उद्यच्छेदेव न नमेदुद्यमो ह्येव पौरुषम्। अप्यपर्वणि भज्येत न नमेदिह कस्यचित्॥
udyacched eva na named udyamo hy eva pauruṣam । apy aparvaṇi bhajyeta na named iha kasyacit ॥
Meaning of Udyacched Eva Na Named
A person should always live with self-respect, courage and dignity. True valour and strength lie in never compromising one's principles and values under any circumstances, but remaining steadfast in one's ideals with truth, patience, and self-respect.
Word by word
- उद्यच्छेत्udyacchet
should strive, should exert himself
उद् + √यम्
Sandhi: udyacchet + eva gives udyacchedeva.
- एवeva
indeed, precisely
- नna
not
- नमेत्namet
should bow, should bend
√नम्
Sandhi: namet + udyamaḥ gives namedudyamo.
- उद्यमःudyamaḥ
exertion, sustained effort
उद् + √यम्
From the same root as udyacchet, so the verse defines the act by its own verb.
- हिhi
indeed, for
Contracted in hy eva.
- पौरुषम्pauruṣam
manhood, valour, prowess
पुरुष
- अपिapi
even
- अपर्वणिaparvaṇi
at a place with no joint
अ + पर्वन्
A cane yields at its knots; there is no such yielding point here.
- भज्येतbhajyeta
may be broken, may snap
√भञ्ज्
Passive optative: let it be broken.
- नमेत्namet
should bow
√नम्
- इहiha
here, in this world
- कस्यचित्kasyacit
to anyone
किम् + चित्
Commentary
The verse is built around two opposing actions: udyacchet, to rise and exert oneself, and na namet, not to bow or bend. Its central statement—udyamo hy eva pauruṣam—defines valour not as strength already possessed, but as the continuing act of making an effort. The second line intensifies this resolve through the image of breaking even at a place without a joint, while still refusing to yield before anyone. Repeating na namet makes steadfastness, rather than victory, the measure of courage. The verse does not promise that effort will always prevent defeat, since bhajyeta explicitly allows the possibility of being broken. Instead, it locates dignity in continuing to strive without surrendering one's integrity; the supplied meaning develops this idea through self-respect, principles and values, while truth and patience are modern applications rather than separate terms in the Sanskrit.
Original Post
More from Mahabharata
View source 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.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca । nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes a character free from hatred and ego, friendly to all beings and steady in joy and sorrow.
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.
More subhashitams on Perseverance
View topic pageवत्सराजोऽपि तं प्राप्तं प्रदत्तोपायनं नृपम्। प्रीत्या सम्मानयामास शूरा हि प्रणतिप्रियाः॥
vatsarājo 'pi taṃ prāptaṃ pradattopāyanaṃ nṛpam । prītyā sammānayāmāsa śūrā hi praṇatipriyāḥ ॥
Vatsaraja honours a king who comes with gifts, illustrating the brave person's regard for respectful homage.
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.
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.