प्रभया हि विनायद्वद्भानुरेष न विद्यते। प्रभा च भानुना तेन सुतरां तदुपाश्रया॥
prabhayā hi vināyadvadbhānureṣa na vidyate । prabhā ca bhānunā tena sutarāṃ tadupāśrayā ॥
Meaning of Prabhayā Hi Vināyadvadbhānureṣa Na
Just as the Sun cannot be perceived without its light, so too light cannot exist without the Sun. Thus, the entire existence and power of the Sun and its light are entirely dependent upon each other.
Word by word
- प्रभयाprabhayā
by radiance
प्र + √भा
- हि विनाhi vinā
indeed without
- यद्वत्yadvat
just as
- भानुः एषःbhānur eṣaḥ
this sun
√भा
- न विद्यतेna vidyate
does not exist
√विद्
- प्रभा चprabhā ca
and the radiance
प्र + √भा
- भानुना तेनbhānunā tena
by that sun
√भा
- सुतराम्sutarām
all the more
- तदुपाश्रयाtadupāśrayā
dependent upon it
तद् + उप + √श्रि
Commentary
The verse chooses a simple but precise image: the sun is known through its radiance, while radiance itself has no independent standing apart from the sun. Prabhā, light or splendour, makes bhānu, the sun, visible to the world; at the same time, that very light rests upon the sun as its source. The teaching is therefore about mutual dependence, not weakness: power becomes meaningful when it is expressed, and expression remains rooted in what gives it being. In everyday life, this image can be read as a reminder that identity and action, source and manifestation, strength and service are often inseparable. What shines outward must remain connected to its inner ground, and what is inwardly powerful becomes visible through its effects.
Original Post
More from Shiva Purana
View source pageएवं परस्परापेक्षा शक्तिशक्तिमतोः स्थिता। न शिवेन विना शक्तिर्न शक्त्या विना शिवः॥
evaṁ parasparāpekṣā śaktiśaktimatoḥ sthitā । na śivena vinā śaktirna śaktyā vinā śivaḥ ॥
Power and capability are mutually dependent — just as Shiva and Shakti cannot exist without each other, strength and ability together make creation, progress, and success possible.
More subhashitams on Wisdom
View topic pageअद्वेष्टा 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.
सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्॥
sukhopaviṣṭās te tatra puṇyāṃ cakruḥ kathām imām । dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām ārogyaṃ mūlam uttamam ॥
Charaka Samhita presents good health as the foremost foundation for pursuing dharma, prosperity, desire and liberation.
अनादिरप्रमेयश्च अरूपश्च जयाजयः। लोकरूपो जगन्नाथः विश्वकर्मन्नमो नमः॥
anādir aprameyaś ca arūpaś ca jayājayaḥ । lokarūpo jagannāthaḥ viśvakarman namo namaḥ ॥
A verse from the Vishwakarma Ashtakam bows to the beginningless, immeasurable and formless Lord who appears as the world itself.