धूमायन्ते व्यपेतानि ज्वलन्ति सहितानि च। धृतराष्ट्रोल्मुकानीव ज्ञातयो भरतर्षभ॥
dhūmāyante vyapetāni jvalanti sahitāni ca । dhṛtarāṣṭrolmukānīva jñātayo bharatarṣabha ॥
PM's MessageWhen citizens are bound together by unity and mutual cooperation, the strength of the nation increases many times over. Through this collective resolve of the people of Bharat, the country is touching new heights of progress every day.
Meaning of Dhūmāyante Vyapetāni Jvalanti Sahitāni
Just as pieces of wood cannot fully display their energy when separated, but burn brightly and produce light and warmth when brought together, in the same way, the progress, prosperity, and strength of a state depend on the unity, mutual cooperation and collective determination of its people.
Word by word
- धूमायन्तेdhūmāyante
they merely smoke
धूम
- व्यपेतानिvyapetāni
when separated
वि + अप + √इ
- ज्वलन्तिjvalanti
they blaze
√ज्वल्
- सहितानिsahitāni
when together
सह + √धा
- चca
and
- धृतराष्ट्रdhṛtarāṣṭra
O Dhritarashtra
- उल्मुकानिulmukāni
firebrands
उल्मुक
- इवiva
like
- ज्ञातयःjñātayaḥ
kinsmen
√ज्ञा
- भरतर्षभbharatarṣabha
O bull of the Bharatas
भरत + ऋषभ
Commentary
In its original setting, this verse is Vidura's counsel to Dhritarashtra. The word jñātayaḥ refers first to kinsmen or relatives, and the image of separated and united firebrands is meant to warn that a divided family or clan loses its power, while one held together can shine with shared strength. The verse uses a simple but powerful image: separated firebrands only smoke, while those brought together blaze with light and heat. The metaphor turns unity from an abstract ideal into something visible and practical. In a modern civic reading, the same teaching extends naturally from relatives to citizens bound by common responsibility. Unity does not erase individual strength; it gathers scattered strengths into a force capable of progress, protection, and prosperity.
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.
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.
More subhashitams on Unity
View topic pageदेव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatamidaṃ jagadātmaśaktyā niśśeṣadevagaṇaśaktisamūhamūrtyā । tāmambikāmakhiladevamaharṣipūjyāṃ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A prayer from Devi Mahatmyam to Ambika, who pervades the world and embodies all divine powers, asking for blessings for everyone.
नित्यं 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.