Subhashitams on Spirituality
This theme brings together 43 subhashitams from 6 sources.
Latest update: Sep 28, 2026
सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्॥
sukhopaviṣṭās te tatra puṇyāṃ cakruḥ kathām imām । dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām ārogyaṃ mūlam uttamam ॥
Charaka Samhita presents good health as the foremost foundation for pursuing dharma, prosperity, desire and liberation.
अनादिरप्रमेयश्च अरूपश्च जयाजयः। लोकरूपो जगन्नाथः विश्वकर्मन्नमो नमः॥
anādir aprameyaś ca arūpaś ca jayājayaḥ । lokarūpo jagannāthaḥ viśvakarman namo namaḥ ॥
A verse from the Vishwakarma Ashtakam bows to the beginningless, immeasurable and formless Lord who appears as the world itself.
मुदाकरात्तमोदकं सदा विमुक्तिसाधकं कलाधरावतंसकं विलासिलोकरक्षकम्। अनायकैकनायकं विनाशितेभदैत्यकं नताशुभाशुनाशकं नमामि तं विनायकम्॥
mudākarāttamodakaṁ sadā vimuktisādhakaṁ kalādharāvataṁsakaṁ vilāsilokarakṣakam । anāyakaikanāyakaṁ vināśitebhadaityakaṁ natāśubhāśunāśakaṁ namāmi taṁ vināyakam ॥
A devotional verse praising Vinayaka as the giver of liberation, protector of the world, and swift destroyer of misfortune.
स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः। स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु॥
svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ । svasti nas tārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ svasti no bṛhaspatir dadhātu ॥
A Rigveda svasti mantra in which Indra, Pushan, Tarkshya and Brihaspati are each asked to bestow well-being upon us.
वसुदेवसुतं देवं कंसचाणूरमर्दनम्। देवकीपरमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम्॥
vasudevasutaṁ devaṁ kaṁsacāṇūramardanam । devakīparamānandaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ vande jagadgurum ॥
A reverent salutation to Krishna as Vasudeva's son, the destroyer of Kansa and Chanura, Devaki's supreme joy, and the teacher of the world.
तन्तुं तन्वन्रजसो भानुमन्विहि ज्योतिष्मतः पथो रक्ष धिया कृतान्। अनुल्बणं वयत जोगुवामपो मनुर्भव जनया दैव्यं जनम्॥
tantuṃ tanvan rajaso bhānum anv ihi jyotiṣmataḥ patho rakṣa dhiyā kṛtān । anulbaṇaṃ vayata joguvām apo manur bhava janayā daivyaṃ janam ॥
A Rigveda mantra invokes luminous paths shaped by insight and culminates in the call to become truly human and bring forth divine qualities.
शं नो द्यावापृथिवी पूर्वहूतौ शमन्तरिक्षं दृशये नो अस्तु। शं न ओषधीर्वनिनो भवन्तु शं नो रजसस्पतिरस्तु जिष्णुः॥
śaṁ no dyāvāpṛthivī pūrvahūtau śam antarikṣaṁ dṛśaye no astu । śaṁ na oṣadhīr vanino bhavantu śaṁ no rajasas patir astu jiṣṇuḥ ॥
A Rigvedic prayer asks heaven, earth, the atmosphere, healing herbs, trees, and the victorious lord of the midspace to bring abiding well-being.
लोकपालाश्च ते सर्वे वासवप्रमुखास्तथा। ऋतवः षट् च ते सर्वे मासाः संवत्सराः क्षपाः॥ दिनानि च मुहूर्ताश्च स्वस्ति कुर्वन्तु ते सदा। श्रुतिः स्मृतिश्च धर्मश्च पातु त्वां पुत्र सर्वतः॥
lokapālāśca te sarve vāsavapramukhāstathā । ṛtavaḥ ṣaṭ ca te sarve māsāḥ saṁvatsarāḥ kṣapāḥ ॥ dināni ca muhūrtāśca svasti kurvantu te sadā । śrutiḥ smṛtiśca dharmaśca pātu tvāṁ putra sarvataḥ ॥
In this blessing from the Ayodhya Kanda, the guardians of the world, the cycles of time, sacred tradition, and dharma are invoked for abiding well-being and protection.
यश्चायमस्मिन्नाकाशे तेजोमयोऽमृतमयः पुरुषः सर्वानुभूः। यश्चायमस्मिन्नात्मनि तेजोमयोऽमृतमयः पुरुषः सर्वानुभूः॥
yaścāyamasminnākāśe tejomayo'mṛtamayaḥ puruṣaḥ sarvānubhūḥ । yaścāyamasminnātmani tejomayo'mṛtamayaḥ puruṣaḥ sarvānubhūḥ ॥
A composite drawn from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad identifies the luminous, immortal presence in cosmic space with the same reality experienced within the self.
देवदेव जगन्नाथ सुरासुरनमस्कृत। पुण्यश्लोकाव्ययानन्त परमात्मन्नमोऽस्तु ते॥
devadeva jagannātha surāsuranamaskṛta । puṇyaślokāvyayānanta paramātman namo’stu te ॥
A devotional salutation to Lord Jagannath as the Lord of the universe, worshipped by divine beings and present as the Supreme Soul in all hearts.
प्रभया हि विनायद्वद्भानुरेष न विद्यते। प्रभा च भानुना तेन सुतरां तदुपाश्रया॥
prabhayā hi vināyadvadbhānureṣa na vidyate । prabhā ca bhānunā tena sutarāṃ tadupāśrayā ॥
A Sanskrit subhashita uses the sun and its light to show how existence, power, and manifestation can depend deeply on each other.
हितं यत्सर्वभूतानामात्मानश्च सुखावहम्। तत्कुर्यादीश्वरे ह्येतन्मूलं सर्वार्थसिद्धये॥
hitaṃ yat sarvabhūtānām ātmānaśca sukhāvaham । tat kuryād īśvare hy etan mūlaṃ sarvārthasiddhaye ॥
A Mahabharata verse teaching that the right action is one that benefits all beings, brings inner peace, and is rooted in surrender to the divine.
वाग्बुद्धिचित्तकरणैश्च तपोभिरुग्रैः शक्यं समाकलयितुं न यदीयरूपम्। तं भक्तिभावसुलभं शरणं नतानां नित्यं भजाम्यमरनाथमहं दयालुम्॥
vāgbuddhicittakaraṇaiś ca tapobhir ugraiḥ śakyaṃ samākalayituṃ na yadīyarūpam । taṃ bhaktibhāvasulabhaṃ śaraṇaṃ natānāṃ nityaṃ bhajāmy amaranātham ahaṃ dayālum ॥
A devotional verse to Lord Amarnath, who is beyond speech, intellect, mind, senses, and austerity, yet easily reached through devotion.
समानो मन्त्रः समितिः समानी समानं मनः सह चित्तमेषाम्। समानं मन्त्रमभि मन्त्रये वः समानेन वो हविषा जुहोमि॥
samāno mantraḥ samitiḥ samānī samānaṁ manaḥ saha cittameṣām । samānaṁ mantram abhi mantraye vaḥ samānena vo haviṣā juhomi ॥
A Rigvedic mantra praying for shared resolve, harmonious assembly, united minds, and collective effort toward a common purpose.
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.
न कर्मणा न प्रजया धनेन त्यागेनैके अमृतत्वमानशुः। परेण नाकं निहितं गुहायां विभ्राजते यद् यतयो विशन्ति॥
na karmaṇā na prajayā dhanena tyāgenaike amṛtatvam ānaśuḥ । pareṇa nākaṃ nihitaṃ guhāyāṃ vibhrājate yad yatayo viśanti ॥
The Kaivalya Upanishad teaches that immortality is attained through renunciation, selfless dedication, and fidelity to noble ideals.
नारी त्रैलोक्यजननी नारी त्रैलोक्यरूपिणी। नारी त्रिभुवनाधारा नारी शक्तिस्वरूपिणी॥
nārī trailokyajananī nārī trailokyarūpiṇī । nārī tribhuvanādhārā nārī śaktisvarūpiṇī ॥
A tribute to woman as mother, expression, foundation, and living embodiment of Shakti across the three worlds.
एवं परस्परापेक्षा शक्तिशक्तिमतोः स्थिता। न शिवेन विना शक्तिर्न शक्त्या विना शिवः॥
evaṁ parasparāpekṣā śaktiśaktimatoḥ sthitā । na śivena vinā śaktirna śaktyā vinā śivaḥ ॥
Power and capability are mutually dependent — just as Shiva and Shakti cannot exist without each other, strength and ability together make creation, progress, and success possible.
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.
यस्यां वृक्षा वानस्पत्या ध्रुवास्तिष्ठन्ति विश्वहा। पृथिवीं धेनुं प्रदुहां न उदिच्छन्तु नमोऽस्तु पृथिव्यै॥
yasyāṃ vṛkṣā vānaspatyā dhruvāstiṣṭhanti viśvahā । pṛthivīṃ dhenuṃ praduhāṃ na udicchantu namo’stu pṛthivyai ॥
A Vedic prayer from the Bhumi Sukta honoring Mother Earth as the provider of all resources and the sustainer of all life.
देव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatam idaṁ jagad ātmaśaktyā niśśeṣa-devagaṇa-śakti-samūha-mūrtyā । tām ambikām akhila-deva-maharṣi-pūjyāṁ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A powerful invocation from the Devi Mahatmyam saluting the Divine Mother who pervades the universe and embodies the collective strength of all creative forces.
अन्तःस्थमेव यज्ज्ञानं ज्ञानादपि च यत्परम्। तदेव सर्वसंसारसारं सद्भिरुपास्यते॥
antaḥsthameva yajjñānaṁ jñānādapi ca yatparam । tadeva sarvasaṁsārasāraṁ sadbhirupāsyate ॥
Deep within stays the knowledge that is even higher than knowledge, that is the essence of the world, that is what is worshipped by saints.
सिद्धिः साध्ये सतामस्तु प्रसादात्तस्य धूर्जटेः। जाह्नवीफेनलेखेव यन्मूर्ध्नि शशिनः कला॥
siddhiḥ sādhye satām astu prasādāt tasya dhūrjaṭeḥ । jāhnavī-phena-lekheva yan-mūrdhni śaśinaḥ kalā ॥
May the undertakings of the virtuous reach fulfillment through the grace of Lord Shiva, on whose head the crescent moon shines like the foam of the Ganga.
सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाद्यैरसुरैरमरैरपि। सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात् सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी॥
siddhagandharvayakṣādyairasurairamarairapi । sevyamānā sadā bhūyāt siddhidā siddhidāyinī ॥
A prayer to Goddess Siddhidatri, the ninth form of Navadurga, who bestows all spiritual powers and perfections.
श्वेते वृषे समारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः। महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेवप्रमोददा॥
śvete vṛṣe samārūḍhā śvetāmbaradharā śuciḥ । mahāgaurī śubhaṁ dadyān mahādevapramodadā ॥
A prayer to Goddess Mahagauri, the eighth form of Navadurga, who embodies purity and serenity.
वामपादोल्लसल्लोहलताकण्टकभूषणा। वर्धन्मूर्धध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रिर्भयङ्करी॥
vāmapādollasallohalatākaṇṭakabhūṣaṇā । vardhanmūrdhadhvajā kṛṣṇā kālarātrirbhayaṅkarī ॥
A powerful verse from the Navadurga Stotram describing the fierce and magnificent form of Maa Kalaratri, the destroyer of darkness and fear.
चन्द्रहासोज्ज्वलकरा शार्दूलवरवाहना। कात्यायनी शुभं दद्याद् देवी दानवघातिनी॥
candrahāsojjvalakarā śārdūlavaravāhanā । kātyāyanī śubhaṁ dadyād devī dānavaghātinī ॥
A prayer to Goddess Katyayani, who shines with the divine sword Chandrahāsa, seeking her blessings for auspiciousness and victory over obstacles.
सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माश्रितकरद्वया। शुभदाऽस्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥
siṁhāsanagatā nityaṁ padmāśritakaradvayā । śubhadā’stu sadā devī skandamātā yaśasvinī ॥
A prayer to Goddess Skandamata, the fifth form of Durga worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri, who symbolizes maternal love and protection.
सुरासम्पूर्णकलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च। दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदाऽस्तु मे॥
surāsampūrṇakalaśaṃ rudhirāplutameva ca । dadhānā hastapadmābhyāṃ kūṣmāṇḍā śubhadā'stu me ॥
A prayer to Goddess Kushmanda, the creative energy of the universe, who holds the nectar of life and blesses her devotees with well-being.
पिण्डजप्रवरारूढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता। प्रसादं तनुते मह्यं चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥
piṇḍajapravarārūḍhā caṇḍakopāstrakairyutā । prasādaṁ tanute mahyaṁ candraghaṇṭeti viśrutā ॥
A prayer to Maa Chandraghanta, the third form of Goddess Durga, who rides a lion and brings peace and serenity.
दधाना करपद्माभ्यामक्षमालाकमण्डलू। देवी प्रसीदतु मयि ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा॥
dadhānā karapadmābhyām akṣamālā-kamaṇḍalū । devī prasīdatu mayi brahmacāriṇy-anuttamā ॥
A deep prayer to Brahmacharini, the second form of Goddess Durga worshipped on the second day of Navratri, who symbolizes penance, purity, and spiritual discipline.
वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्। वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्॥
vande vāñchitalābhāya candrārdhakṛtaśekharām । vṛṣārūḍhāṃ śūladharāṃ śailaputrīṃ yaśasvinīm ॥
This verse is a devotional salutation to Goddess Shailaputri, the first of the nine forms of Durga worshipped during Navratri, who fulfills wishes, bears the crescent moon, rides a bull, and wields a trident.
आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतोऽदब्धासो अपरीतास उद्भिदः। देवा नो यथा सदमिद् वृधे असन्नप्रायुवो रक्षितारो दिवे दिवे॥
ā no bhadrāḥ kratavo yantu viśvato'dabdhāso aparītāsa udbhidhaḥ । devā no yathā sadamid vṛdhe asann aprāyuvo rakṣitāro dive dive ॥
A universal Vedic prayer from the Rigveda inviting auspicious and noble thoughts from every direction to foster growth and protection.
सत्यमेव जयति नानृतं सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयानः। येनाक्रमन्त्यृषयो ह्याप्तकामा यत्र तत्सत्यस्य परमं निधानम्॥
satyameva jayati nānṛtaṃ satyena panthā vitato devayānaḥ । yenākramantyṛṣayo hyāptakāmā yatra tatsatyasya paramaṃ nidhānam ॥
The Mundaka Upanishad declares that truth alone triumphs and opens the divine path by which fulfilled sages reach the supreme reality.
विप्रो वृक्षस्तस्य मूलं च सन्ध्या वेदाः शाखा धर्मकर्माणि पत्रम्। तस्मान्मूलं यत्नतो रक्षणीयं छिन्ने मूले नैव शाखा न पत्रम्॥
vipro vṛkṣas tasya mūlaṃ ca sandhyā vedāḥ śākhā dharmakarmāṇi patram । tasmāt mūlaṃ yatnato rakṣaṇīyaṃ chinne mūle naiva śākhā na patram ॥
A metaphor comparing a wise person to a tree, emphasizing the importance of daily worship as the root that sustains knowledge and deeds.
पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते। पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते॥
pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṃ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate । pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate ॥
This profound verse from the Isha Upanishad describes the nature of wholeness. In a modern context, it beautifully mirrors how knowledge can be shared and expanded without ever diminishing the source.
ज्ञानं तेऽहं सविज्ञानमिदं वक्ष्याम्यशेषतः। यज्ज्ञात्वा नेह भूयोऽन्यज्ज्ञातव्यमवशिष्यते॥
jñānaṃ te'haṃ savijñānam idaṃ vakṣyāmyaśeṣataḥ । yajjñātvā neha bhūyo'nyajjñātavyamavaśiṣyate ॥
Krishna promises knowledge joined with realized understanding, through which the seeker sees that nothing essential remains unknown.
ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्। छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्॥
ūrdhvamūlam adhaḥśākham aśvatthaṃ prāhur avyayam । chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni yas taṃ veda sa vedavit ॥
The Bhagavad Gita's profound comparison of the world to an eternal Peepal tree with its roots above and branches below.
यस्येमे हिमवन्तो महित्वा यस्य समुद्रं रसया सहाहुः। यस्येमाः प्रदिशो यस्य बाहू कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम॥
yasyeme himavanto mahitvā yasya samudraṃ rasayā sahāhuḥ । yasyemāḥ pradiśo yasya bāhū kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema ॥
A hymn from the Rigveda celebrating the greatness of the nation, from the Himalayas to the oceans.
सत्यं बृहदृतमुग्रं दीक्षा तपो ब्रह्म यज्ञः पृथिवीं धारयन्ति। सा नो भूतस्य भव्यस्य पत्न्युरुं लोकं पृथिवी नः कृणोतु॥
satyaṁ bṛhad ṛtam ugraṁ dīkṣā tapo brahma yajñaḥ pṛthivīṁ dhārayanti । sā no bhūtasya bhavyasya patny uruṁ lokaṁ pṛthivī naḥ kṛṇotu ॥
From the sacred Bhumi Sukta, this verse describes the eternal forces of truth, discipline, and wisdom that sustain our world.
सूर्यो देवो दिवं गच्छेत् मकरस्थो रविः प्रभुः। उत्तरायणे महापुण्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्॥
sūryo devo divaṃ gacchet makarastho raviḥ prabhuḥ । uttarāyaṇe mahāpuṇyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam ॥
A devotional verse honors Surya’s northward journey as an auspicious movement associated with light, purification, generosity, and spiritual merit.
आदिनाथेन शर्वेण सर्वप्राणिहिताय वै। आद्यतत्त्वान्यथानीयं क्षेत्रमेतन्महाप्रभम्। प्रभासितं महादेवि यत्र सिद्ध्यन्ति मानवाः॥
ādināthena śarveṇa sarvaprāṇihitāya vai । ādyatattvānyathānīyaṁ kṣetrametanmahāprabham । prabhāsitaṁ mahādevi yatra siddhyanti mānavāḥ ॥
Lord Shiva manifested the sacred Prabhas region for the welfare of all beings. This holy place is a source of divine energy where humans attain spiritual perfection.
सौराष्ट्रदेशे विशदेऽतिरम्ये ज्योतिर्मयं चन्द्रकलावतंसम्। भक्तिप्रदानाय कृपावतीर्णं तं सोमनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये॥
saurāṣṭradeśe viśade'tiramye jyotirmayaṁ candrakalāvataṁsam । bhaktipradānāya kṛpāvatīrṇaṁ taṁ somanāthaṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye ॥
A beautiful prayer seeking refuge in Lord Somnath, the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, located in the sacred land of Saurashtra.