यथा खात्वा खनित्रेण भूतले वारि विन्दति। तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति॥
yathā khātvā khanitreṇa bhūtale vāri vindati । tathā gurugatāṃ vidyāṃ śuśrūṣuradhigacchati ॥
Meaning of Yathā Khātvā Khanitreṇa Bhūtale
Just as one must dig deep into the earth with hard work and patience to obtain water, in the same way, knowledge can be gained only through devoted service to the Guru with faith, dedication, discipline, and sincerity.
Word by word
- यथाyathā
just as
- खात्वाkhātvā
having dug
√खन्
- खनित्रेणkhanitreṇa
with a spade
√खन्
- भूतलेbhūtale
in the ground
भू + तल
- वारिvāri
water
वारि
- विन्दतिvindati
one finds
√विद्
- तथाtathā
so too
- गुरुगताम्gurugatām
residing in the teacher
गुरु + √गम्
- विद्याम्vidyām
learning
√विद्
- शुश्रूषुःśuśrūṣuḥ
one eager to serve and listen
√श्रु
- अधिगच्छतिadhigacchati
attains
अधि + √गम्
Commentary
The verse draws a vivid parallel between two forms of patient, directed effort. A person who digs into the earth with a khanitra (spade) does not find water at the surface — it requires sustained labour going deeper and deeper. In the same way, knowledge is not found on the surface of texts or lectures; it is 'gurugatā' — it lives within the Guru, passed down through an unbroken chain of tradition. The key word is 'Shushrusha' (शुश्रूषा), which carries a layered meaning: it is simultaneously 'the desire to hear' and 'devoted service.' This is not mere attendance in a classroom. The word implies that true learning demands both active attentiveness and selfless service — the twin qualities that open a student to receive what the Guru holds within. The verse teaches that knowledge cannot be taken; it can only be earned by becoming the kind of student the Guru is willing to give to.
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.
कन्यानां सम्प्रदानञ्च कुमाराणाञ्च रक्षणम्। राष्ट्रस्य सङ्ग्रहे नित्यं विधानमिदमाचरेत्॥
kanyānāṃ sampradānañca kumārāṇāñca rakṣaṇam । rāṣṭrasya saṅgrahe nityaṃ vidhānam idam ācaret ॥
A Manusmriti-based teaching on public duty: care for girls, protection of the young, and constant arrangements for the nation’s stability and prosperity.
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 Education
View topic pageज्ञानवांश्च 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.
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.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥
anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat । svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and non-agitating words, together with regular study, as austerity of speech.