आत्मोदयः परज्यानिर्द्वयं नीतिरितीयती। तदूरीकृत्य कृतिभिर्वाचस्पत्यं प्रतायते॥
ātmodayaḥ parajānir dvayaṁ nītir itīyatī । tadūrīkṛtya kṛtibhir vācaspatyaṁ pratāyate ॥
PM's MessageSelf-development instils in an individual the spirit of service, dedication and nation-building. Inspired by this, our youth power is taking the country forward in every field today.
Meaning of Ātmodayaḥ Parajānir Dvayaṁ Nītir
Uplifting oneself and constantly moving forward is the true philosophy of life. Guided by this objective, virtuous and learned individuals expand their knowledge, skills, and influence so that they can make a positive contribution to society.
Word by word
- आत्मोदयःātmodayaḥ
one's own advancement
आत्मन् + उद् + √इ
- परज्यानिःparajāniḥ
the diminishing of a rival
पर + √ज्या
- द्वयम्dvayam
the pair
द्वि
- नीतिःnītiḥ
statecraft
√नी
- इति ईयतीiti īyatī
is just this much
- तत्tat
that
तद्
- ऊरीकृत्यūrīkṛtya
having accepted
√कृ
- कृतिभिःkṛtibhiḥ
by the accomplished
√कृ
- वाचस्पत्यम्vācaspatyam
eloquence, mastery of speech
वाचस्पति
- प्रतायतेpratāyate
is extended
प्र + √तन्
Commentary
Magha compresses nīti, practical statecraft, into a stark pair: ātmodaya, one’s own advancement, and parajāni, the decline of the opposing side. In its immediate poetic setting, the verse is not offering a general moral rule; it expresses the unsentimental logic of strategy, where policy seeks to strengthen one’s own position and weaken a rival’s. The closing phrase invokes vācaspatya, eloquent or weighty speech, observing that accomplished thinkers can elaborate this compact principle at length. The Prime Minister’s message takes ātmodaya into a constructive modern register: inner growth should develop a capacity for service, dedication, and nation-building. Read in that light, progress is more than private achievement; it becomes useful when knowledge, skill, and influence are extended toward a shared public good. The verse states the strategic aim of advancement, while the post directs that aspiration toward positive social contribution.
Sources and textual variants
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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.
एको धर्मः परं श्रेयः क्षमैका शान्तिरुत्तमा। विद्यैका परमा तृप्तिरहिंसैका सुखावहा॥
eko dharmaḥ paraṁ śreyaḥ kṣamaikā śāntir uttamā । vidyaikā paramā tṛptir ahiṁsaikā sukhāvahā ॥
A verse from Vidura Niti in the Mahabharata that pairs four virtues with what each one alone can give: dharma brings the highest good, forgiveness the finest peace, knowledge true contentment, and non-violence lasting happiness.
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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.
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.
यथा यथा प्रयत्नः स्याद्भवेदाशु फलं तथा। इति पौरुषमेवास्ति दैवमस्तु तदेव च॥
yathā yathā prayatnaḥ syād bhaved āśu phalaṃ tathā । iti pauruṣam evāsti daivam astu tad eva ca ॥
A Yoga Vasistha verse that links the fruit of an undertaking to human effort and identifies such effort with what people call destiny.