Sarvam Paravasham Duhkham - Dependence and Happiness
सर्वं परवशं दुःखं सर्वमात्मवशं सुखम्। एतद् विद्यात् समासेन लक्षणं सुखदुःखयोः॥
sarvaṁ paravaśaṁ duḥkhaṁ sarvam ātmavaśaṁ sukham । etad vidyāt samāsena lakṣaṇaṁ sukha-duḥkhayoḥ ॥
Meaning of Sarvaṁ Paravaśaṁ Duḥkhaṁ Sarvam
Happiness and misery can be defined in two sentences: dependence on others leads to misery and dependence on self gives happiness.
Word by word
- सर्वम्sarvam
everything
सर्व
- परवशम्paravaśam
under another's control
पर + वश
- दुःखम्duḥkham
is sorrow
दुःख
- आत्मवशम्ātmavaśam
under one's own control
आत्मन् + वश
- सुखम्sukham
is happiness
सुख
- एतत्etat
this
एतद्
- विद्यात्vidyāt
one should know
√विद्
- समासेनsamāsena
in brief
सम् + √अस्
- लक्षणम्lakṣaṇam
the defining mark
√लक्ष्
- सुखदुःखयोःsukhaduḥkhayoḥ
of happiness and sorrow
सुख + दुःख
Commentary
This teaching from the Manusmriti gives a deliberately stark definition: whatever is under another’s control is suffering, while whatever is under one’s own control is happiness. Paravaśa and ātmavaśa speak specifically of control or subjection; the supplied language of modern dependence, self-reliance, and inward fulfilment is a broader application. The verse calls this a lakṣaṇa, a defining mark, stated samāsena, in brief. It can therefore be used as a practical question about agency—under whose control does a condition stand?—while recognizing that the Sanskrit maxim is sharper and more absolute than contemporary language about healthy interdependence.
Original Post
More from Manusmriti
View source pageकन्यानां सम्प्रदानञ्च कुमाराणाञ्च रक्षणम्। राष्ट्रस्य सङ्ग्रहे नित्यं विधानमिदमाचरेत्॥
kanyānāṃ sampradānañca kumārāṇāñca rakṣaṇam । rāṣṭrasya saṅgrahe nityaṃ vidhānam idam ācaret ॥
A Manusmriti-based teaching on public duty: care for girls, protection of the young, and constant arrangements for the nation’s stability and prosperity.
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 Self-Realization
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.
हिताहितं सुखं दुःखमायुस्तस्य हिताहितम्। मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तमायुर्वेदः स उच्यते॥
hitāhitaṃ sukhaṃ duḥkham āyus tasya hitāhitam । mānaṃ ca tac ca yatroktam āyurvedaḥ sa ucyate ॥
Charaka Samhita defines Ayurveda through beneficial and harmful, happy and unhappy forms of life and the measure of lifespan.