अनुत्थाने ध्रुवो नाशः प्राप्तस्यानागतस्य च। प्राप्यते फलमुत्थानाल्लभते चार्थसम्पदम्॥
anutthāne dhruvo nāśaḥ prāptasyānāgatasya ca । prāpyate phalam utthānāl labhate cārthasampadam ॥
Meaning of Anutthāne Dhruvo Nāśaḥ Prāptasyānāgatasya
A person who does not make an effort is bound to decline. Whatever he has already attained is also lost, and whatever is yet to be attained is never achieved. On the other hand, the one who strives with determination attains wealth, prosperity, and success in life.
Word by word
- अनुत्थानेanutthāne
in the absence of exertion
अन् + उद् + √स्था
- ध्रुवःdhruvaḥ
certain
√ध्रु
- नाशःnāśaḥ
destruction
√नश्
- प्राप्तस्यprāptasya
of what has been gained
प्र + √आप्
- अनागतस्यanāgatasya
of what has not yet come
अन् + आ + √गम्
- चca
and
- प्राप्यतेprāpyate
is obtained
प्र + √आप्
- फलम्phalam
the fruit
फल
- उत्थानात्utthānāt
from exertion
उद् + √स्था
- लभतेlabhate
one gains
√लभ्
- अर्थसम्पदम्arthasampadam
abundance of wealth
अर्थ + सम् + √पद्
Commentary
This powerful verse from Kautilya's Arthashastra emphasizes the law of cause and effect in life. It warns that inaction leads to inevitable decline—not only are new opportunities lost, but existing achievements also erode over time. Conversely, it affirms that those who engage in consistent effort and striving (Utthana) are the ones who achieve material prosperity and life success. The verse underscores a fundamental principle: stagnation is not neutral; without effort, one naturally slides backward. The verse closes Kautilya's chapter on the king's own conduct, where the day and night are divided into eighths and each part assigned its work. Read there, it is not a general remark about effort but the justification for a timetable. Dhruvaḥ, certain, is placed first in the line for emphasis, and the loss it governs is twofold: what has already been gained goes, and what has not yet come never arrives.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Arthashastra
View source pageराज्ञो हि व्रतमुत्थानं यज्ञः कार्यानुशासनम्। दक्षिणा वृत्तिसाम्यं च दीक्षितस्याभिषेचनम्॥
rājño hi vratamutthānaṁ yajñaḥ kāryānuśāsanam । dakṣiṇā vṛttisāmyaṁ ca dīkṣitasyābhiṣecanam ॥
A profound verse from Kautilya's Arthashastra describing the true duties and sacred resolve of a king or public representative.
प्रजासुखे सुखं राज्ञः प्रजानां च हिते हितम्। नात्मप्रियं प्रियं राज्ञः प्रजानां तु प्रियं प्रियम्॥
prajāsukhe sukhaṁ rājñaḥ prajānāṁ ca hite hitam । nātmapriyaṁ priyaṁ rājñaḥ prajānāṁ tu priyaṁ priyam ॥
A foundational principle of governance from Kautilya's Arthashastra, stating that a leader's true happiness is found in the welfare of the people.
More subhashitams on Perseverance
View topic pageनित्यं 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.
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.
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.