निश्चित्य यः प्रक्रमते नान्तर्वसति कर्मणः। अवन्ध्यकालो वश्यात्मा स वै पण्डित उच्यते॥
niścitya yaḥ prakramate nāntarvasati karmaṇaḥ । avandhyakālo vaśyātmā sa vai paṇḍita ucyate ॥
PM's MessageFirm resolve and self-control are the strength that make even the most difficult path easier. Today, our young friends are continuously engaged in nation-building with this very resolve.
Meaning of Niścitya Yaḥ Prakramate Nāntarvasati
A person who begins a task after careful deliberation and with firm resolve, who never leaves it unfinished, who uses time wisely and who maintains complete control over their senses - such a person alone is truly wise.
Word by word
- निश्चित्यniścitya
having determined
निस् + √चि
- यःyaḥ
who
यद्
- प्रक्रमतेprakramate
sets out
प्र + √क्रम्
- न अन्तर्वसतिnāntarvasati
does not stop midway
अन्तर् + √वस्
- कर्मणःkarmaṇaḥ
of the work
√कृ
- अवन्ध्यकालःavandhyakālaḥ
whose time is not wasted
अ + वन्ध्य + काल
- वश्यात्माvaśyātmā
master of himself
वश + आत्मन्
- सः वै पण्डितः उच्यतेsa vai paṇḍita ucyate
he indeed is called learned
पण्डा + √वच्
Commentary
This verse defines wisdom not as mere knowledge, but as disciplined execution. A paṇḍita first decides carefully, then begins the work, and once begun, does not dwell halfway inside the task without completing it. The expression avandhyakālaḥ points to one whose time is not barren or wasted, but made fruitful through purposeful action. Vaśyātmā adds the inner dimension: the wise person has command over the self, senses, and impulses. Together, these qualities create a complete model of practical intelligence: clarity before action, steadiness during action, wise use of time, and self-control throughout. In the context of youth and nation-building, the verse becomes a call to convert resolve into sustained, well-governed effort.
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 Wisdom
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.