Yathashakti Chikirshanti - Wisdom Acts Within Its Means
यथाशक्ति चिकीर्षन्ति यथाशक्ति च कुर्वते। न किञ्चिदवमन्यन्ते नराः पण्डितबुद्धयः॥
yathāśakti cikīrṣanti yathāśakti ca kurvate । na kiñcidavamanyante narāḥ paṇḍitabuddhayaḥ ॥
PM's Message · May 15, 2026It is through these very qualities of the countrymen that India is continuously strengthening its capabilities today…
Meaning of Yathashakti Chikirshanti Yathashakti Cha
A wise person decides their actions with full confidence in their own discretion, strength and ability. They are neither disturbed by others' words nor do they look down upon anyone. In truth, acting according to one's own wisdom, strength and capacity is the true characteristic of a knowledgeable person.
Word by word
- यथाशक्तिyathāśakti
according to capacity
यथा + शक्ति
- चिकीर्षन्तिcikīrṣanti
they wish to do
√कृ
A desiderative: the wish itself is measured against capacity.
- चca
and
- कुर्वतेkurvate
they do
√कृ
- न किञ्चित्na kiñcit
nothing
- अवमन्यन्तेavamanyante
do they disdain
अव + √मन्
- नराःnarāḥ
people
नर
- पण्डितबुद्धयःpaṇḍitabuddhayaḥ
of discerning intellect
पण्डा + √बुध्
Commentary
This Vidura Niti verse describes people of discerning intellect through three connected habits. They wish to undertake things according to their capacity, act within that capacity, and disdain nothing. The desiderative cikīrṣanti makes even the intention proportionate to available strength, while kurvate carries that measure into action. The final clause, na kiñcid avamanyante, 'they disdain nothing', turns that wisdom outward: no task, word or person is beneath their notice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared this verse with the thought that it is through these very qualities of the countrymen that India keeps strengthening its capabilities today.
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.
More subhashitams on Wisdom
View topic pageप्रथमवयसि पीतं तोयमल्पं स्मरन्तः शिरसि निहितभारा नारिकेला नराणाम्। ददति जलमनल्पास्वादमाजीवितान्तं न हि कृतमुपकारं साधवो विस्मरन्ति॥
prathamavayasi pītaṃ toyamalpaṃ smarantaḥ śirasi nihitabhārā nārikelā narāṇām । dadati jalamanalpāsvādamājīvitāntaṃ na hi kṛtamupakāraṃ sādhavo vismaranti ॥
A coconut tree returns the little water received in youth with a lifetime of sweet water, an image of gratitude among good people.
रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मस्साधुस्सत्यपराक्रमः। राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानां मघवानिव॥
rāmo vigrahavān dharmassādhussatyaparākramaḥ । rājā sarvasya lokasya devānāṃ maghavāniva ॥
Rama embodies dharma, virtue and true prowess, and is compared to Indra as king of the gods.
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.