प्रभूतं कार्यमल्पं वा यन्नरः कर्तुमिच्छति। सर्वारम्भेण तत्कार्यं सिंहादेकं प्रचक्षते॥
prabhūtaṁ kāryamalpaṁ vā yannaraḥ kartumicchati । sarvārambheṇa tatkāryaṁ siṁhādekaṁ pracakṣate ॥
PM's MessageToday, India's dream of getting its first hydrogen train is going to be realized. This is a very big day in the direction of Atmanirbhar Bharat and sustainable development. I congratulate all those associated with it.
Meaning of Prabhūtaṁ Kāryamalpaṁ Vā Yannaraḥ
Whether a task is great or small, whatever a person wishes to accomplish should be carried out with complete dedication and renewed enthusiasm; this is the one quality that ought to be learned from a lion.
Word by word
- प्रभूतम्prabhūtam
great
प्र + √भू
- कार्यम्kāryam
a task
√कृ
- अल्पम् वाalpaṁ vā
or small
अल्प
- यत्yat
which
यद्
- नरःnaraḥ
a person
नर
- कर्तुम् इच्छतिkartum icchati
wishes to do
√कृ + √इष्
- सर्वारम्भेणsarvārambheṇa
with full commitment
सर्व + आ + √रभ्
- तत् कार्यम्tat kāryam
that should be done
√कृ
- सिंहात्siṁhāt
from the lion
सिंह
- एकम्ekam
this one thing
एक
- प्रचक्षतेpracakṣate
they say is learnt
प्र + √चक्ष्
Commentary
This verse turns a familiar image from nature into a discipline of work. The lion does not divide its attention according to the size of the prey; whether the task is small or large, it acts with full force and complete concentration. The key expression is sarvārambheṇa, suggesting an undertaking made with one's whole preparation, energy, and commitment. Chanakya's point is practical rather than dramatic: the worth of an action is not determined only by its scale, but by the seriousness with which it is begun and carried through. In the context of India's first hydrogen train, the verse naturally points to the spirit behind ambitious public work: careful preparation, sustained effort, and renewed enthusiasm even when the goal is technically difficult.
Original Post
More from Chanakya Niti
View source pageजलबिन्दुनिपातेन क्रमशः पूर्यते घटः। स हेतुः सर्वविद्यानां धर्मस्य च धनस्य च॥
jalabindunipātena kramaśaḥ pūryate ghaṭaḥ । sa hetuḥ sarvavidyānāṁ dharmasya ca dhanasya ca ॥
A classic nīti verse on steady accumulation: small, regular efforts gradually build knowledge, dharma, and prosperity just as a pot fills one drop at a time.
विद्वान् प्रशस्यते लोके विद्वान् सर्वत्र गौरवम्। विद्यया लभते सर्वं विद्या सर्वत्र पूज्यते॥
vidvān praśasyate loke vidvān sarvatra gauravam । vidyayā labhate sarvaṃ vidyā sarvatra pūjyate ॥
A verse extolling the universal honor that knowledge brings. The learned are praised everywhere, and through knowledge one can attain all of life's goals.
यथा खात्वा खनित्रेण भूतले वारि विन्दति। तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति॥
yathā khātvā khanitreṇa bhūtale vāri vindati । tathā gurugatāṃ vidyāṃ śuśrūṣuradhigacchati ॥
Just as water is found only by digging deep into the earth, true knowledge can only be drawn from the Guru through Shushrusha — devoted service and wholehearted attentiveness.
More subhashitams on Wisdom
View topic 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.
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.
यथा यथा प्रयत्नः स्याद्भवेदाशु फलं तथा। इति पौरुषमेवास्ति दैवमस्तु तदेव च॥
yathā yathā prayatnaḥ syād bhaved āśu phalaṃ tathā । iti pauruṣam evāsti daivam astu tad eva ca ॥
A Yoga Vasistha verse that links the fruit of an undertaking to human effort and identifies such effort with what people call destiny.