पद्माकरं दिनकरो विकचीकरोति चन्द्रो विकासयति कैरवचक्रवालम्। नाभ्यर्थितो जलधरोऽपि जलं ददाति सन्तः स्वयं परहितेषु कृताभियोगाः॥
padmākaraṁ dinakaro vikacīkaroti candro vikāsayati kairavacakravālam । nābhyarthito jaladharo’pi jalaṁ dadāti santaḥ svayaṁ parahiteṣu kṛtābhiyogāḥ ॥
Meaning of Padmākaraṁ Dinakaro Vikacīkaroti Candro
The sun helps the lotus bloom, and the moon does the same for the lilies. Clouds shower water on their own; similarly, noble people do good to others without any expectation.
Word by word
- पद्माकरम्padmākaram
the lotus pond
पद्म + आकर
- दिनकरःdinakaraḥ
the sun
दिन + √कृ
- विकचीकरोतिvikacīkaroti
causes to bloom
वि + √कच् + √कृ
- चन्द्रःcandraḥ
the moon
√चन्द्
- विकासयतिvikāsayati
opens
वि + √कास्
- कैरवचक्रवालम्kairavacakravālam
the circle of night lotuses
कैरव + चक्रवाल
- न अभ्यर्थितःnābhyarthitaḥ
unasked
अभि + √अर्थ्
- जलधरःjaladharaḥ
the cloud
जल + √धृ
- अपिapi
even
- जलम्jalam
water
जल
- ददातिdadāti
gives
√दा
- सन्तःsantaḥ
the good
√अस्
- स्वयम्svayam
of their own accord
- परहितेषुparahiteṣu
in the good of others
पर + हित
- कृताभियोगाःkṛtābhiyogāḥ
have undertaken the engagement
√कृ + अभि + √युज्
Commentary
This verse from Bhartrhari's Nitisatakam uses three powerful nature metaphors to define 'Parahita' (benevolence). The sun does not wait for a petition from the lotus, nor does the cloud wait for a request to quench the earth. Their very existence is defined by their contribution to the world. Similarly, a 'Satpurusha' (noble person) acts for the common good not out of obligation or expectation of reward, but as a natural expression of their character. This represents the highest form of service: one that is silent, spontaneous, and universal. Only the third example says it outright — nābhyarthitaḥ, unasked — and once said it reaches back and governs the first two, which had passed without comment. The closing compound is stronger than benevolence: kṛtābhiyogāḥ means having undertaken the engagement, so the good are described as committed to others' welfare in the way one is committed to a task, not as merely well disposed towards it.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Nitishatakam
View source pageरत्नैर्महाब्धेस्तुतुषुर्न 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.
भवन्ति नम्रास्तरवः फलोद्गमैर्नवाम्बुभिर्दूरविलम्बिनो घनाः। अनुद्धताः सत्पुरुषाः समृद्धिभिः स्वभाव एवैष परोपकारिणाम्॥
bhavanti namrāstaravaḥ phalodgamair navāmbubhir dūravilambino ghanāḥ । anuddhatāḥ satpuruṣāḥ samṛddhibhiḥ svabhāva evaiṣa paropakāriṇām ॥
A Nitishatakam verse comparing fruit-laden trees and rain-filled clouds to noble people who become humbler in prosperity.
जयन्ति ते सुकृतिनो रससिद्धाः कवीश्वराः। नास्ति येषां यशःकाये जरामरणजं भयम्॥
jayanti te sukṛtino rasasiddhāḥ kavīśvarāḥ । nāsti yeṣāṃ yaśaḥkāye jarāmaraṇajaṃ bhayam ॥
A verse from Bhartrhari's Nitishatakam on master poets whose body of fame is untouched by old age and death.
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.
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.
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.