यथा यथा हि पुरुषः कल्याणे कुरुते मनः। तथा तथाऽस्य सर्वार्थाः सिद्ध्यन्ते नात्र संशयः॥
yathā yathā hi puruṣaḥ kalyāṇe kurute manaḥ । tathā tatha'sya sarvārthāḥ siddhyante nātra saṁśayaḥ ॥
PM's MessageOnly through benevolent thoughts can we serve the welfare of society.
Meaning of Yathā Yathā Hi Puruṣaḥ
When people imbibe noble thoughts in their hearts, undoubtedly, they get similar results.
Word by word
- यथा यथाyathā yathā
in whatever measure
- हिhi
indeed
- पुरुषःpuruṣaḥ
a person
पुरुष
- कल्याणेkalyāṇe
upon welfare
कल्याण
- कुरुते मनःkurute manaḥ
sets the mind
√कृ + मनस्
- तथा तथाtathā tathā
in that same measure
- अस्यasya
his
इदम्
- सर्वार्थाःsarvārthāḥ
all aims
सर्व + अर्थ
- सिद्ध्यन्तेsiddhyante
are fulfilled
√सिध्
- न अत्र संशयःnātra saṁśayaḥ
there is no doubt in this
सम् + √शी
Commentary
This verse from Vidura Niti highlights the power of intention and the law of cause and effect. It suggests that as a person directs their mind toward 'Kalyana' (welfare/noble thoughts), their actions and the resulting outcomes naturally align with that positive intent. It encourages the cultivation of a pure and benevolent mind, asserting that the quality of one's thoughts ultimately determines the quality of one's life and the success of one's endeavors. The yathā yathā … tathā tathā construction states a proportion rather than a consequence. The verse is not saying that good intent is followed by success, but that the two rise together and by the same measure — the further the mind is set on kalyāṇa, the further the aims are fulfilled. It describes a scale, not a switch, which is why it ends by refusing doubt outright: nātra saṁśayaḥ.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Vidura Niti
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 Karma
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.
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.
शुचित्वं त्यागिता शौर्यं सामान्यं सुखदुःखयोः। दाक्षिण्यं चानुरक्तिश्च सत्यता च सुहृद्गुणाः॥
śucitvaṃ tyāgitā śauryaṃ sāmānyaṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ । dākṣiṇyaṃ cānuraktiśca satyatā ca suhṛdguṇāḥ ॥
Purity, generosity, courage, steadiness in joy and sorrow, courtesy, affection, and truthfulness are the qualities of a true friend.