Ashtau Gunah Purusham - Eight Qualities That Illuminate a Person
अष्टौ गुणाः पुरुषं दीपयन्ति प्रज्ञा सुशीलत्वदमौ श्रुतं च। पराक्रमश्च बहुभाषिता च दानं यथाशक्ति कृतज्ञता च॥
aṣṭau guṇāḥ puruṣaṁ dīpayanti prajñā suśīlatva-damau śrutaṁ ca । parākramaś ca bahubhāṣitā ca dānaṁ yathāśakti kṛtajñatā ca ॥
Meaning of Aṣṭau Guṇāḥ Puruṣaṁ Dīpayanti
These eight qualities brighten a person's life. Wisdom shows him the right path. Good conduct keeps his character pure, and self-control keeps him disciplined. Knowledge gives him understanding, courage helps him stand firm in difficult situations, and skillful speech earns him respect in society. Giving according to one's ability and being grateful for kindness make a person complete.
Word by word
- अष्टौaṣṭau
eight
अष्टन्
- गुणाःguṇāḥ
qualities
गुण
- पुरुषम्puruṣam
a person
पुरुष
- दीपयन्तिdīpayanti
illuminate
√दीप्
- प्रज्ञाprajñā
wisdom
प्र + √ज्ञा
- सुशीलत्वदमौsuśīlatvadamau
good character and self-restraint
सु + शील + √दम्
- श्रुतम्śrutam
learning
√श्रु
- पराक्रमःparākramaḥ
valour
परा + √क्रम्
- बहुभाषिताbahubhāṣitā
talkativeness, speaking much
बहु + √भाष्
- दानम्dānam
giving
√दा
- यथाशक्तिyathāśakti
according to capacity
यथा + शक्ति
- कृतज्ञताkṛtajñatā
gratitude
√कृ + √ज्ञा
Commentary
The verse says that eight qualities dīpayanti, or illuminate and adorn, a person. In the supplied version, prajñā, suśīlatva, dama, śrutam, parākrama, dānaṁ yathāśakti, and kṛtajñatā clearly name wisdom, good character, self-restraint, learning, courage, giving within one's means, and gratitude. Its bahubhāṣitā literally means talkativeness or speaking much; it does not mean skillful speech. The established Mahabharata text instead reads abahubhāṣitā, restraint in speech, and kaulyaṁ ca damaḥ, nobility and self-restraint, in place of suśīlatva-damau. Read with this textual difference made explicit, the teaching joins intellectual maturity and disciplined conduct with courage, generosity, gratitude, and measured expression.
Original Post
More from Vidura Niti
View source 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.
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.
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.
More subhashitams on Wisdom
View topic pageवत्सराजोऽपि 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.
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.
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.