Atmagyanam Samarambhas - The Definition of a Wise Person
आत्मज्ञानं समारम्भस्तितिक्षा धर्मनित्यता। यमर्था नापकर्षन्ति स वै पण्डित उच्यते॥
ātmajñānaṁ samārambhas titikṣā dharmanityatā । yam arthā nāpakarṣanti sa vai paṇḍita ucyate ॥
PM's MessagePrime Minister Mudra Yojana, started exactly 11 years ago from today, has proved to be very helpful in the self-employment of the youth. The success of this scheme shows that when given the right opportunity, a person can not only become self-reliant but also contribute to the progress of the nation.
Meaning of Ātmajñānaṁ Samārambhas Titikṣā
A person who is fully aware of their abilities, who is self-reliant and committed to performing benevolent actions, who patiently endures adverse circumstances, who consistently follows righteous conduct, and whom greed cannot divert from their path—is truly called wise.
Word by word
- आत्मज्ञानम्ātmajñānam
self-knowledge
आत्मन् + √ज्ञा
- समारम्भःsamārambhaḥ
undertaking
सम् + आ + √रभ्
- तितिक्षाtitikṣā
endurance
√तिज्
- धर्मनित्यताdharmanityatā
constancy in dharma
धर्म + नित्य
- यम्yam
whom
यद्
- अर्थाःarthāḥ
material gains
अर्थ
- न अपकर्षन्तिnāpakarṣanti
do not drag away
अप + √कृष्
- सः वैsa vai
he indeed
तद्
- पण्डितः उच्यतेpaṇḍita ucyate
is called learned
पण्डा + √वच्
Commentary
Vidura Niti defines a paṇḍita not by learning alone, but by a combination of inner understanding and steadfast conduct. Ātmajñāna is self-knowledge; samārambha is the readiness to undertake meaningful work; titikṣā is the capacity to endure difficulty; and dharmanityatā is constancy in what is right. The final test is whether desire or greed can pull such a person away from these commitments. The qualities form a practical sequence: know yourself, begin well, endure what follows, and remain ethically grounded. Applied to public or national life, the verse supports self-reliance and steady effort, but those are modern applications of its broader portrait of disciplined wisdom.
Sources and textual variants
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 pageज्ञानवांश्च 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.
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.
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.