Subhashitams on Success
This theme brings together 32 subhashitams from 6 sources.
Latest update: Oct 7, 2026
नित्यं 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.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.
यथा यथा प्रयत्नः स्याद्भवेदाशु फलं तथा। इति पौरुषमेवास्ति दैवमस्तु तदेव च॥
yathā yathā prayatnaḥ syād bhaved āśu phalaṃ tathā । iti pauruṣam evāsti daivam astu tad eva ca ॥
A Yoga Vasistha verse that links the fruit of an undertaking to human effort and identifies such effort with what people call destiny.
एष प्रभावो रक्षायाः कथितस्ते युधिष्ठिर। जयदः सुखदश्चैव पुत्रारोग्यधनप्रदः॥
eṣa prabhāvo rakṣāyāḥ kathitas te yudhiṣṭhira । jayadaḥ sukhadaś caiva putrārogyadhanapradaḥ ॥
A Bhavishya Mahapurana verse describes the protective thread as a giver of victory, happiness, children, health and prosperity.
ज्ञानवृद्धान्प्रशंसन्तः शुश्रूषन्तः परस्परम्। विनिवृत्ताभिसन्धानाः सुखमेधन्ति सर्वशः॥
jñānavṛddhān praśaṃsantaḥ śuśrūṣantaḥ parasparam । vinivṛttābhisandhānāḥ sukhamedhanti sarvaśaḥ ॥
A Mahabharata verse teaches that honouring the wise, serving one another and relinquishing ulterior designs allow a community to prosper happily.
एतावज्जन्मसाफल्यं देहिनामिह देहिषु। प्राणैरर्थैर्धिया वाचा श्रेय एवाचरेत् सदा॥
etāvaj janmasāphalyaṁ dehinām iha dehiṣu । prāṇair arthair dhiyā vācā śreya evācaret sadā ॥
A Bhagavata Purana verse teaching that a birth is fulfilled when one always does good for other living beings with life, wealth, intellect and speech.
दैवं पुरुषकारेण यः समर्थः प्रबाधितुम्। न दैवेन विपन्नार्थः पुरुषः सोऽवसीदति॥
daivaṁ puruṣakāreṇa yaḥ samarthaḥ prabādhitum । na daivena vipannārthaḥ puruṣaḥ so’vasīdati ॥
A Valmiki Ramayana verse teaches that a person capable of confronting destiny through human effort does not lose heart when faced with adversity.
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.
प्राप्यापदं न व्यथते कदाचिदुद्योगमन्विच्छति चाप्रमत्तः। दुःखं च काले सहते महात्मा धुरन्धरस्तस्य जिताः सपत्नाः॥
prāpyāpadaṁ na vyathate kadācidudyogamanvicchati cāpramattaḥ । duḥkhaṁ ca kāle sahate mahātmā dhurandharastasya jitāḥ sapatnāḥ ॥
A Vidura Niti verse on meeting adversity without distress, pursuing effort vigilantly, and enduring hardship until obstacles are overcome.
अनिर्वेदः श्रियो मूलमनिर्वेदः परं सुखम्। अनिर्वेदो हि सततं सर्वार्थेषु प्रवर्तकः॥
anirvedaḥ śriyo mūlam anirvedaḥ paraṁ sukham । anirvedo hi satataṁ sarvārtheṣu pravartakaḥ ॥
A Sundara Kanda verse from the Valmiki Ramayana teaching that non-despondency, steady effort, and faith are the roots of progress and happiness.
नानाश्रान्ताय श्रीरस्तीति रोहित शुश्रुम। पापो नृषद्वरो जन इन्द्र इच्चरतः सखा चरैवेति॥
nānāśrāntāya śrīr astīti rohita śuśruma । pāpo nṛṣadvaro jana indra ic carataḥ sakhā caraiveti ॥
An Aitareya Brahmana verse from the Charaiveti sequence teaching that prosperity comes to those who keep striving and moving forward.
विज्ञानसारथिर्यस्तु मनः प्रग्रहवान्नरः। सोऽध्वनः पारमाप्नोति तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्॥
vijñānasārathir yastu manaḥ pragrahavān naraḥ । so'dhvanaḥ pāram āpnoti tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam ॥
A Katha Upanishad mantra where discriminating knowledge guides the mind like a charioteer, helping the seeker cross life's path and reach the highest goal.
यत्रोत्साहसमारम्भो यत्रालस्यविहीनता। नयविक्रमसंयोगस्तत्र श्रीरचला ध्रुवम्॥
yatrotsāhasamārambho yatrālasyavihīnatā । nayavikramasaṃyogas tatra śrīr acalā dhruvam ॥
The Panchatantra teaches that enthusiasm, freedom from idleness, prudent judgment, and courage make prosperity steady and enduring.
शास्त्रे प्रतिष्ठा सहजश्च बोधः प्रागल्भ्यमभ्यस्तगुणा च वाणी। कालानुरोधः प्रतिभानवत्त्वमेते गुणाः कामदुघाः क्रियासु॥
śāstre pratiṣṭhā sahajaśca bodhaḥ prāgalbhyam abhyastaguṇā ca vāṇī । kālānurodhaḥ pratibhānavattvam ete guṇāḥ kāmadughāḥ kriyāsu ॥
A verse from Bhavabhuti's Malatimadhava on six qualities that make human effort fruitful and capable of achieving its goal.
सहसा विदधीत न क्रियामविवेकः परमापदां पदम्। वृणते हि विमृश्यकारिणं गुणलुब्धाः स्वयमेव सम्पदः॥
sahasā vidadhīta na kriyām avivekaḥ paramāpadāṃ padam । vṛṇate hi vimṛśyakāriṇaṃ guṇalubdhāḥ svayameva sampadaḥ ॥
A verse from Bharavi's Kiratarjuniya on avoiding rash action and choosing thoughtful decisions that attract success and prosperity.
धूमायन्ते व्यपेतानि ज्वलन्ति सहितानि च। धृतराष्ट्रोल्मुकानीव ज्ञातयो भरतर्षभ॥
dhūmāyante vyapetāni jvalanti sahitāni ca । dhṛtarāṣṭrolmukānīva jñātayo bharatarṣabha ॥
Vidura Niti uses the image of scattered and united firebrands to show how collective strength turns latent energy into visible power.
निश्चित्य यः प्रक्रमते नान्तर्वसति कर्मणः। अवन्ध्यकालो वश्यात्मा स वै पण्डित उच्यते॥
niścitya yaḥ prakramate nāntarvasati karmaṇaḥ । avandhyakālo vaśyātmā sa vai paṇḍita ucyate ॥
Vidura Niti defines the truly wise person as one who begins after careful thought, completes the work, uses time fruitfully, and remains self-controlled.
यो यमर्थं प्रार्थयते तदर्थं चेहते क्रमात्। अवश्यं स तमाप्नोति न चेदर्धान्निवर्तते॥
yo yam arthaṃ prārthayate tadarthaṃ cehate kramāt । avaśyaṃ sa tam āpnoti na ced ardhān nivartate ॥
A powerful verse from the Yoga Vasistha teaching how sincere aspiration, systematic effort, and refusal to turn back midway lead a person toward the chosen goal.
उदीर्णमनसो योधा वाहनानि च भारत। यस्यां भवन्ति सेनायां ध्रुवं तस्यां जयं वदेत्॥
udīrṇamanaso yodhā vāhanāni ca bhārata । yasyāṁ bhavanti senāyāṁ dhruvaṁ tasyāṁ jayaṁ vadet ॥
A powerful verse from the Mahabharata highlighting that motivated soldiers and superior resources are the true guarantors of victory.
न तथा बलवीर्याभ्यां जयन्ति विजिगीषवः। यथा सत्यानृशंस्याभ्यां धर्मेणैवोद्यमेन च॥
na tathā balavīryābhyāṁ jayanti vijigīṣavaḥ । yathā satyānṛśaṁsyābhyāṁ dharmeṇaivodyamena ca ॥
A profound verse from the Mahabharata explaining that lasting victory is won not by sheer force, but through truth, compassion, righteousness, and continuous effort.
अनिर्वेदो हि सततं सर्वार्थेषु प्रवर्तकः। करोति सफलं जन्तोः कर्म यच्च करोति सः॥
anirvedo hi satataṁ sarvārtheṣu pravartakaḥ । karoti saphalaṁ jantoḥ karma yacca karoti saḥ ॥
A powerful verse from the Valmiki Ramayana emphasizing that enthusiasm and positive energy are the driving forces behind all successful endeavors.
उत्थानं संयमो दाक्ष्यमप्रमादो धृतिः स्मृतिः। समीक्ष्य च समारम्भो विद्धिमूलं भवस्य तु॥
utthānaṁ saṁyamo dākṣyam apramādo dhṛtiḥ smṛtiḥ । samīkṣya ca samārambho viddhi mūlaṁ bhavasya tu ॥
A strategic teaching from Vidura Niti identifying the seven essential qualities, from focused effort to careful planning, that form the foundation of success.
इत्थं फलति शुद्धेन सिक्तं सङ्कल्पवारिणा। पुण्यबीजमपि स्वल्पं पुंसां कृषिकृतामिव॥
itthaṁ phalati śuddhena siktaṁ saṅkalpavāriṇā । puṇyabījamapi svalpaṁ puṁsāṁ kṛṣikṛtāmiva ॥
Just as a farmer reaps a harvest from a small seed, a person achieves great success from even a small effort when nurtured with pure determination.
विचित्रचरितोल्लेखचमत्कारितचेतनम्। प्राप्यते किं यशः शुभ्रमनङ्गीकृत्य साहसम्॥
vicitracaritollekhacamatkāritacetanam । prāpyate kiṃ yaśaḥ śubhramanaṅgīkṛtya sāhasam ॥
A reflection on how glorious fame and extraordinary achievements are only possible through the embrace of courage.
अभीप्सां स्वात्मनो रक्षाऽविरतं सुस्थिरं तया। यत्नमातिष्ठ धैर्येण ततः सिद्धिर्भवेद् ध्रुवम्॥
abhīpsāṁ svātmano rakṣā’virataṃ susthiraṁ tayā । yatnam ātiṣṭha dhairyeṇa tataḥ siddhir bhaved dhruvam ॥
Unwavering resolve, patient effort, and self-command protect a worthy ambition and carry it steadily toward success.
यद् दूरं यद् दुराराध्यं यच्च दूरे व्यवस्थितम्। तत् सर्वं तपसा साध्यं तपो हि दुरतिक्रमम्॥
yad dūraṃ yad durārādhyaṃ yacca dūre vyavasthitam । tat sarvaṃ tapasā sādhyaṃ tapo hi duratikramam ॥
No goal is too distant or difficult when met with "Tapas"—the fire of determined effort. This verse from Chanakya Niti emphasizes that everything is attainable through perseverance.
धीराः शोकं तरिष्यन्ति लभन्ते सिद्धिमुत्तमाम्। धीरैः सम्प्राप्यते लक्ष्मीर्धैर्यं सर्वत्र साधनम्॥
dhīrāḥ śokaṃ tariṣyanti labhante siddhimuttamām । dhīraiḥ samprāpyate lakṣmīrdhairyaṃ sarvatra sādhanam ॥
Steadfast people cross grief through fortitude, endure hardship with patience, and continue toward their purpose without surrendering to despair.
यथैकेन न हस्तेन तालिका सम्प्रपद्यते। तथोद्यमपरित्यक्तं न फलं कर्मणः स्मृतम्॥
yathaikena na hastena tālikā samprapadyate । tathodyamaparityaktaṃ na phalaṃ karmaṇaḥ smṛtam ॥
A subhashita highlighting that just as one hand cannot clap, success is impossible without personal effort and hard work.
अनुत्थाने ध्रुवो नाशः प्राप्तस्यानागतस्य च। प्राप्यते फलमुत्थानाल्लभते चार्थसम्पदम्॥
anutthāne dhruvo nāśaḥ prāptasyānāgatasya ca । prāpyate phalam utthānāl labhate cārthasampadam ॥
Inaction leads inevitably to decline, while energetic and diligent effort is the means by which prosperity and worthwhile results are attained.
उत्थातव्यं जागृतव्यं योक्तव्यं भूतिकर्मसु। भविष्यतीत्येव मनः कृत्वा सततमव्यथैः॥
utthātavyaṃ jāgṛtavyaṃ yoktavyaṃ bhūtikarmasu । bhaviṣyatītyeva manaḥ kṛtvā satatam avyathaiḥ ॥
Rise, remain alert, abandon despondency, and apply yourself steadily to work with confidence that purposeful effort can bear fruit.
यथा यथा हि पुरुषः कल्याणे कुरुते मनः। तथा तथाऽस्य सर्वार्थाः सिद्ध्यन्ते नात्र संशयः॥
yathā yathā hi puruṣaḥ kalyāṇe kurute manaḥ । tathā tatha'sya sarvārthāḥ siddhyante nātra saṁśayaḥ ॥
As a person repeatedly turns the mind toward what is good, conduct and consequences gradually align with that wholesome intention.
नात्युच्चशिखरो मेरुर्नातिनीचं रसातलम्। व्यवसायद्वितीयानां नात्यपारो महोदधिः॥
na aty ucca śikharaḥ meru na atīnīcaṁ rasātalam । vyavasāya-dvitīyānāṁ na aty-apāro mahodadhiḥ ॥
For a determined person, no summit is too high, no ocean too vast, and no undertaking beyond the reach of sustained effort.