एको धर्मः परं श्रेयः क्षमैका शान्तिरुत्तमा। विद्यैका परमा तृप्तिरहिंसैका सुखावहा॥
eko dharmaḥ paraṁ śreyaḥ kṣamaikā śāntir uttamā । vidyaikā paramā tṛptir ahiṁsaikā sukhāvahā ॥
Meaning of Eko Dharmaḥ Paraṁ Śreyaḥ
Dharma leads a person on the path of well-being and advancement. Forgiveness is the finest means of attaining inner peace. Knowledge is the true foundation of contentment and non-violence fosters enduring happiness in the world. Therefore, by imbibing these virtues, a person can make life noble, peaceful, and joyful.
Word by word
- एकः धर्मःekaḥ dharmaḥ
dharma alone
एक + धर्म
एको is एकः before the voiced द् of धर्मः
- परं श्रेयःparaṁ śreyaḥ
the highest good
पर + श्रेयस्
- क्षमा एकाkṣamā ekā
forgiveness alone
√क्षम्
क्षमैका is क्षमा + एका
- शान्तिः उत्तमाśāntir uttamā
the finest peace
√शम् + उत्तम
- विद्या एकाvidyā ekā
knowledge alone
√विद्
विद्यैका is विद्या + एका
- परमा तृप्तिःparamā tṛptiḥ
the fullest contentment
√तृप्
- अहिंसा एकाahiṁsā ekā
non-violence alone
अ + √हिंस्
अहिंसैका is अहिंसा + एका
- सुखावहाsukhāvahā
bringer of happiness
सुख + √वह्
Commentary
The verse is built on the repeated word eka, 'one' or 'one alone', and each half-line names a single virtue along with the one thing it can be counted on to deliver. Dharma, right conduct, is called paraṁ śreyaḥ, the highest good; kṣamā, forgiveness or forbearance, is the best peace there is; vidyā, knowledge, is paramā tṛpti, the fullest satisfaction; and ahiṁsā, non-harming, is sukhāvahā, the bearer of happiness. The construction is deliberate: it does not say these virtues help, it says each one by itself is sufficient for its result, which is a strong claim and an easy one to remember. What holds the four together is that none of them depends on circumstance. Wealth can be lost and status can be taken away, but conduct, forbearance, learning and restraint from harm stay with the person who practises them. Forgiveness in particular is placed where one might expect retaliation to be, and the verse quietly argues that letting go settles the mind in a way that winning an argument never does. Read as a set, the four virtues describe a life that is stable from the inside out - and that is precisely why a short verse from Vidura's counsel to a troubled king still reads as practical advice rather than as an ideal out of reach.
Original Post
More from Vidura Niti
View source pageअद्वेष्टा 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.
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.
More subhashitams on Dharma
View topic pageउद्यमः 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.
सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्॥
sukhopaviṣṭās te tatra puṇyāṃ cakruḥ kathām imām । dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām ārogyaṃ mūlam uttamam ॥
Charaka Samhita presents good health as the foremost foundation for pursuing dharma, prosperity, desire and liberation.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥
anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat । svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and non-agitating words, together with regular study, as austerity of speech.