यद् दूरं यद् दुराराध्यं यच्च दूरे व्यवस्थितम्। तत् सर्वं तपसा साध्यं तपो हि दुरतिक्रमम्॥
yad dūraṃ yad durārādhyaṃ yacca dūre vyavasthitam । tat sarvaṃ tapasā sādhyaṃ tapo hi duratikramam ॥
PM's MessageThe people of India make any task possible with their firm determination. With their tireless hard work in the right direction, they show by achieving even the biggest goals.
Meaning of Yad Dūraṃ Yad Durārādhyaṃ
No matter how far, difficult, or out of reach a goal may seem, it can be achieved through firm determination and continuous hard work. Determination and patience are the forces that turn the impossible into possible.
Word by word
- यत् दूरम्yad dūram
what is far
दूर
- यत् दुराराध्यम्yad durārādhyam
what is hard to propitiate
दुस् + आ + √राध्
- यत् च दूरे व्यवस्थितम्yac ca dūre vyavasthitam
and what stands at a distance
वि + अव + √स्था
- तत् सर्वम्tat sarvam
all that
सर्व
- तपसाtapasā
by tapas
√तप्
- साध्यम्sādhyam
is achievable
√साध्
- तपः हिtapo hi
for tapas is
√तप्
- दुरतिक्रमम्duratikramam
not to be overstepped
दुस् + अति + √क्रम्
Commentary
This profound verse from Chanakya Niti (also found in Manu Smriti with slight variations) celebrates the indomitable power of "Tapas." While often translated as "austerity" or "penance," in a practical sense, it represents focused, intense, and persistent effort. The verse argues that distance, difficulty, or seeming impossibility are merely external hurdles that dissolve before the fire of human resolve. It teaches us that "Tapas" is the ultimate tool for manifestation—converting a distant vision into a tangible reality through the sheer force of disciplined action. The shared meaning renders tapas as resolve and hard work, but the verse rests on tapas in its own sense: what is far, hard to propitiate, and distant all yield to austerity, and tapo hi duratikramam repeats that this power cannot be overcome.
Original Post
More from Chanakya Niti
View source pageप्रभूतं कार्यमल्पं वा यन्नरः कर्तुमिच्छति। सर्वारम्भेण तत्कार्यं सिंहादेकं प्रचक्षते॥
prabhūtaṁ kāryamalpaṁ vā yannaraḥ kartumicchati । sarvārambheṇa tatkāryaṁ siṁhādekaṁ pracakṣate ॥
A Chanakya Niti verse teaching that every task, great or small, should be undertaken with complete dedication, like the focused effort of a lion.
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.
विद्वान् प्रशस्यते लोके विद्वान् सर्वत्र गौरवम्। विद्यया लभते सर्वं विद्या सर्वत्र पूज्यते॥
vidvān praśasyate loke vidvān sarvatra gauravam । vidyayā labhate sarvaṃ vidyā sarvatra pūjyate ॥
A verse extolling the universal honor that knowledge brings. The learned are praised everywhere, and through knowledge one can attain all of life's goals.
More subhashitams on Perseverance
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.
रत्नैर्महाब्धेस्तुतुषुर्न देवा न भेजिरे भीमविषेण भीतिम्। सुधां विना न प्रययुर्विरामं न निश्चितार्थाद्विरमन्ति धीराः॥
ratnair mahābdhes tutuṣur na devā na bhejire bhīmaviṣeṇa bhītim । sudhāṃ vinā na prayayur virāmaṃ na niścitārthād viramanti dhīrāḥ ॥
Bhartrhari recalls the churning of the ocean to show that resolute people neither settle for partial gains nor abandon their aim when danger appears.
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.