Jalabindunipatena Kramashah - The Power of Consistency
जलबिन्दुनिपातेन क्रमशः पूर्यते घटः। स हेतुः सर्वविद्यानां धर्मस्य च धनस्य च॥
jalabindunipātena kramaśaḥ pūryate ghaṭaḥ । sa hetuḥ sarvavidyānāṁ dharmasya ca dhanasya ca ॥
Meaning of Jalabindunipātena Kramaśaḥ Pūryate Ghaṭaḥ
Just as a pot gets filled by the continuous falling of each drop of water, in the same way, with continuous little efforts, all the knowledge, religion and wealth also get accumulated gradually.
Word by word
- जलबिन्दुनिपातेनjalabindunipātena
by the falling of drops of water
जल + बिन्दु + नि + √पत्
- क्रमशःkramaśaḥ
gradually, step by step
क्रम
- पूर्यतेpūryate
is filled
√पॄ
- घटःghaṭaḥ
the pot
घट
- सःsaḥ
that
तद्
- हेतुःhetuḥ
the cause
हेतु
- सर्वविद्यानाम्sarvavidyānām
of all learning
सर्व + विद्या
- धर्मस्यdharmasya
of dharma
धर्म
- धनस्यdhanasya
of wealth
धन
Commentary
This subhashita teaches the power of consistency over sudden intensity. Its image is simple but exact: no pot fills in a single instant, yet each drop matters. In the same way, learning is gained lesson by lesson, dharma is strengthened through repeated right action, and wealth grows through patient, disciplined effort. The verse rejects impatience and reminds us that lasting achievement is usually the result of small acts performed regularly and with care. The pronoun in the second line is doing quiet work: saḥ hetuḥ, “that is the cause,” resumes the preceding process as a whole: a pot being filled gradually by falling drops. The masculine pronoun cannot grammatically refer to the indeclinable kramaśaḥ alone. What is being praised is the gradual process, not a particular drop. The triad it is then applied to — learning, dharma and wealth — is one Chanakya returns to across the collection, and putting all three under one method is the verse's real claim.
Original Post
More from Chanakya Niti
View source pageशुचित्वं 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.
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.
स्वाधीनैव समृद्धिर्जनोपजीव्यत्वमुच्छ्रयश्छाया। सत्पुंसो मरुभूरिव जीवनमात्रं समाशास्यम्॥
svādhīnaiva samṛddhir janopajīvyatvam ucchrayaś chāyā । satpuṃso marubhūr iva jīvanamātraṁ samāśāsyam ॥
For a good person, as for a tree standing in the desert, self-reliant abundance, support for others, height and shade come naturally, so only that life itself need be wished for.
More subhashitams on Perseverance
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.
रत्नैर्महाब्धेस्तुतुषुर्न 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.
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.