नाम्भोधिरर्थितामेति सदाम्भोभिश्च पूर्यते। आत्मा तु पात्रतां नेयः पात्रमायान्ति सम्पदः॥
nāmbhodhir arthitām eti sadāmbhobhiśca pūryate । ātmā tu pātratāṁ neyaḥ pātramāyānti sampadaḥ ॥
PM's MessageSelf-reliance is the lamp that shows the way to self-respect and capability. This time's budget will also play an important role in making our young friends self-reliant and empowered.
Meaning of Nāmbhodhir Arthitām Eti Sadāmbhobhiśca
The ocean never asks for water, yet it is always full. In the same way, when a person becomes capable, wealth comes to them naturally.
Word by word
- न अम्भोधिःnāmbhodhiḥ
the ocean does not
अम्भस् + √धा
- अर्थिताम्arthitām
the state of asking
√अर्थ्
- एतिeti
come to
√इ
- सदाsadā
always
- अम्भोभिःambhobhiḥ
with waters
अम्भस्
- च पूर्यतेca pūryate
and is filled
√पॄ
- आत्मा तुātmā tu
the self, however
आत्मन्
- पात्रताम्pātratām
to worthiness
पात्र
pātra means both a vessel and a worthy recipient.
- नेयःneyaḥ
is to be led
√नी
- पात्रम्pātram
the worthy one
पात्र
- आयान्तिāyānti
come to
आ + √या
- सम्पदःsampadaḥ
riches
सम् + √पद्
Commentary
The verse contrasts asking with becoming fit to receive. The ocean does not go seeking water; it is continually filled by waters that reach it. The second line turns on pātra, which can mean both a vessel and a worthy recipient, so pātratām and pātram preserve the ocean image while making a moral point about fitness. Neyāḥ is a gerundive: the self is ‘to be led’ or brought to worthiness, not a causative verb. The practical emphasis is therefore on cultivating capacity rather than merely waiting for prosperity, while the self-reliance language of the supplied meaning is a modern application of that contrast.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Subhashitavali
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 Capability
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.
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.
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.