गुणो भूषयते रूपं शीलं भूषयते कुलम्। सिद्धिर्भूषयते विद्यां भोगो भूषयते धनम्॥
guṇo bhūṣayate rūpaṁ śīlaṁ bhūṣayate kulam । siddhir bhūṣayate vidyāṁ bhogo bhūṣayate dhanam ॥
Meaning of Guṇo Bhūṣayate Rūpaṁ Śīlaṁ
Virtues make good looks prettier, a clan's reputation shines by conduct; learning is enhanced by accomplishments and money's worth by wisely spending it.
Word by word
- गुणःguṇaḥ
merit
गुण
- भूषयतेbhūṣayate
adorns
√भूष्
- रूपम्rūpam
beauty
रूप
- शीलम्śīlam
conduct
शील
- कुलम्kulam
lineage
कुल
- सिद्धिःsiddhiḥ
accomplishment
√सिध्
- विद्याम्vidyām
learning
√विद्
- भोगःbhogaḥ
use, enjoyment
√भुज्
- धनम्dhanam
wealth
धन
Commentary
The verse repeatedly uses bhūṣayate, “adorns,” to distinguish possession from worth. Beauty is adorned by good qualities, family standing by conduct, learning by accomplishment, and wealth by use or enjoyment. None of these external advantages is condemned; each becomes meaningful only when character or action gives it purpose. The structure offers a compact test for success: ask not only what a person has, but what that possession enables. Appearance, heritage, education, and money become honorable when they are converted into conduct, competence, and benefit. The repetition of one verb gives the four pairs equal force rather than establishing a fixed inward-to-outward ladder. The last clause, bhogo bhūṣayate dhanam, says that use or enjoyment adorns wealth; “wise spending” and a test of whether wealth moves are reasonable applications, not literal wording.
Original Post
More from Chanakya Niti
View source pageप्रभूतं कार्यमल्पं वा यन्नरः कर्तुमिच्छति। सर्वारम्भेण तत्कार्यं सिंहादेकं प्रचक्षते॥
prabhūtaṁ kāryamalpaṁ vā yannaraḥ kartumicchati । sarvārambheṇa tatkāryaṁ siṁhādekaṁ pracakṣate ॥
A Chanakya Niti verse teaching that every task, great or small, should be undertaken with complete dedication, like the focused effort of a lion.
जलबिन्दुनिपातेन क्रमशः पूर्यते घटः। स हेतुः सर्वविद्यानां धर्मस्य च धनस्य च॥
jalabindunipātena kramaśaḥ pūryate ghaṭaḥ । sa hetuḥ sarvavidyānāṁ dharmasya ca dhanasya ca ॥
A classic nīti verse on steady accumulation: small, regular efforts gradually build knowledge, dharma, and prosperity just as a pot fills one drop at a time.
विद्वान् प्रशस्यते लोके विद्वान् सर्वत्र गौरवम्। विद्यया लभते सर्वं विद्या सर्वत्र पूज्यते॥
vidvān praśasyate loke vidvān sarvatra gauravam । vidyayā labhate sarvaṃ vidyā sarvatra pūjyate ॥
A verse extolling the universal honor that knowledge brings. The learned are praised everywhere, and through knowledge one can attain all of life's goals.
More subhashitams on Character
View topic pageज्ञानवांश्च 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.
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.