Subhashitams on Governance
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.
आत्मोदयः परज्यानिर्द्वयं नीतिरितीयती। तदूरीकृत्य कृतिभिर्वाचस्पत्यं प्रतायते॥
ātmodayaḥ parajānir dvayaṁ nītir itīyatī । tadūrīkṛtya kṛtibhir vācaspatyaṁ pratāyate ॥
Magha's Shishupalavadha defines statecraft through two aims: one’s own advancement and the adversary’s decline.
परकार्येषु युक्तात्मा स्वकार्यं क्षिप्रसाधनम्। सुहृत्कार्येषु निर्वृत्तौ राजकार्येषु विक्रमः॥
parakāryeṣu yuktātmā svakāryaṁ kṣiprasādhanam । suhṛtkāryeṣu nirvṛttau rājakāryeṣu vikramaḥ ॥
A Chanakya-sara-samgraha verse describes excellence as dedication to others' work, efficiency in one's own, reliability toward friends, and courage in public duty.
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.
सदानुरक्तप्रकृतिः प्रजापालनतत्परः। विनीतात्मा हि नृपतिर्भूयसी श्रियमश्नुते॥
sadānuraktaprakṛtiḥ prajāpālanatatparaḥ । vinītātmā hi nṛpatir bhūyasī śriyam aśnute ॥
A subhashita on public leadership, humility, and the prosperity earned by a ruler devoted to the welfare and protection of the people.
राज्ञो हि व्रतमुत्थानं यज्ञः कार्यानुशासनम्। दक्षिणा वृत्तिसाम्यं च दीक्षितस्याभिषेचनम्॥
rājño hi vratamutthānaṁ yajñaḥ kāryānuśāsanam । dakṣiṇā vṛttisāmyaṁ ca dīkṣitasyābhiṣecanam ॥
A profound verse from Kautilya's Arthashastra describing the true duties and sacred resolve of a king or public representative.
प्रजासुखे सुखं राज्ञः प्रजानां च हिते हितम्। नात्मप्रियं प्रियं राज्ञः प्रजानां तु प्रियं प्रियम्॥
prajāsukhe sukhaṁ rājñaḥ prajānāṁ ca hite hitam । nātmapriyaṁ priyaṁ rājñaḥ prajānāṁ tu priyaṁ priyam ॥
A foundational principle of governance from Kautilya's Arthashastra, stating that a leader's true happiness is found in the welfare of the people.
गोपायितारं दातारं धर्मनित्यमतन्द्रितम्। अकामद्वेषसंयुक्तमनुरज्यन्ति मानवाः॥
gopāyitāraṁ dātāraṁ dharmanityamatandritam । akāmadveṣasaṁyuktam anurajyanti mānavāḥ ॥
An ideal ruler protects and provides, remains constant in duty, and governs the people with fairness and restraint.
सामर्थ्यमूलं स्वातन्त्र्यं श्रममूलं च वैभवम्। न्यायमूलं सुराज्यं स्यात् सङ्घमूलं महाबलम्॥
sāmarthyamūlaṁ svātantryaṁ śramamūlaṁ ca vaibhavam । nyāyamūlaṁ surājyaṁ syāt saṅghamūlaṁ mahābalaṁ ॥
Strength supports independence, effort creates prosperity, justice sustains good governance, and organized unity becomes collective power.