विचित्रचरितोल्लेखचमत्कारितचेतनम्। प्राप्यते किं यशः शुभ्रमनङ्गीकृत्य साहसम्॥
vicitracaritollekhacamatkāritacetanam । prāpyate kiṃ yaśaḥ śubhramanaṅgīkṛtya sāhasam ॥
PM's MessageThe life of the great freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Verma gives us wonderful inspiration of courage and determination. It also fills the countrymen with a sense of performing their duties towards the nation.
Meaning of Vicitracaritollekhacamatkāritacetanam
Bright and glorious fame, which dazzles the mind with the description of extraordinary feats, is attained only by embracing courage.
Word by word
- विचित्रचरितोल्लेखचमत्कारितचेतनम्vicitracaritollekhacamatkāritacetanam
astonishing the mind with the record of extraordinary deeds
विचित्र + √चर् + उद् + √लिख् + चमत्कार + चेतस्
- प्राप्यतेprāpyate
is obtained
प्र + √आप्
- किम्kim
how
किम्
- यशःyaśaḥ
fame
यशस्
- शुभ्रम्śubhram
bright
√शुभ्
- अनङ्गीकृत्यanaṅgīkṛtya
without accepting
अन् + अङ्गी + √कृ
- साहसम्sāhasam
daring
सहस्
Commentary
This verse emphasizes that "Shubhra Yash" (pure/bright fame) is not merely a product of luck, but a direct result of "Sahasa" (courage). PM Modi uses this verse to contextualize the life of Shyamji Krishna Verma, an Indian revolutionary who founded the India House in London. The commentary suggests that for one’s life story to be truly "Vicitra" (extraordinary/marvellous), one must first be willing to take bold risks for a greater cause. The setting is apt. Somadeva's Kathasaritsagara is an eleventh-century Kashmiri retelling of the Brihatkatha and is built entirely of adventure — a work made of remarkable lives is the natural place for a verse arguing that a life becomes worth recounting only through risk. The word ullekha, a written account, keeps that frame: the verse is thinking about the story that will be told afterwards.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Kathasaritsagara
View source 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.
आपत्काले च कष्टेऽपि नोत्साहस्त्यज्यते बुधैः। इति प्रबोधितस्तेन कथञ्चिद् दृढबुद्धिना॥
āpatkāle ca kaṣṭe’pi notsāhas tyajyate budhaiḥ । iti prabodhitastena kathañcid dṛḍhabuddhinā ॥
A Kathasaritsagara passage teaches that the wise do not abandon their spirit even amid adversity and hardship.
इत्थं फलति शुद्धेन सिक्तं सङ्कल्पवारिणा। पुण्यबीजमपि स्वल्पं पुंसां कृषिकृतामिव॥
itthaṁ phalati śuddhena siktaṁ saṅkalpavāriṇā । puṇyabījamapi svalpaṁ puṁsāṁ kṛṣikṛtāmiva ॥
Just as a farmer reaps a harvest from a small seed, a person achieves great success from even a small effort when nurtured with pure determination.
More subhashitams on Courage
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.
नित्यं 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.