Pibanti Nadyah Svayameva Nambhah - The Spirit of Selfless Service
पिबन्ति नद्यः स्वयमेव नाम्भः स्वयं न खादन्ति फलानि वृक्षाः। नादन्ति सस्यं खलु वारिवाहाः परोपकाराय सतां विभूतयः॥
pibanti nadyaḥ svayameva nāmbhaḥ svayaṃ na khādanti phalāni vṛkṣāḥ । nādanti sasyaṃ khalu vārivāhāḥ paropakārāya satāṃ vibhūtayaḥ ॥
PM's MessageMy respectful pranams to his holiness Dr. Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swamigalu on his birth anniversary! His immense contributions in education, social welfare and spirituality will continue to inspire every generation towards selfless service.
Meaning of Pibanti Nadyaḥ Svayameva Nāmbhaḥ
Just as rivers do not drink their own water, trees do not eat their own fruits and clouds do not consume the crops they help produce in the same way, the wealth and abilities of saints are not for themselves but are always dedicated to the welfare of society.
Word by word
- पिबन्तिpibanti
drink
√पा
- नद्यःnadyaḥ
rivers
√नद्
- स्वयम् एवsvayam eva
themselves
- नna
not
- अम्भःambhaḥ
water
अम्भस्
- खादन्तिkhādanti
eat
√खाद्
- फलानिphalāni
fruits
फल
- वृक्षाःvṛkṣāḥ
trees
वृक्ष
- अदन्तिadanti
consume
√अद्
- सस्यम्sasyam
the grain
सस्य
- खलुkhalu
indeed
- वारिवाहाःvārivāhāḥ
the water-bearers, clouds
वारि + √वह्
- परोपकारायparopakārāya
for the good of others
पर + उप + √कृ
- सताम्satām
of the good
सत्, √अस्
- विभूतयःvibhūtayaḥ
abundances
वि + √भू
Commentary
This verse uses rivers, trees, and clouds to illustrate paropakāra, service to others: rivers do not drink their own water, trees do not eat their own fruit, and clouds do not consume the grain they help produce. Only the final quarter states the principle directly: the resources or prosperities of good people are for the benefit of others. Vibhūtayaḥ is plural, but the grammar alone does not establish ‘every kind’ of abundance; wealth, knowledge, and power are useful modern examples rather than an exhaustive translation. Shared for Shivakumara Swamiji’s birth anniversary, the verse naturally accompanies the Lingayat ideals of kāyaka, work, and dāsoha, service.
Original Post
More from Subhashita Ratna Bhandagara
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 Selfless Service
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.
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.