वनानि दहतो वह्नेः सखा भवति मारुतः। स एव दीपनाशाय कृशे कस्यास्ति सौहृदम्॥
vanāni dahato vahneḥ sakhā bhavati mārutaḥ । sa eva dīpanāśāya kṛśe kasyāsti sauhṛdam ॥
PM's MessageOur great culture and spiritual heritage have witnessed countless attacks. It is the collective strength of the countrymen that has always kept our cultural heritage intact.
Meaning of Vanāni Dahato Vahneḥ Sakhā
When fire catches a thick forest, winds help strengthen the blaze, but the same winds put out the flame in a small lamp. So one must be strong to get help of others; no one helps the weak.
Word by word
- वनानिvanāni
the forests
वन
- दहतःdahataḥ
of the burning
√दह्
- वह्नेःvahneḥ
of the fire
√वह्
- सखाsakhā
a friend
सखि
- भवतिbhavati
becomes
√भू
- मारुतःmārutaḥ
the wind
मरुत्
- सः एवsa eva
that very one
तद्
- दीपनाशायdīpanāśāya
for the destruction of a lamp
दीप + √नश्
- कृशेkṛśe
towards the weak
√कृश्
- कस्य अस्तिkasyāsti
who has
किम् + √अस्
- सौहृदम्sauhṛdam
friendship
सु + हृद्
Commentary
This shloka highlights a harsh but practical truth of the world: power attracts support. Using the elements of fire and wind, it illustrates that external forces (the wind) align with and amplify existing strength (the forest fire) but easily crush weakness (the small lamp). It serves as a call for self-reliance and collective capacity-building, suggesting that dignity and alliances are born from strength, not pity. Its placement sharpens it. This is from Kakolukiya, the Panchatantra's book on crows and owls, which is throughout a manual on war, alliance and when to seek either. The verse is therefore counsel to someone weighing whether help will come, and its answer is that the same wind is friend and destroyer depending on which it meets — support follows strength rather than need, so strength is what must be built first.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Panchatantra
View source pageउद्यमस्य प्रसादेन दृश्यन्ते विविधाः कलाः। कातरा एव जल्पन्ति यद् भाव्यं तद् भविष्यति॥
udyamasya prasādena dṛśyante vividhāḥ kalāḥ । kātarā eva jalpanti yad bhāvyaṁ tad bhaviṣyati ॥
Mahāsubhāṣitasaṃgraha teaches that diverse skills are revealed through enterprise, while the timid merely leave everything to what will happen.
त्याज्यं न धैर्यं विधुरेऽपि दैवे धैर्यात्कदाचित्स्थितिमाप्नुयात्सः। याते समुद्रेऽपि च पोतभङ्गे सांयात्रिको वाञ्छति कर्म एव॥
tyājyaṁ na dhairyaṁ vidhure'pi daive dhairyāt kadācit sthitim āpnuyāt saḥ । yāte samudre'pi ca potabhaṅge sāṁyātriko vāñchati karma eva ॥
Even when fortune turns adverse, patience and continued action can restore one's position, just as a shipwrecked voyager still strives at sea.
यत्रोत्साहसमारम्भो यत्रालस्यविहीनता। नयविक्रमसंयोगस्तत्र श्रीरचला ध्रुवम्॥
yatrotsāhasamārambho yatrālasyavihīnatā । nayavikramasaṃyogas tatra śrīr acalā dhruvam ॥
The Panchatantra teaches that enthusiasm, freedom from idleness, prudent judgment, and courage make prosperity steady and enduring.
More subhashitams on Power
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.
उद्यमः साहसं धैर्यं बुद्धिः शक्तिः पराक्रमः। षडेते यत्र वर्तन्ते तत्र दैवं सहायकृत्॥
udyamaḥ sāhasaṃ dhairyaṃ buddhiḥ śaktiḥ parākramaḥ । ṣaḍete yatra vartante tatra daivaṃ sahāyakṛt ॥
Effort, courage, patience, intelligence, strength, and valor prepare a person to receive the help of providence.
अद्वैधमनसं युक्तं शूरं धीरं विपश्चितम्। न श्रीः सन्त्यजते नित्यमादित्यमिव रश्मयः॥
advaidhamanasaṃ yuktaṃ śūraṃ dhīraṃ vipaścitam । na śrīḥ santyajate nityam ādityamiva raśmayaḥ ॥
The Mahabharata likens lasting prosperity to the sun's inseparable rays: it remains with one who is focused, courageous, steadfast and discerning.