Samarthyamulam Swatantryam - Foundations of Strength
सामर्थ्यमूलं स्वातन्त्र्यं श्रममूलं च वैभवम्। न्यायमूलं सुराज्यं स्यात् सङ्घमूलं महाबलम्॥
sāmarthyamūlaṁ svātantryaṁ śramamūlaṁ ca vaibhavam । nyāyamūlaṁ surājyaṁ syāt saṅghamūlaṁ mahābalaṁ ॥
PM's MessageOn this day, December 30, 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose courageously hoisted the Tricolour at Port Blair. That moment reminds us that freedom is shaped not by aspiration alone, but by strength, hard work, justice and organised resolve. Today's subhashita expresses this very sentiment.
Meaning of Sāmarthyamūlaṁ Svātantryaṁ Śramamūlaṁ Ca
Strength is the basis of independence, perseverance is the basis of prosperity, good governance is based on justice and strength stands on the pillar of unity and organisation.
Word by word
- सामर्थ्यमूलम्sāmarthyamūlam
rooted in capability
सामर्थ्य + मूल
- स्वातन्त्र्यम्svātantryam
independence
स्व + तन्त्र
- श्रममूलम्śramamūlam
rooted in labour
√श्रम् + मूल
- च वैभवम्ca vaibhavam
and prosperity
वि + √भू
- न्यायमूलम्nyāyamūlam
rooted in justice
नि + √ई + मूल
- सुराज्यम्surājyam
good governance
सु + √राज्
- स्यात्syāt
would be
√अस्
- सङ्घमूलम्saṅghamūlam
rooted in union
सङ्घ + मूल
- महाबलम्mahābalam
great power
महा + बल
Commentary
This modern subhashita outlines the four pillars of a strong and prosperous nation. It posits that 'Samarthya' (strength/capability) is the root of independence, 'Shrama' (labor/hard work) is the root of prosperity, 'Nyaya' (justice) is the root of good governance, and 'Sangha' (unity/organization) is the root of great power. It serves as a comprehensive framework for nation-building, emphasizing that these four elements are interconnected and essential for the collective well-being of society. Four clauses are cast in one identical frame — X is rooted in Y — and the repetition is itself the argument: each good named is presented not as a possession but as something standing on a root that must be maintained. Nothing in the verse is granted or permanent. The source of this verse has not yet been traced.
Original Post
More subhashitams on Independence
View topic pageदेव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatamidaṃ jagadātmaśaktyā niśśeṣadevagaṇaśaktisamūhamūrtyā । tāmambikāmakhiladevamaharṣipūjyāṃ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A prayer from Devi Mahatmyam to Ambika, who pervades the world and embodies all divine powers, asking for blessings for everyone.
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.
रत्नैर्महाब्धेस्तुतुषुर्न 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.