चरन् वै मधु विन्दति चरन् स्वादुमुदुम्बरम्। सूर्यस्य पश्य श्रेमाणं यो न तन्द्रयते चरंश्चरैवेति॥
caran vai madhu vindati caran svādum udumbaram । sūryasya paśya śremāṇaṃ yo na tandrayate caraṃś caraiveti ॥
PM's MessageLord Surya communicates energy and enthusiasm in the lives of all of us. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana started today is also lit by him. It is constantly inspiring the countrymen to adopt clean energy.
Meaning of Caran Vai Madhu Vindati
It is the one who keeps progressing who gains the best rewards in the world, just like the ever-dynamic sun earns glory. Hence, one should always be active.
Word by word
- चरन्caran
moving, walking
√चर्
- वैvai
indeed
- मधुmadhu
honey
मधु
- विन्दतिvindati
finds
√विद्
- स्वादुम्svādum
sweet
स्वादु
- उदुम्बरम्udumbaram
the udumbara fig
उदुम्बर
- सूर्यस्यsūryasya
of the Sun
सूर्य
- पश्यpaśya
behold
√दृश्
- श्रेमाणम्śremāṇam
the glory
श्री
- यःyaḥ
who
यद्
- न तन्द्रयतेna tandrayate
never grows slack
√तन्द्र्
- चरन् चर एव इतिcaraṃś caraiveti
moving—keep moving indeed
√चर्
Commentary
Part of the famous 'Charaiveti' series, this verse highlights the rewards of continuous action (Caratva). It uses two beautiful metaphors: a traveler finding sweet honey and the Sun attaining its supreme glory. Just as the Sun never tires of its journey, sustaining all life, a person who overcomes lethargy and stays 'active' (not idle) attains the sweetest fruits of labor. It teaches that destiny belongs to those who move. Stagnation is decay, while motion is life. The sun is presented as the ultimate 'Karmayogi'—ever-dynamic, ever-giving, and never exhausted. The shared meaning takes śremāṇam as gaining credit, whereas here it is the Sun's own glory, and the weight of the line falls on yo na tandrayate, he never grows slack. The concrete rewards of movement, honey and the sweet udumbara fig, are also particular to the text.
Original Post
More from Aitareya Brahmana
View source pageनानाश्रान्ताय श्रीरस्तीति रोहित शुश्रुम। पापो नृषद्वरो जन इन्द्र इच्चरतः सखा चरैवेति॥
nānāśrāntāya śrīr astīti rohita śuśruma । pāpo nṛṣadvaro jana indra ic carataḥ sakhā caraiveti ॥
An Aitareya Brahmana verse from the Charaiveti sequence teaching that prosperity comes to those who keep striving and moving forward.
चरैवेति चरैवेति चरन्वै मधु विन्दति। सूर्यास्य पश्य श्रेमाणं न मामार न जीर्यति॥
caraiveti caraiveti caranvai madhu vindati । sūryāsya paśya śremāṇaṃ na māmāra na jīryati ॥
The Vedic refrain Charaiveti—keep moving—presents sustained action as the path to growth, drawing inspiration from the sun’s ceaseless journey.
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.