न मर्षयन्ति चात्मानं सम्भावयितुमात्मना। अदर्शयित्वा शूरास्तु कर्म कुर्वन्ति दुष्करम्॥
na marśayanti cātmānaṁ sambhāvayitum ātmana । adarśayitvā śūrāstu karma kurvanti duṣkaraṁ ॥
Meaning of Na Marśayanti Cātmānaṁ Sambhāvayitum
It is not good for brave men to praise themselves with their mouths; they show their heroism by difficult deeds rather than by words.
Word by word
- न मर्षयन्तिna marṣayanti
they do not brook
√मृष्
- च आत्मानम्cātmānam
themselves
आत्मन्
- सम्भावयितुम्sambhāvayitum
to extol
सम् + √भू
- आत्मनाātmanā
by themselves
आत्मन्
- अदर्शयित्वाadarśayitvā
without displaying
अ + √दृश्
- शूराः तुśūrās tu
the brave however
√शूर्
- कर्मkarma
the deed
√कृ
- कुर्वन्तिkurvanti
perform
√कृ
- दुष्करम्duṣkaram
hard to do
दुस् + √कृ
Commentary
This verse highlights the virtue of humility among the truly brave. It suggests that those who possess genuine strength do not feel the need to boast or seek validation through words. Instead, they let their actions speak for them. By performing 'Dushkaram Karma' (difficult deeds) without self-praise, a hero demonstrates a level of character that is far superior to those who merely talk about their capabilities. The verb carries the weight: na marṣayanti means they do not brook or tolerate it, so self-praise is something the brave will not put up with in themselves rather than something they merely avoid. The gerund adarśayitvā, 'without displaying', then governs the whole second line — the difficult deed is done and left undisplayed, and the silence is part of the deed rather than modesty added afterwards.
Original Post
More from Valmiki Ramayana
View source pageदैवं पुरुषकारेण यः समर्थः प्रबाधितुम्। न दैवेन विपन्नार्थः पुरुषः सोऽवसीदति॥
daivaṁ puruṣakāreṇa yaḥ samarthaḥ prabādhitum । na daivena vipannārthaḥ puruṣaḥ so’vasīdati ॥
A Valmiki Ramayana verse teaches that a person capable of confronting destiny through human effort does not lose heart when faced with adversity.
लोकपालाश्च ते सर्वे वासवप्रमुखास्तथा। ऋतवः षट् च ते सर्वे मासाः संवत्सराः क्षपाः॥ दिनानि च मुहूर्ताश्च स्वस्ति कुर्वन्तु ते सदा। श्रुतिः स्मृतिश्च धर्मश्च पातु त्वां पुत्र सर्वतः॥
lokapālāśca te sarve vāsavapramukhāstathā । ṛtavaḥ ṣaṭ ca te sarve māsāḥ saṁvatsarāḥ kṣapāḥ ॥ dināni ca muhūrtāśca svasti kurvantu te sadā । śrutiḥ smṛtiśca dharmaśca pātu tvāṁ putra sarvataḥ ॥
In this blessing from the Ayodhya Kanda, the guardians of the world, the cycles of time, sacred tradition, and dharma are invoked for abiding well-being and protection.
अनिर्वेदः श्रियो मूलमनिर्वेदः परं सुखम्। अनिर्वेदो हि सततं सर्वार्थेषु प्रवर्तकः॥
anirvedaḥ śriyo mūlam anirvedaḥ paraṁ sukham । anirvedo hi satataṁ sarvārtheṣu pravartakaḥ ॥
A Sundara Kanda verse from the Valmiki Ramayana teaching that non-despondency, steady effort, and faith are the roots of progress and happiness.
More subhashitams on Humility
View topic pageवत्सराजोऽपि तं प्राप्तं प्रदत्तोपायनं नृपम्। प्रीत्या सम्मानयामास शूरा हि प्रणतिप्रियाः॥
vatsarājo 'pi taṃ prāptaṃ pradattopāyanaṃ nṛpam । prītyā sammānayāmāsa śūrā hi praṇatipriyāḥ ॥
Vatsaraja honours a king who comes with gifts, illustrating the brave person's regard for respectful homage.
भस्मीकृतस्वार्थसौख्यपरिचर्चितविग्रहाः। 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.