Subhashitams on Education
This theme brings together 9 subhashitams from 6 sources.
Latest update: Sep 9, 2026
उपदिशति लोकवृत्तं वितरति वित्तं विनोदयति चित्तम्। उत्तम्भयति महत्त्वं विद्या हृद्या सुराजसेवेव॥
upadiśati lokavṛttaṁ vitarati vittaṁ vinodayati cittam । uttambhayati mahattvaṁ vidyā hṛdyā surājaseveva ॥
Harihara presents learning as a guide to social conduct, prosperity, joy and distinction.
पात्रविशेषे न्यस्तं गुणान्तरं व्रजति शिल्पमाधातुः। जलमिव समुद्रशुक्तौ मुक्ताफलतां पयोदस्य॥
pātraviśeṣe nyastaṃ guṇāntaraṃ vrajati śilpam ādhātuḥ । jalam iva samudraśuktau muktāphalatāṃ payodasya ॥
Kalidasa's verse compares skill nurtured in a worthy recipient to rainwater becoming a pearl within an oyster shell.
प्रेरकः सूचकश्चैव वाचको दर्शकस्तथा। शिक्षकः बोधकश्चैव षडेते गुरवः स्मृताः॥
prerakaḥ sūcakaścaiva vācako darśakastathā । śikṣakaḥ bodhakaścaiva ṣaḍete guravaḥ smṛtāḥ ॥
The Kularnava Tantra describes a guru through six roles: one who inspires, indicates, explains, demonstrates, teaches, and awakens understanding.
श्लिष्टा क्रिया कस्यचिदात्मसंस्था सङ्क्रान्तिरन्यस्य विशेषयुक्ता। यस्योभयं साधु स शिक्षकाणां धुरि प्रतिष्ठापयितव्य एव॥
śliṣṭā kriyā kasyacid ātmasaṃsthā saṅkrāntir anyasya viśeṣayuktā । yasyobhayaṃ sādhu sa śikṣakāṇāṃ dhuri pratiṣṭhāpayitavya eva ॥
A verse on the rare teacher who combines personal mastery with the ability to transmit knowledge and skill clearly to others.
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.
यथा खात्वा खनित्रेण भूतले वारि विन्दति। तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति॥
yathā khātvā khanitreṇa bhūtale vāri vindati । tathā gurugatāṃ vidyāṃ śuśrūṣuradhigacchati ॥
Just as water is found only by digging deep into the earth, true knowledge can only be drawn from the Guru through Shushrusha — devoted service and wholehearted attentiveness.
को हि भारः समर्थानां किं दूरं व्यवसायिनाम्। को विदेशः सुविद्यानां कः परः प्रियवादिनाम्॥
ko hi bhāraḥ samarthānāṁ kiṁ dūraṁ vyavasāyinām । ko videśaḥ suvidyānāṁ kaḥ paraḥ priyavādinām ॥
A timeless verse highlighting how skill, hard work, education, and soft speech dissolve all barriers to success and belonging.
शुश्रूषा श्रवणं चैव ग्रहणं धारणां तथा। ऊहापोहोऽर्थविज्ञानं तत्त्वज्ञानं च धीगुणाः॥
śuśrūṣā śravaṇaṃ caiva grahaṇaṃ dhāraṇāṃ tathā । ūhāpoho’rthavijñānaṃ tattvajñānaṃ ca dhīguṇāḥ ॥
A mature intellect listens eagerly, understands and retains what it hears, reasons carefully, rejects error, and recognizes truth.
विद्या वितर्को विज्ञानं स्मृतिस्तत्परता क्रिया। यस्यैते षड्गुणास्तस्य नासाध्यमतिवर्तते॥
vidyā vitarko vijñānaṃ smṛtis tatparatā kriyā । yasyaite ṣaḍguṇās tasya nāsādhyam ativartate ॥
Knowledge, reasoning, discernment, memory, readiness, and active effort together give a person the practical capability to accomplish difficult work.