Siddhih Sadhye Satam Astu - Success Through Divine Grace
सिद्धिः साध्ये सतामस्तु प्रसादात्तस्य धूर्जटेः। जाह्नवीफेनलेखेव यन्मूर्ध्नि शशिनः कला॥
siddhiḥ sādhye satām astu prasādāt tasya dhūrjaṭeḥ । jāhnavī-phena-lekheva yan-mūrdhni śaśinaḥ kalā ॥
PM's MessageResolute determination is the power that makes even the most difficult challenges easy. Our hardworking Karyakartas are living examples of this, who have taken the BJP to this historic height through their dedication and sense of service. My best wishes to them on the Party's Foundation Day.
Meaning of Siddhiḥ Sādhye Satām Astu
On the forehead of that Great Lord Shiva (Dhurjati), where the crescent moon shines like a streak of the foam of the Ganga, by the grace of that Mahadeva, may the undertakings of resolute and noble persons attain success.
Word by word
- सिद्धिःsiddhiḥ
accomplishment
√सिध्
- साध्येsādhye
in the aim
√साध्
- सताम्satām
of the good
√अस्
- अस्तुastu
let there be
√अस्
- प्रसादात्prasādāt
by the grace
प्र + √सद्
- तस्य धूर्जटेःtasya dhūrjaṭeḥ
of that Dhurjati, Shiva
धूर् + जट
- जाह्नवीफेनलेखा इवjāhnavīphenalekheva
like a line of Ganga's foam
जाह्नवी + फेन + लेखा
- यन्मूर्ध्निyanmūrdhni
on whose head
मूर्धन्
- शशिनः कलाśaśinaḥ kalā
the crescent of the moon
शशिन् + कला
Commentary
This is the mangalacharana (auspicious opening verse) of the Hitopadesha. It invokes Lord Shiva, describing the crescent moon on his matted locks as a pale line of foam from the sacred Ganga. The prayer is that the undertakings of good people may attain success through his grace. Its focus is therefore not a general formula about instruction and effort, but an auspicious wish for noble endeavors at the opening of the work. The simile is drawn from within its own picture: the crescent compared to Ganga's foam rests on the same head traditionally associated with the river herself.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Hitopadesha
View source pageशुचित्वं 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.
आत्मोदयः परज्यानिर्द्वयं नीतिरितीयती। तदूरीकृत्य कृतिभिर्वाचस्पत्यं प्रतायते॥
ātmodayaḥ parajānir dvayaṁ nītir itīyatī । tadūrīkṛtya kṛtibhir vācaspatyaṁ pratāyate ॥
Magha's Shishupalavadha defines statecraft through two aims: one’s own advancement and the adversary’s decline.
जलबिन्दुनिपातेन 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.
More subhashitams on Devotion
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.
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.
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.