Na Karmana Na Prajaya - Immortality Through Sacrifice
न कर्मणा न प्रजया धनेन त्यागेनैके अमृतत्वमानशुः। परेण नाकं निहितं गुहायां विभ्राजते यद् यतयो विशन्ति॥
na karmaṇā na prajayā dhanena tyāgenaike amṛtatvam ānaśuḥ । pareṇa nākaṃ nihitaṃ guhāyāṃ vibhrājate yad yatayo viśanti ॥
PM's MessageA respectful tribute on his Martyrdom Day to Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, a great national figure who devoted his entire life to serving the nation and society with a selfless spirit. His incisive ideas and ideals will continue to inspire every generation of the country to serve the motherland.
Meaning of Na Karmaṇā Na Prajayā
Immortality is attained not through deeds, wealth, or lineage but through sacrifice and complete dedication to noble ideals. Those noble souls who renounce their personal interests for the sake of the nation, society and truth become immortal in the hearts of the people, transcending the limits of time.
Word by word
- न कर्मणाna karmaṇā
not by action
√कृ
- न प्रजयाna prajayā
not by progeny
प्र + √जन्
- धनेनdhanena
by wealth
धन
- त्यागेनtyāgena
by renunciation
√त्यज्
- एकेeke
some
एक
- अमृतत्वम्amṛtatvam
immortality
अ + √मृ
- आनशुःānaśuḥ
have attained
√अश्
- परेण नाकम्pareṇa nākam
beyond heaven
पर + नाक
- निहितम्nihitam
laid down
नि + √धा
- गुहायाम्guhāyām
in the cave of the heart
√गुह्
- विभ्राजतेvibhrājate
shines forth
वि + √भ्राज्
- यत्yat
which
यद्
- यतयःyatayaḥ
the strivers
√यत्
- विशन्तिviśanti
enter
√विश्
Commentary
This Upanishadic verse rejects three familiar measures of lasting worth: karma, outward works; prajā, offspring or lineage; and dhana, wealth. It places tyāga—renunciation or relinquishment—at the heart of amṛtatva, immortality. Pareṇa nākam denotes the highest heaven or supreme bliss; the supplied phrase ‘beyond heaven’ is a freer rendering, not the literal construction. The verse then speaks of that reality as hidden in the inner cave and shining there. In the tribute to Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, this spiritual teaching receives a civic application. A life offered to the nation and society can outlast its historical moment through the ideals it leaves in public memory. That connection between renunciation and public service belongs to the post’s application, while the mantra itself speaks directly of attaining immortality through tyāga.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
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.
नित्यं 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.