एकेनापि हि शूरेण पादाक्रान्तं महीतलम्। क्रियते भास्करेणेव स्फारस्फुरिततेजसा॥
ekenāpi hi śūreṇa pādākrāntaṃ mahītalam । kriyate bhāskareṇeva sphārasphuritetejasā ॥
PM's MessageCourage and valour are assets with which every difficulty can be faced. The courage and self-confidence of India's youth inspire this very spirit.
Meaning of Ekenāpi Hi Śūreṇa Pādākrāntaṃ
Just as the sun lights the whole earth with its bright rays, in the same way a brave person can influence the whole world with his courage.
Word by word
- एकेनekena
by one
एक
- अपिapi
even
- हिhi
indeed
- शूरेणśūreṇa
by a brave man
√शूर्
- पादाक्रान्तम्pādākrāntam
trodden underfoot
पाद + आ + √क्रम्
- महीतलम्mahītalam
the surface of the earth
मही + तल
- क्रियतेkriyate
is made
√कृ
- भास्करेणbhāskareṇa
by the sun
भास् + √कृ
- इवiva
as
- स्फारस्फुरिततेजसाsphārasphuritatejasā
of wide-flashing radiance
स्फार + √स्फुर् + तेजस्
Commentary
This verse draws a powerful parallel between the sun (bhāskara) and a true hero (śūra). Just as the sun does not require companions to light up the earth — its inherent, expansive brilliance (sphāra-sphurita-tejas) is sufficient — so too a single person of genuine courage can leave an indelible mark on the world. The imagery of 'pādākrānta' (trodden underfoot by the foot) evokes conquest not through violence alone but through the overwhelming presence of valor. The verse belongs to the tradition of nīti poetry that celebrates individual excellence and the transformative power of heroic character without making a judgment about a group as mediocre.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Nitishatakam
View source pageरत्नैर्महाब्धेस्तुतुषुर्न 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.
भवन्ति नम्रास्तरवः फलोद्गमैर्नवाम्बुभिर्दूरविलम्बिनो घनाः। अनुद्धताः सत्पुरुषाः समृद्धिभिः स्वभाव एवैष परोपकारिणाम्॥
bhavanti namrāstaravaḥ phalodgamair navāmbubhir dūravilambino ghanāḥ । anuddhatāḥ satpuruṣāḥ samṛddhibhiḥ svabhāva evaiṣa paropakāriṇām ॥
A Nitishatakam verse comparing fruit-laden trees and rain-filled clouds to noble people who become humbler in prosperity.
जयन्ति ते सुकृतिनो रससिद्धाः कवीश्वराः। नास्ति येषां यशःकाये जरामरणजं भयम्॥
jayanti te sukṛtino rasasiddhāḥ kavīśvarāḥ । nāsti yeṣāṃ yaśaḥkāye jarāmaraṇajaṃ bhayam ॥
A verse from Bhartrhari's Nitishatakam on master poets whose body of fame is untouched by old age and death.
More subhashitams on Courage
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.
वत्सराजोऽपि 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.
भस्मीकृतस्वार्थसौख्यपरिचर्चितविग्रहाः। स्वराज्ययोगनिर्मग्ना धन्यास्ते वीरयोगिनः॥
bhasmīkṛtasvārthasaukhyaparicarcitavigrahāḥ । svarājyayoganirmagnā dhanyās te vīrayoginaḥ ॥
The verse praises heroic practitioners who renounce personal comforts and devote themselves fully to self-rule.