एतदेव परं शौर्यं यत् परप्राणरक्षणम्। नहि प्राणहरः शूरः शूरः प्राणप्रदोऽर्थिनाम्॥
etadeva paraṁ śauryaṁ yat paraprāṇarakṣaṇam । nahi prāṇaharaḥ śūraḥ śūraḥ prāṇaprado'rthinām ॥
PM's MessageNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose's life tells us what bravery and valor mean. Parakram Diwas reminds us of this.
Meaning of Etadeva Paraṁ Śauryaṁ Yat
Protecting the lives of others is the truest and highest form of bravery. One who takes the lives of others is not a hero. A true hero is one who gives life to those in distress.
Word by word
- एतत् एवetad eva
this alone
एतद्
- परम्param
the highest
पर
- शौर्यम्śauryam
valour
√शूर्
- यत्yat
which is
यद्
- परप्राणरक्षणम्paraprāṇarakṣaṇam
the guarding of another's life
पर + प्राण + √रक्ष्
- न हिna hi
not at all
- प्राणहरःprāṇaharaḥ
the taker of life
प्राण + √हृ
- शूरःśūraḥ
a hero
√शूर्
- प्राणप्रदःprāṇapradaḥ
the giver of life
प्राण + प्र + √दा
- अर्थिनाम्arthinām
to those in need
√अर्थ्
Commentary
This subhashita defines true heroism not as an act of aggression, but as an act of protection. It challenges the conventional notion of a warrior by stating that taking a life is not a mark of a hero. Instead, it elevates the act of giving and preserving life as the highest form of courage. This is a profound statement on the ethics of power and the responsibility that comes with strength. The verse is not a free-standing maxim. Kshemendra's Darpadalanam is a sequence of essays each dismantling one form of pride, and this belongs to the fifth, on pride in valour. Read in that place, the line is an argument rather than an aphorism: it takes the warrior's own vocabulary — śūra, the word a fighter claims for himself — and awards it to whoever gives life instead of taking it.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Darpadalanam
View source 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.
एको धर्मः परं श्रेयः क्षमैका शान्तिरुत्तमा। विद्यैका परमा तृप्तिरहिंसैका सुखावहा॥
eko dharmaḥ paraṁ śreyaḥ kṣamaikā śāntir uttamā । vidyaikā paramā tṛptir ahiṁsaikā sukhāvahā ॥
A verse from Vidura Niti in the Mahabharata that pairs four virtues with what each one alone can give: dharma brings the highest good, forgiveness the finest peace, knowledge true contentment, and non-violence lasting happiness.
अद्वैधमनसं युक्तं शूरं धीरं विपश्चितम्। न श्रीः सन्त्यजते नित्यमादित्यमिव रश्मयः॥
advaidhamanasaṃ yuktaṃ śūraṃ dhīraṃ vipaścitam । na śrīḥ santyajate nityam ādityamiva raśmayaḥ ॥
The Mahabharata likens lasting prosperity to the sun's inseparable rays: it remains with one who is focused, courageous, steadfast and discerning.
More subhashitams on Courage
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.
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.
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.