when part of a unified whole. The second line turns on a pun the image conceals: guṇa means both a strand of a rope and a quality, so the grasses that have attained guṇatva have become thread and acquired worth in the same word. Its position adds to it — Mitralabha, the Hitopadesha's book on winning friends, is about forming alliances, so the rope is not merely an illustration of unity but an argument for seeking it.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Hitopadesha
View source pageशुचित्वं 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.
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.
स्वाधीनैव समृद्धिर्जनोपजीव्यत्वमुच्छ्रयश्छाया। सत्पुंसो मरुभूरिव जीवनमात्रं समाशास्यम्॥
svādhīnaiva samṛddhir janopajīvyatvam ucchrayaś chāyā । satpuṃso marubhūr iva jīvanamātraṁ samāśāsyam ॥
For a good person, as for a tree standing in the desert, self-reliant abundance, support for others, height and shade come naturally, so only that life itself need be wished for.
More subhashitams on Unity
View topic pageदेव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatamidaṃ jagadātmaśaktyā niśśeṣadevagaṇaśaktisamūhamūrtyā । tāmambikāmakhiladevamaharṣipūjyāṃ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A prayer from Devi Mahatmyam to Ambika, who pervades the world and embodies all divine powers, asking for blessings for everyone.
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.
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.