Natyucchashikharo Meru - Nothing is Impossible
नात्युच्चशिखरो मेरुर्नातिनीचं रसातलम्। व्यवसायद्वितीयानां नात्यपारो महोदधिः॥
na aty ucca śikharaḥ meru na atīnīcaṁ rasātalam । vyavasāya-dvitīyānāṁ na aty-apāro mahodadhiḥ ॥
Meaning of Na Aty Ucca Śikharaḥ
No mountain is too high and no place too deep to reach. No ocean is too vast to cross. Nothing is impossible for entrepreneurs or hardworking people.
Word by word
- न अति उच्चशिखरःna aty-uccaśikharaḥ
not too high a peak
उद् + शिखर
- मेरुःmeruḥ
Meru
मेरु
- न अतिनीचम्nātinīcam
not too low
नीच
- रसातलम्rasātalam
the netherworld
रस + तल
- व्यवसायद्वितीयानाम्vyavasāyadvitīyānām
for those whose companion is resolve
वि + अव + √सो + द्वितीय
dvitīya makes resolve a travelling companion, not a trait.
- न अति अपारःna aty-apāraḥ
not too boundless
अ + पार
- महोदधिःmahodadhiḥ
the great ocean
महा + उदधि
Commentary
This inspiring verse emphasizes the power of 'Vyavasaya' or industriousness and determination. It uses the grandest physical features of the world—the peaks of Mount Meru, the depths of the underworld (Rasatala), and the vastness of the ocean—to show that nothing is insurmountable for a person who is committed to their goal. It teaches that perceived limitations are often just mental barriers that can be overcome through persistent effort and a strong will. The pivot is a compound that translations usually flatten: vyavasāya-dvitīyānām, of those whose second is resolve. Resolve is made a travelling companion rather than an attribute — someone setting out with vyavasāya alongside is already two, and the mountain and ocean are measured against that pair rather than against a lone person. Meru and Rasātala are named for scale, being the highest and lowest points the tradition can offer.
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 Perseverance
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.
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.
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.