Subhashitams on Peace
This theme brings together 9 subhashitams from 6 sources.
Latest update: Sep 24, 2026
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.
एको धर्मः परं श्रेयः क्षमैका शान्तिरुत्तमा। विद्यैका परमा तृप्तिरहिंसैका सुखावहा॥
eko dharmaḥ paraṁ śreyaḥ kṣamaikā śāntir uttamā । vidyaikā paramā tṛptir ahiṁsaikā sukhāvahā ॥
A verse from Vidura Niti in the Mahabharata that pairs four virtues with what each one alone can give: dharma brings the highest good, forgiveness the finest peace, knowledge true contentment, and non-violence lasting happiness.
चलन्ति गिरयः कामं युगान्तपवनाहताः। कृच्छ्रेऽपि न चलत्येव धीराणां निश्चलं मनः॥
calanti girayaḥ kāmaṃ yugāntapavanāhatāḥ । kṛcchre'pi na calatyeva dhīrāṇāṃ niścalaṃ manaḥ ॥
A verse on steadfastness, comparing mountains shaken by cosmic winds with the unwavering mind of the patient and brave.
स्वातन्त्र्यात् सुखमाप्नोति स्वातन्त्र्याल्लभते परम्। स्वातन्त्र्यान्निर्वृतिं गच्छेत् स्वातन्त्र्यात् परमं पदम्॥
svātantryāt sukham āpnoti svātantryāl labhate param । svātantryān nirvṛtiṃ gacchet svātantryāt paramaṃ padam ॥
The Ashtavakra Gita presents freedom as the path to happiness, tranquillity, self-realization, and the supreme state.
चित्तप्रशमनोपायो योग इत्यभिधीयते। प्राणस्पन्दनिरोधो वा द्वेधा योगस्य धारणा॥
cittapraśamanopāyo yoga ity abhidhīyate । prāṇaspandanirodho vā dvedhā yogasya dhāraṇā ॥
Yoga is presented as a twofold discipline: calming the mind and regulating the movement of breath.
नान्तर्बहिश्च लोकेषु त्वात्मानं दृष्टवान् क्वचित्। आष्टाङ्गिकेन मार्गेण परमां शान्तिमाययौ॥
nāntar bahiśca lokeṣu tvātmānaṁ dṛṣṭavān kvacit । āṣṭāṅgikena mārgeṇa paramāṁ śāntim āyayau ॥
A Buddhist-oriented Sanskrit verse links insight into the absence of a permanent self with the Eightfold Path and the attainment of supreme peace.
अहिंसा परमो धर्मस्तथाऽहिंसा परन्तपः। अहिंसा परमं सत्यं यतो धर्मः प्रवर्तते॥
ahiṃsā paramo dharmastathā’hiṃsā parantapaḥ । ahiṃsā paramaṃ satyaṃ yato dharmaḥ pravartate ॥
Ahimsa is presented as the highest dharma and austerity, a discipline rooted in truth and the refusal to harm.
शान्तितुल्यं तपो नास्ति न सन्तोषात् परं सुखम्। न तृष्णायाः परो व्याधिर्न च धर्मो दयापरः॥
śāntitulyaṁ tapo nāsti na santoṣāt paraṁ sukham । na tṛṣṇāyāḥ paro vyādhir na ca dharmo dayāparaḥ ॥
Peace is the highest austerity, contentment the deepest happiness, greed the gravest disease, and compassion the greatest dharma.
गते शोको न कर्तव्यो भविष्यं नैव चिन्तयेत्। वर्तमानेन कालेन वर्तयन्ति विचक्षणाः॥
gate śokaḥ na kartavyo bhaviṣyaṁ naiva cintayet । vartamānena kālena vartayanti vicakṣaṇāḥ ॥
The wise neither grieve over what has passed nor become anxious about what is yet to come; they attend to the present.