हितं यत्सर्वभूतानामात्मानश्च सुखावहम्। तत्कुर्यादीश्वरे ह्येतन्मूलं सर्वार्थसिद्धये॥
hitaṃ yat sarvabhūtānām ātmānaśca sukhāvaham । tat kuryād īśvare hy etan mūlaṃ sarvārthasiddhaye ॥
PM's MessageSelfless action is humanity's greatest strength. With this same spirit of service and dedication, we are moving forward with the resolve to make everyone's life better.
Meaning of Hitaṃ Yat Sarvabhūtānām Ātmānaśca
One should perform only those actions that are beneficial to all living beings and bring peace to one's own soul. This constitutes true surrender to God, for this path is the fundamental basis of all human endeavors and spiritual attainments.
Word by word
- हितम्hitam
beneficial
√धा
- यत्yat
that which is
यद्
- सर्वभूतानाम्sarvabhūtānām
to all beings
सर्व + √भू
- आत्मनःātmanaḥ
to oneself
आत्मन्
- चca
and
- सुखावहम्sukhāvaham
bringing happiness or well-being
सुख + √वह्
- तत् कुर्यात्tat kuryāt
that one should do
√कृ
- ईश्वरेīśvare
towards the Lord
√ईश्
- हि एतत्hy etat
for this
एतद्
- मूलम्mūlam
is the root
मूल
- सर्वार्थसिद्धयेsarvārthasiddhaye
for the fulfilment of every aim
सर्व + अर्थ + √सिध्
Commentary
This verse offers a compact test for right action: it should be beneficial to all beings and should also bring happiness or well-being to oneself. The word hitam points to genuine welfare, not merely what is pleasant or convenient. By joining sarvabhūtānām, all living beings, with one's own well-being, the verse refuses to separate public good from inner integrity. The second line places such action in relation to īśvara, the divine, suggesting that service is not only social work but also a form of surrender. All human purposes and attainments are rooted in this alignment between welfare, conscience, and devotion. The post's emphasis on selfless action, service, and improving every life is therefore a direct modern application of the verse's core ethical vision.
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.
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.
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.
More subhashitams on Selfless Service
View topic pageभस्मीकृतस्वार्थसौख्यपरिचर्चितविग्रहाः। 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.
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.