देशाचारान् समयाञ्जातिधर्मान् बुभूषते यस्तु परावरज्ञः। स तत्र तत्राधिगतः सदैव महाजनस्याधिपत्यं करोति॥
deśācārān samayāñ jātidharmān bubhūṣate yastu parāvarajñaḥ । sa tatra tatrādhigataḥ sadaiva mahājanasyādhipatyaṁ karoti ॥
PM's MessageRespecting the world's different cultures increases trust and cooperation among people. It further strengthens mutual understanding and brotherhood.
Meaning of Deśācārān Samayāñ Jātidharmān Bubhūṣate
A person who understands diverse cultures, traditions and social norms develops the ability to discern right from wrong. Such an individual earns respect wherever they go and establishes a positive influence among noble and distinguished people.
Word by word
- देशाचारान्deśācārān
the customs of regions
देश + आ + √चर्
- समयान्samayān
conventions
सम् + √इ
- जातिधर्मान्jātidharmān
the norms of communities
जाति + धर्म
- बुभूषतेbubhūṣate
seeks to adapt himself to
√भू
- यः तुyas tu
who indeed
यद्
- परावरज्ञःparāvarajñaḥ
knowing the higher and the lower
पर + अवर + √ज्ञा
- सःsaḥ
he
तद्
- तत्र तत्रtatra tatra
in each place
- अधिगतःadhigataḥ
having reached
अधि + √गम्
- सदा एवsadaiva
always
- महाजनस्यmahājanasya
over the great community
महा + जन
- आधिपत्यम्ādhipatyam
leadership
अधि + पति
- करोतिkaroti
exercises
√कृ
Commentary
This verse from Vidura Niti describes a wise person as parāvarajña, one who understands both the larger principles and the finer distinctions of conduct. The verse names deśācāra, local custom; samaya, accepted convention or shared social understanding; and jātidharman, the duties and norms associated with communities. Its point is not narrow conformity, but intelligent sensitivity: a person who understands how different societies live, speak, and organize their duties can act with discernment rather than arrogance. That cultural intelligence naturally creates trust. Such a person is received with respect wherever they go because they do not treat difference as a threat or inconvenience. PM Modi's post draws out this modern civic meaning: respect for diverse cultures strengthens cooperation, mutual understanding, and brotherhood, turning wisdom into a bridge between people.
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 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.
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.
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.