परकार्येषु युक्तात्मा स्वकार्यं क्षिप्रसाधनम्। सुहृत्कार्येषु निर्वृत्तौ राजकार्येषु विक्रमः॥
parakāryeṣu yuktātmā svakāryaṁ kṣiprasādhanam । suhṛtkāryeṣu nirvṛttau rājakāryeṣu vikramaḥ ॥
Meaning of Parakāryeṣu Yuktātmā Svakāryaṁ
The person who devotes themselves wholeheartedly to the tasks of others, completes their own personal duties with speed and efficiency, carries out tasks for friends selflessly, and demonstrates their full valor and courage in fulfilling national duties, only such a person is truly excellent.
Word by word
- परकार्येषुparakāryeṣu
in others' affairs
पर + √कृ
- युक्तात्माyuktātmā
of applied mind
√युज् + आत्मन्
- स्वकार्यम्svakāryam
his own work
स्व + √कृ
- क्षिप्रसाधनम्kṣiprasādhanam
swiftly accomplished
क्षिप्र + √साध्
- सुहृत्कार्येषुsuhṛtkāryeṣu
in a friend's affairs
सु + हृद् + √कृ
- निर्वृत्तौnirvṛttau
in completion
निस् + √वृत्
- राजकार्येषुrājakāryeṣu
in affairs of state
राजन् + √कृ
- विक्रमःvikramaḥ
valour
वि + √क्रम्
Commentary
The verse presents excellence as the ability to meet different kinds of responsibility with the quality each one demands. Yuktātmā suggests wholehearted engagement in another person's work, while kṣiprasādhanam joins speed with effective completion in one's own affairs. In a friend's affairs the emphasis is nirvṛtti, bringing the work to completion, whereas public duty calls for vikrama, resolute courage and energetic action. Its ethical insight lies in refusing a single, convenient standard for every relationship. Concern for others should be sincere, personal work should be efficient, friendship should be dependable, and responsibility in governance should not shrink from difficulty. The verse therefore describes a mature character whose reliability changes its expression according to the duty at hand without losing its underlying commitment to effective action.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More subhashitams on Duty
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.
नित्यं 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.