Shastre Pratishtha - Six Qualities of Effective Action
शास्त्रे प्रतिष्ठा सहजश्च बोधः प्रागल्भ्यमभ्यस्तगुणा च वाणी। कालानुरोधः प्रतिभानवत्त्वमेते गुणाः कामदुघाः क्रियासु॥
śāstre pratiṣṭhā sahajaśca bodhaḥ prāgalbhyam abhyastaguṇā ca vāṇī । kālānurodhaḥ pratibhānavattvam ete guṇāḥ kāmadughāḥ kriyāsu ॥
PM's MessageVirtues such as knowledge, discernment, and foresight are major foundations of success in life. A person enriched by them emerges victorious even through the most difficult challenges.
Meaning of Śāstre Pratiṣṭhā Sahajaśca Bodhaḥ
Authentic knowledge of the subject, natural prudence, fearless self-confidence, powerful speech refined through practice, foresight to recognize the demands of the time and ever-new wisdom, these six qualities prove to be like 'Kamadhenu' in every endeavor of a human being, which helps in achieving every goal.
Word by word
- शास्त्रेśāstre
in scripture
√शास्
- प्रतिष्ठाpratiṣṭhā
standing, grounding
प्रति + √स्था
- सहजःsahajaḥ
innate
सह + √जन्
- च बोधःca bodhaḥ
and understanding
√बुध्
- प्रागल्भ्यम्prāgalbhyam
boldness
प्र + गल्भ
- अभ्यस्तगुणाabhyastaguṇā
of practised quality
अभि + √अस् + गुण
- च वाणीca vāṇī
and speech
√वण्
- कालानुरोधःkālānurodhaḥ
conformity to the time
काल + अनु + √रुध्
- प्रतिभानवत्त्वम्pratibhānavattvam
possession of ready wit
प्रति + √भा
- एते गुणाःete guṇāḥ
these qualities
गुण
- कामदुघाःkāmadughāḥ
yield desires like a cow
काम + √दुह्
- क्रियासुkriyāsu
in undertakings
√कृ
Commentary
In Bhavabhuti's Malatimadhava, this verse gathers six qualities that turn ability into effective action: firm grounding in knowledge, natural understanding, confident boldness, well-practised speech, sensitivity to the demands of the moment, and continually fresh insight. Pratiṣṭhā suggests a secure foundation in one's subject, while prāgalbhya is the courage and composure to apply that knowledge without hesitation. Abhyastaguṇā vāṇī emphasizes that powerful expression is cultivated through repeated practice rather than produced by confidence alone. The image of Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow, expresses how productive these qualities become when they work together in human endeavour. Knowledge without timing may remain unused, and confidence without discernment may become recklessness; the verse therefore presents success as a balanced union of learning, judgment, communication, foresight, and creativity. In the context of the Prime Minister's message, it offers a practical model for meeting difficult challenges with clarity and converting sound understanding into victorious action.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More subhashitams on Knowledge
View topic pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
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.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.