कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यदभीक्ष्णं निषेवते। तदेवापहरत्येनं तस्मात्कल्याणमाचरेत्॥
karmaṇā manasā vācā yadabhīkṣṇaṃ niṣevate । tadevāpaharatyenaṃ tasmātkalyāṇamācaret ॥
Meaning of Karmaṇā Manasā Vācā Yadabhīkṣṇaṃ
Whatever a person continuously practices through their actions, thoughts, and words ultimately shapes their personality and draws them in that very direction; therefore, one should always give space only to beneficial subjects in one's thoughts and conversations.
Word by word
- कर्मणाkarmaṇā
by action
कर्मन्, √कृ
- मनसाmanasā
by mind
मनस्, √मन्
- वाचाvācā
by speech
वाच्, √वच्
- यत्yat
whatever
यद्
- अभीक्ष्णम्abhīkṣṇam
constantly, again and again
अभीक्ष्ण
- निषेवतेniṣevate
cultivates, practises
नि + √सेव्
- तत् एवtad eva
that alone
तद् + एव
- अपहरतिapaharati
carries away, takes over
अप + √हृ
- एनम्enam
him
एनद्
- तस्मात्tasmāt
therefore
तद्
- कल्याणम्kalyāṇam
the good, the auspicious
कल्याण
- आचरेत्ācaret
should practise
आ + √चर्
Optative: a prescription, not a description.
Commentary
This verse treats repeated attention as a formative force. The three instruments named are karmaṇā, manasā, and vācā—action, thought, and speech—showing that a person's direction is shaped by conduct as well as by the inner and spoken patterns continually reinforced. Abhīkṣṇam means repeatedly or habitually, while niṣevate suggests practising, cultivating, or continually engaging with something. What is repeatedly cultivated eventually apaharati, carries the person along with it. Vidura therefore concludes with a direct ethical instruction: kalyāṇam ācaret, one should practise what is beneficial and auspicious. The teaching asks for discipline at the level of habits, because good character is sustained not by an occasional intention but by what one repeatedly thinks, says, and does.
Sources and textual variants
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 Karma
View topic 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.
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.