प्रथमवयसि पीतं तोयमल्पं स्मरन्तः शिरसि निहितभारा नारिकेला नराणाम्। ददति जलमनल्पास्वादमाजीवितान्तं न हि कृतमुपकारं साधवो विस्मरन्ति॥
prathamavayasi pītaṃ toyamalpaṃ smarantaḥ śirasi nihitabhārā nārikelā narāṇām । dadati jalamanalpāsvādamājīvitāntaṃ na hi kṛtamupakāraṃ sādhavo vismaranti ॥
Meaning of Prathamavayasi Pitam Toyamalpam Smarantah
Just as a coconut tree remembers, throughout its life, the small amount of water it received in its early stage and even while bearing a heavy burden upon its head continues to offer sweet water to humankind, in the same way truly noble individuals—especially in reverence to the great souls who made sacrifices—never forget the benefaction done to them. Holding deep gratitude for their sacrifice, austerity and dedication, they align their lives with their ideals and remain ever grateful for that benevolence through their actions and spirit of devoted service.
Translation note: This translation is reproduced from the PM's X post video. The references to sacrificial great souls, austerity, dedication, and following their ideals are additions; the Sanskrit speaks generally of good people remembering kindness.
Word by word
- प्रथमवयसिprathamavayasi
in early life
- पीतंpītaṃ
drunk; taken in
- तोयमल्पंtoyamalpaṃ
a little water, toyam + alpam
- स्मरन्तःsmarantaḥ
remembering
- शिरसिśirasi
on the head
- निहितभाराnihitabhārā
bearing a burden; nihitabhārāḥ in sandhi
- नारिकेलाnārikelā
coconut trees; nārikelāḥ in sandhi
- नराणाम्narāṇām
for human beings
- ददतिdadati
give
- जलमनल्पास्वादमाजीवितान्तंjalamanalpāsvādamājīvitāntaṃ
water of abundant sweetness throughout life; jalam + analpāsvādam + ājīvitāntam
- नna
not
- हिhi
indeed; for
- कृतमुपकारंkṛtamupakāraṃ
a kindness done; kṛtam + upakāram
- साधवोsādhavo
good people; sādhavaḥ in sandhi
- विस्मरन्तिvismaranti
forget
Commentary
The coconut tree is imagined as remembering the little water it drank when young. Its head now carries the weight of fruit, yet it gives people sweet water throughout its life. The contrast between alpa, little, and analpāsvāda, abundant sweetness, suggests that the value of an early kindness need not be measured by its size. The final words turn this image into a teaching about sādhavaḥ, people of good character who do not forget help received. In daily life, this gratitude can take the form of continued care for those who helped us, even long after our circumstances have changed.
Sources and textual variants
Also in
Original Post
More from Sharngadhara Paddhati
View source pageखद्योतो द्योतते तावद् यावन्नोदयते शशी। उदिते तु सहस्रांशौ न खद्योतो न चन्द्रमाः॥
khadyoto dyotate tāvad yāvannodayate śaśī। udite tu sahasrāṃśau na khadyoto na candramāḥ॥
A firefly shines until the moon rises; sunrise then outshines both. The verse depicts how greater radiance eclipses lesser light.
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.
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.
More subhashitams on Character
View topic pageखद्योतो द्योतते तावद् यावन्नोदयते शशी। उदिते तु सहस्रांशौ न खद्योतो न चन्द्रमाः॥
khadyoto dyotate tāvad yāvannodayate śaśī। udite tu sahasrāṃśau na khadyoto na candramāḥ॥
A firefly shines until the moon rises; sunrise then outshines both. The verse depicts how greater radiance eclipses lesser light.
रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मस्साधुस्सत्यपराक्रमः। राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानां मघवानिव॥
rāmo vigrahavān dharmassādhussatyaparākramaḥ । rājā sarvasya lokasya devānāṃ maghavāniva ॥
Rama embodies dharma, virtue and true prowess, and is compared to Indra as king of the gods.
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.