Beginner Ślokas श्लोकाः

The wise should think about learning and wealth as if they would never grow old or die; but should practise dharma as if Death already had them by the hair.

अजरामरवत् प्राज्ञो विद्यामर्थं च चिन्तयेत् । गृहीत इव केशेषु मृत्युना धर्ममाचरेत् ॥

ajarāmaravat prājño vidyāmarthaṃ ca cintayet | gṛhīta iva keśeṣu mṛtyunā dharmamācaret ||

a·ja·rā·ma·ra·vat prāj·ño vid·yā·mar·thaṃ ca cin·ta·yet | gṛ·hī·ta i·va ke·śe·ṣu mṛt·yu·nā dhar·ma·mā·ca·ret ||

Learning gives humility; from humility one becomes worthy; from worthiness one gains wealth; from wealth, dharma; and from that, happiness.

विद्या ददाति विनयं विनयाद् याति पात्रताम् । पात्रत्वात् धनम् आप्नोति धनाद् धर्मं ततः सुखम् ॥

vidyā dadāti vinayaṃ vinayād yāti pātratām | pātratvāt dhanam āpnoti dhanād dharmaṃ tataḥ sukham ||

vid·yā da·dā·ti vi·na·yaṃ vi·na·yād yā·ti pāt·ra·tām | pāt·rat·vāt dha·nam āp·no·ti dha·nād dhar·maṃ ta·taḥ su·kham ||

Knowledge (śāstra) cuts through many doubts and shows what is not seen: it is the eye of everyone. Whoever lacks it is truly blind.

अनेकसंशयोच्छेदि परोक्षार्थस्य दर्शकम् । सर्वस्य लोचनं शास्त्रं यस्य नास्त्य् अन्ध एव सः ॥

anekasaṃśayocchedi parokṣārthasya darśakam | sarvasya locanaṃ śāstraṃ yasya nāsty andha eva saḥ ||

a·ne·ka·saṃ·śa·yoc·che·di pa·rok·ṣār·thas·ya dar·śa·kam | sar·vas·ya lo·ca·naṃ śās·traṃ yas·ya nāsty an·dha e·va saḥ ||

A crow's alertness, a heron's concentration, a dog's light sleep, eating little, and living away from home: these are the five marks of a student.

काकचेष्टा बकध्यानं श्वाननिद्रा तथैव च । अल्पाहारी गृहत्यागी विद्यार्थी पञ्चलक्षणम् ॥

kākaceṣṭā bakadhyānaṃ śvānanidrā tathaiva ca | alpāhārī gṛhatyāgī vidyārthī pañcalakṣaṇam ||

kā·ka·ceṣ·ṭā ba·kadh·yā·naṃ śvā·na·nid·rā ta·thai·va ca | al·pā·hā·rī gṛ·hat·yā·gī vid·yār·thī pañ·ca·lak·ṣa·ṇam ||

Being learned and being a king are never equal: a king is honoured in his own country, a learned person is honoured everywhere.

विद्वत्त्वं च नृपत्वं च नैव तुल्यं कदाचन । स्वदेशे पूज्यते राजा विद्वान् सर्वत्र पूज्यते ॥

vidvattvaṃ ca nṛpatvaṃ ca naiva tulyaṃ kadācana | svadeśe pūjyate rājā vidvān sarvatra pūjyate ||

vid·vat·tvaṃ ca nṛ·pat·vaṃ ca nai·va tul·yaṃ ka·dā·ca·na | sva·de·śe pūj·ya·te rā·jā vid·vān sar·vat·ra pūj·ya·te ||

It cannot be stolen by thieves or taken by kings, it is not divided among brothers and is no burden to carry; it grows the more it is spent: the wealth of learning is the chief of all wealth.

न चोरहार्यं न च राजहार्यं न भ्रातृभाज्यं न च भारकारि । व्यये कृते वर्धत एव नित्यं विद्याधनं सर्वधनप्रधानम् ॥

na corahāryaṃ na ca rājahāryaṃ na bhrātṛbhājyaṃ na ca bhārakāri | vyaye kṛte vardhata eva nityaṃ vidyādhanaṃ sarvadhanapradhānam ||

na co·ra·hār·yaṃ na ca rā·ja·hār·yaṃ na bhrā·tṛ·bhāj·yaṃ na ca bhā·ra·kā·ri | vya·ye kṛ·te var·dha·ta e·va nit·yaṃ vid·yā·dha·naṃ sar·va·dha·nap·ra·dhā·nam ||

Where is learning for one who seeks comfort? Where is comfort for one who seeks learning? Let the comfort-seeker give up learning, or the learner give up comfort.

सुखार्थिनः कुतो विद्या विद्यार्थिनः कुतः सुखम् । सुखार्थी वा त्यजेद् विद्यां विद्यार्थी वा त्यजेत् सुखम् ॥

sukhārthinaḥ kuto vidyā vidyārthinaḥ kutaḥ sukham | sukhārthī vā tyajed vidyāṃ vidyārthī vā tyajet sukham ||

su·khār·thi·naḥ ku·to vid·yā vid·yār·thi·naḥ ku·taḥ su·kham | su·khār·thī vā tya·jed vid·yāṃ vid·yār·thī vā tya·jet su·kham ||

Where is learning for the lazy? Where is wealth for the unlearned? Where are friends for the poor? Where is happiness for the friendless?

अलसस्य कुतो विद्या अविद्यस्य कुतो धनम् । अधनस्य कुतो मित्रम् अमित्रस्य कुतः सुखम् ॥

alasasya kuto vidyā avidyasya kuto dhanam | adhanasya kuto mitram amitrasya kutaḥ sukham ||

a·la·sas·ya ku·to vid·yā a·vid·yas·ya ku·to dha·nam | a·dha·nas·ya ku·to mit·ram a·mit·ras·ya ku·taḥ su·kham ||

Gain learning moment by moment and wealth grain by grain. Waste the moments, and where is learning? Waste the grains, and where is wealth?

क्षणशः कणशश् चैव विद्याम् अर्थं च साधयेत् । क्षणत्यागे कुतो विद्या कणत्यागे कुतो धनम् ॥

kṣaṇaśaḥ kaṇaśaś caiva vidyām arthaṃ ca sādhayet | kṣaṇatyāge kuto vidyā kaṇatyāge kuto dhanam ||

kṣa·ṇa·śaḥ ka·ṇa·śaś cai·va vid·yām ar·thaṃ ca sā·dha·yet | kṣa·ṇat·yā·ge ku·to vid·yā ka·ṇat·yā·ge ku·to dha·nam ||

There is no eye like knowledge, no austerity like truth, no sorrow like craving, no happiness like letting go.

नास्ति विद्यासमं चक्षुर् नास्ति सत्यसमं तपः । नास्ति रागसमं दुःखं नास्ति त्यागसमं सुखम् ॥

nāsti vidyāsamaṃ cakṣur nāsti satyasamaṃ tapaḥ | nāsti rāgasamaṃ duḥkhaṃ nāsti tyāgasamaṃ sukham ||

nās·ti vid·yā·sa·maṃ cak·ṣur nās·ti sat·ya·sa·maṃ ta·paḥ | nās·ti rā·ga·sa·maṃ duḥ·khaṃ nās·ti tyā·ga·sa·maṃ su·kham ||

A wicked person uses learning for quarrels, wealth for pride and strength to hurt others; a good person uses the same for knowledge, giving and protection.

विद्या विवादाय धनं मदाय शक्तिः परेषां परिपीडनाय । खलस्य साधोर् विपरीतम् एतज् ज्ञानाय दानाय च रक्षणाय ॥

vidyā vivādāya dhanaṃ madāya śaktiḥ pareṣāṃ paripīḍanāya | khalasya sādhor viparītam etaj jñānāya dānāya ca rakṣaṇāya ||

vid·yā vi·vā·dā·ya dha·naṃ ma·dā·ya śak·tiḥ pa·re·ṣāṃ pa·ri·pī·ḍa·nā·ya | kha·las·ya sā·dhor vi·pa·rī·tam e·taj jñā·nā·ya dā·nā·ya ca rak·ṣa·ṇā·ya ||

Food, sleep, fear and mating are common to people and animals; knowledge is what sets people apart. Without knowledge they are like animals.

आहारनिद्राभयमैथुनानि सामान्यम् एतत् पशुभिर् नराणाम् । ज्ञानं नराणाम् अधिको विशेषो ज्ञानेन हीनाः पशुभिः समानाः ॥

āhāranidrābhayamaithunāni sāmānyam etat paśubhir narāṇām | jñānaṃ narāṇām adhiko viśeṣo jñānena hīnāḥ paśubhiḥ samānāḥ ||

ā·hā·ra·nid·rā·bha·ya·mai·thu·nā·ni sā·mān·yam e·tat pa·śu·bhir na·rā·ṇām | jñā·naṃ na·rā·ṇām a·dhi·ko vi·śe·ṣo jñā·ne·na hī·nāḥ pa·śu·bhiḥ sa·mā·nāḥ ||

Whoever sees others' wives as his mother, others' wealth as a clod of earth, and all beings as himself, is wise.

मातृवत् परदारेषु परद्रव्येषु लोष्ट्रवत् । आत्मवत् सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्यति स पण्डितः ॥

mātṛvat paradāreṣu paradravyeṣu loṣṭravat | ātmavat sarvabhūteṣu yaḥ paśyati sa paṇḍitaḥ ||

mā·tṛ·vat pa·ra·dā·re·ṣu pa·rad·rav·ye·ṣu loṣ·ṭra·vat | āt·ma·vat sar·va·bhū·te·ṣu yaḥ paś·ya·ti sa paṇ·ḍi·taḥ ||

Speak the truth, speak what is pleasant; do not speak an unpleasant truth, and do not speak a pleasant falsehood: this is the eternal dharma.

सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयान् न ब्रूयात् सत्यम् अप्रियम् । प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयाद् एष धर्मः सनातनः ॥

satyaṃ brūyāt priyaṃ brūyān na brūyāt satyam apriyam | priyaṃ ca nānṛtaṃ brūyād eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ ||

sat·yaṃ brū·yāt pri·yaṃ brū·yān na brū·yāt sat·yam ap·ri·yam | pri·yaṃ ca nā·nṛ·taṃ brū·yād e·ṣa dhar·maḥ sa·nā·ta·naḥ ||

All creatures are pleased by kind words, so speak only those. Why be poor in words?

प्रियवाक्यप्रदानेन सर्वे तुष्यन्ति जन्तवः । तस्मात् तद् एव वक्तव्यं वचने का दरिद्रता ॥

priyavākyapradānena sarve tuṣyanti jantavaḥ | tasmāt tad eva vaktavyaṃ vacane kā daridratā ||

pri·ya·vāk·yap·ra·dā·ne·na sar·ve tuṣ·yan·ti jan·ta·vaḥ | tas·māt tad e·va vak·tav·yaṃ va·ca·ne kā da·rid·ra·tā ||

Trees bear fruit for others, rivers flow for others, cows give milk for others: this body too is for the good of others.

परोपकाराय फलन्ति वृक्षाः परोपकाराय वहन्ति नद्यः । परोपकाराय दुहन्ति गावः परोपकारार्थम् इदं शरीरम् ॥

paropakārāya phalanti vṛkṣāḥ paropakārāya vahanti nadyaḥ | paropakārāya duhanti gāvaḥ paropakārārtham idaṃ śarīram ||

pa·ro·pa·kā·rā·ya pha·lan·ti vṛk·ṣāḥ pa·ro·pa·kā·rā·ya va·han·ti nad·yaḥ | pa·ro·pa·kā·rā·ya du·han·ti gā·vaḥ pa·ro·pa·kā·rār·tham i·daṃ śa·rī·ram ||

They give shade to others while standing in the sun themselves, and even their fruit is for others: trees are like good people.

छायाम् अन्यस्य कुर्वन्ति तिष्ठन्ति स्वयम् आतपे । फलान्य् अपि परार्थाय वृक्षाः सत्पुरुषा इव ॥

chāyām anyasya kurvanti tiṣṭhanti svayam ātape | phalāny api parārthāya vṛkṣāḥ satpuruṣā iva ||

chā·yām an·yas·ya kur·van·ti tiṣ·ṭhan·ti sva·yam ā·ta·pe | pha·lāny a·pi pa·rār·thā·ya vṛk·ṣāḥ sat·pu·ru·ṣā i·va ||

The great stay the same in good fortune and bad: the sun is red when it rises, and red when it sets.

सम्पत्तौ च विपत्तौ च महताम् एकरूपता । उदये सविता रक्तो रक्तश् चास्तमये तथा ॥

sampattau ca vipattau ca mahatām ekarūpatā | udaye savitā rakto raktaś cāstamaye tathā ||

sam·pat·tau ca vi·pat·tau ca ma·ha·tām e·ka·rū·pa·tā | u·da·ye sa·vi·tā rak·to rak·taś cās·ta·ma·ye ta·thā ||

Not every mountain has rubies, nor every elephant a pearl; good people are not found everywhere, nor sandalwood in every forest.

शैले शैले न माणिक्यं मौक्तिकं न गजे गजे । साधवो न हि सर्वत्र चन्दनं न वने वने ॥

śaile śaile na māṇikyaṃ mauktikaṃ na gaje gaje | sādhavo na hi sarvatra candanaṃ na vane vane ||

śai·le śai·le na mā·ṇik·yaṃ mauk·ti·kaṃ na ga·je ga·je | sā·dha·vo na hi sar·vat·ra can·da·naṃ na va·ne va·ne ||

Keep away from a wicked person even if he is adorned with learning. A snake adorned with a jewel: is it any less frightening?

दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यो विद्ययालङ्कृतो ऽपि सन् । मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किम् असौ न भयङ्करः ॥

durjanaḥ parihartavyo vidyayālaṅkṛto 'pi san | maṇinā bhūṣitaḥ sarpaḥ kim asau na bhayaṅkaraḥ ||

dur·ja·naḥ pa·ri·har·tav·yo vid·ya·yā·laṅ·kṛ·to 'pi san | ma·ṇi·nā bhū·ṣi·taḥ sar·paḥ kim a·sau na bha·yaṅ·ka·raḥ ||

A fool has five marks: pride, harsh speech, anger, stubborn argument, and no respect for what others say.

मूर्खस्य पञ्च चिह्नानि गर्वो दुर्वचनं तथा । क्रोधश् च दृढवादश् च परवाक्येष्व् अनादरः ॥

mūrkhasya pañca cihnāni garvo durvacanaṃ tathā | krodhaś ca dṛḍhavādaś ca paravākyeṣv anādaraḥ ||

mūr·khas·ya pañ·ca cih·nā·ni gar·vo dur·va·ca·naṃ ta·thā | kro·dhaś ca dṛ·ḍha·vā·daś ca pa·ra·vāk·yeṣv a·nā·da·raḥ ||

Do not do to others what you would not like done to yourself.

आत्मनः प्रतिकूलानि परेषां न समाचरेत् ॥

ātmanaḥ pratikūlāni pareṣāṃ na samācaret ||

āt·ma·naḥ pra·ti·kū·lā·ni pa·re·ṣāṃ na sa·mā·ca·ret ||

Dharma destroyed destroys; dharma protected protects. So dharma must not be destroyed, lest destroyed dharma destroy us.

धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः । तस्माद् धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतो ऽवधीत् ॥

dharma eva hato hanti dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ | tasmād dharmo na hantavyo mā no dharmo hato 'vadhīt ||

dhar·ma e·va ha·to han·ti dhar·mo rak·ṣa·ti rak·ṣi·taḥ | tas·mād dhar·mo na han·tav·yo mā no dhar·mo ha·to 'va·dhīt ||

"This one is mine, that one is a stranger": so reckon the small-minded. For the noble-hearted the whole earth is one family.

अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम् । उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ॥

ayaṃ nijaḥ paro veti gaṇanā laghucetasām | udāracaritānāṃ tu vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam ||

a·yaṃ ni·jaḥ pa·ro ve·ti ga·ṇa·nā la·ghu·ce·ta·sām | u·dā·ra·ca·ri·tā·nāṃ tu va·su·dhai·va ku·ṭum·ba·kam ||

Know a friend in misfortune, a hero in battle, an honest man by his debts, a wife when wealth is gone, and relatives in hardship.

आपत्सु मित्रं जानीयाद् रणे शूरं ऋणे शुचिम् । भार्यां क्षीणेषु वित्तेषु व्यसनेषु च बान्धवान् ॥

āpatsu mitraṃ jānīyād raṇe śūraṃ ṛṇe śucim | bhāryāṃ kṣīṇeṣu vitteṣu vyasaneṣu ca bāndhavān ||

ā·pat·su mit·raṃ jā·nī·yād ra·ṇe śū·raṃ ṛ·ṇe śu·cim | bhār·yāṃ kṣī·ṇe·ṣu vit·te·ṣu vya·sa·ne·ṣu ca bān·dha·vān ||

At a festival, in trouble, in famine, in danger from enemies, at the king’s gate and at the cremation ground: whoever stands by you is your kin.

उत्सवे व्यसने प्राप्ते दुर्भिक्षे शत्रुसङ्कटे । राजद्वारे श्मशाने च यस् तिष्ठति स बान्धवः ॥

utsave vyasane prāpte durbhikṣe śatrusaṅkaṭe | rājadvāre śmaśāne ca yas tiṣṭhati sa bāndhavaḥ ||

ut·sa·ve vya·sa·ne prāp·te dur·bhik·ṣe śat·ru·saṅ·ka·ṭe | rā·jad·vā·re śma·śā·ne ca yas tiṣ·ṭha·ti sa bān·dha·vaḥ ||

Avoid a friend who ruins your work behind your back and speaks sweetly to your face: he is a pot of poison with milk on top.

परोक्षे कार्यहन्तारं प्रत्यक्षे प्रियवादिनम् । वर्जयेत् तादृशं मित्रं विषकुम्भं पयोमुखम् ॥

parokṣe kāryahantāraṃ pratyakṣe priyavādinam | varjayet tādṛśaṃ mitraṃ viṣakumbhaṃ payomukham ||

pa·rok·ṣe kār·ya·han·tā·raṃ prat·yak·ṣe pri·ya·vā·di·nam | var·ja·yet tā·dṛ·śaṃ mit·raṃ vi·ṣa·kum·bhaṃ pa·yo·mu·kham ||

Tasks are accomplished by effort, not by wishes: deer do not walk into the mouth of a sleeping lion.

उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः । नहि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगाः ॥

udyamena hi sidhyanti kāryāṇi na manorathaiḥ | nahi suptasya siṃhasya praviśanti mukhe mṛgāḥ ||

ud·ya·me·na hi sidh·yan·ti kār·yā·ṇi na ma·no·ra·thaiḥ | na·hi sup·tas·ya siṃ·has·ya pra·vi·śan·ti mu·khe mṛ·gāḥ ||

Just as a chariot cannot move on one wheel, so fate does not succeed without human effort.

यथा ह्य् एकेन चक्रेण न रथस्य गतिर् भवेत् । तथा पुरुषकारेण विना दैवं न सिद्ध्यति ॥

yathā hy ekena cakreṇa na rathasya gatir bhavet | tathā puruṣakāreṇa vinā daivaṃ na siddhyati ||

ya·thā hy e·ke·na cak·re·ṇa na ra·thas·ya ga·tir bha·vet | ta·thā pu·ru·ṣa·kā·re·ṇa vi·nā dai·vaṃ na sid·dhya·ti ||

The deeds done in a former life are what is called fate; therefore one should strive tirelessly with one’s own effort.

पूर्वजन्मकृतं कर्म तद् दैवम् इति कथ्यते । तस्मात् पुरुषकारेण यत्नं कुर्याद् अतन्द्रितः ॥

pūrvajanmakṛtaṃ karma tad daivam iti kathyate | tasmāt puruṣakāreṇa yatnaṃ kuryād atandritaḥ ||

pūr·va·jan·ma·kṛ·taṃ kar·ma tad dai·vam i·ti kath·ya·te | tas·māt pu·ru·ṣa·kā·re·ṇa yat·naṃ kur·yād a·tan·dri·taḥ ||

Even thinking of fate, one should not give up one’s own effort: without effort, no one gets oil from sesame seeds.

न दैवम् अपि संचिन्त्य त्यजेद् उद्योगम् आत्मनः । अनुद्योगेन तैलानि तिलेभ्यो नाप्तुम् अर्हति ॥

na daivam api saṃcintya tyajed udyogam ātmanaḥ | anudyogena tailāni tilebhyo nāptum arhati ||

na dai·vam a·pi saṃ·cin·tya tya·jed ud·yo·gam āt·ma·naḥ | a·nud·yo·ge·na tai·lā·ni ti·lebh·yo nāp·tum ar·ha·ti ||

Youth, wealth, power and lack of judgement: each one alone can lead to ruin; what then where all four are together?

यौवनं धनसम्पत्तिः प्रभुत्वम् अविवेकिता । एकैकम् अप्य् अनर्थाय किम् उ यत्र चतुष्टयम् ॥

yauvanaṃ dhanasampattiḥ prabhutvam avivekitā | ekaikam apy anarthāya kim u yatra catuṣṭayam ||

yau·va·naṃ dha·na·sam·pat·tiḥ pra·bhut·vam a·vi·ve·ki·tā | e·kai·kam apy a·nar·thā·ya kim u yat·ra ca·tuṣ·ṭa·yam ||

What use is a son who is neither learned nor righteous? What use is a blind eye? It only gives pain.

को ऽर्थः पुत्रेण जातेन यो न विद्वान् न धार्मिकः । काणेन चक्षुषा किं वा चक्षुः पीडैव केवलम् ॥

ko 'rthaḥ putreṇa jātena yo na vidvān na dhārmikaḥ | kāṇena cakṣuṣā kiṃ vā cakṣuḥ pīḍaiva kevalam ||

ko 'rthaḥ put·re·ṇa jā·te·na yo na vid·vān na dhār·mi·kaḥ | kā·ṇe·na cak·ṣu·ṣā kiṃ vā cak·ṣuḥ pī·ḍai·va ke·va·lam ||

A pot is filled drop by drop: so too are all learning, dharma and wealth gained.

जलबिन्दुनिपातेन क्रमशः पूर्यते घटः । स हेतुः सर्वविद्यानां धर्मस्य च धनस्य च ॥

jalabindunipātena kramaśaḥ pūryate ghaṭaḥ | sa hetuḥ sarvavidyānāṃ dharmasya ca dhanasya ca ||

ja·la·bin·du·ni·pā·te·na kra·ma·śaḥ pūr·ya·te gha·ṭaḥ | sa he·tuḥ sar·va·vid·yā·nāṃ dhar·mas·ya ca dha·nas·ya ca ||

May all be happy, may all be free from illness, may all see what is good, may no one suffer.

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद् दुःखभाग् भवेत् ॥

sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ sarve santu nirāmayāḥ | sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścid duḥkhabhāg bhavet ||

sar·ve bha·van·tu su·khi·naḥ sar·ve san·tu ni·rā·ma·yāḥ | sar·ve bhad·rā·ṇi paś·yan·tu mā kaś·cid duḥ·kha·bhāg bha·vet ||

May all the worlds be happy.

लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ॥

lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu ||

lo·kāḥ sa·mas·tāḥ su·khi·no bha·van·tu ||

The teacher is Brahmā, the teacher is Viṣṇu, the teacher is the god Maheśvara; the teacher is the supreme Brahman itself: to that revered teacher, salutation.

गुरुर् ब्रह्मा गुरुर् विष्णुर् गुरुर् देवो महेश्वरः । गुरुः साक्षात् परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇur gurur devo maheśvaraḥ | guruḥ sākṣāt paraṃ brahma tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ ||

gu·rur brah·mā gu·rur viṣ·ṇur gu·rur de·vo ma·heś·va·raḥ | gu·ruḥ sāk·ṣāt pa·raṃ brah·ma tas·mai śrī·gu·ra·ve na·maḥ ||

O curved-trunked, great-bodied one, bright as ten million suns: O god, remove the obstacles from all my undertakings, always.

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ । निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥

vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭisamaprabha | nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā ||

vak·ra·tuṇ·ḍa ma·hā·kā·ya sūr·ya·ko·ṭi·sa·map·ra·bha | nir·vigh·naṃ ku·ru me de·va sar·va·kār·ye·ṣu sar·va·dā ||

Sarasvatī, salutation to you, giver of boons, who take any form you wish. I am beginning my studies: may I always succeed.

सरस्वति नमस् तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि । विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर् भवतु मे सदा ॥

sarasvati namas tubhyaṃ varade kāmarūpiṇi | vidyārambhaṃ kariṣyāmi siddhir bhavatu me sadā ||

sa·ras·va·ti na·mas tubh·yaṃ va·ra·de kā·ma·rū·pi·ṇi | vid·yā·ram·bhaṃ ka·riṣ·yā·mi sid·dhir bha·va·tu me sa·dā ||

At the fingertips dwells Lakṣmī, in the middle of the hand Sarasvatī, at the base of the hand Govinda: look at your hands at dawn.

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती । करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ॥

karāgre vasate lakṣmīḥ karamadhye sarasvatī | karamūle tu govindaḥ prabhāte karadarśanam ||

ka·rāg·re va·sa·te lak·ṣmīḥ ka·ra·madh·ye sa·ras·va·tī | ka·ra·mū·le tu go·vin·daḥ pra·bhā·te ka·ra·dar·śa·nam ||

You alone are mother and father, you alone are kin and friend, you alone are knowledge and wealth; you are my everything, O God of gods.

त्वम् एव माता च पिता त्वम् एव त्वम् एव बन्धुश् च सखा त्वम् एव । त्वम् एव विद्या द्रविणं त्वम् एव त्वम् एव सर्वं मम देव देव ॥

tvam eva mātā ca pitā tvam eva tvam eva bandhuś ca sakhā tvam eva | tvam eva vidyā draviṇaṃ tvam eva tvam eva sarvaṃ mama deva deva ||

tvam e·va mā·tā ca pi·tā tvam e·va tvam e·va ban·dhuś ca sa·khā tvam e·va | tvam e·va vid·yā dra·vi·ṇaṃ tvam e·va tvam e·va sar·vaṃ ma·ma de·va de·va ||

Om, earth, sky, heaven. We meditate on the glorious radiance of the divine Savitṛ: may he inspire our minds.

ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः । तत् सवितुर् वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ | tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi | dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||

oṃ bhūr bhu·vaḥ svaḥ | tat sa·vi·tur va·reṇ·yaṃ bhar·go de·vas·ya dhī·ma·hi | dhi·yo yo naḥ pra·co·da·yāt ||

Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality.

असतो मा सद् गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर् गमय । मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय ॥

asato mā sad gamaya | tamaso mā jyotir gamaya | mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya ||

a·sa·to mā sad ga·ma·ya | ta·ma·so mā jyo·tir ga·ma·ya | mṛt·yor mā a·mṛ·taṃ ga·ma·ya ||

May he protect us both; may he nourish us both; may we work together with vigour; may our study be bright; may we not resent each other.

ॐ सह नाव् अवतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नाव् अधीतम् अस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥

oṃ saha nāv avatu | saha nau bhunaktu | saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai | tejasvi nāv adhītam astu mā vidviṣāvahai ||

oṃ sa·ha nāv a·va·tu | sa·ha nau bhu·nak·tu | sa·ha vīr·yaṃ ka·ra·vā·va·hai | te·jas·vi nāv a·dhī·tam as·tu mā vid·vi·ṣā·va·hai ||

That is whole, this is whole; from the whole the whole arises. Taking the whole from the whole, the whole remains.

पूर्णम् अदः पूर्णम् इदं पूर्णात् पूर्णम् उदच्यते । पूर्णस्य पूर्णम् आदाय पूर्णम् एवावशिष्यते ॥

pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṃ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate | pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate ||

pūr·ṇam a·daḥ pūr·ṇam i·daṃ pūr·ṇāt pūr·ṇam u·dac·ya·te | pūr·ṇas·ya pūr·ṇam ā·dā·ya pūr·ṇam e·vā·va·śiṣ·ya·te ||

All this, whatever moves in this moving world, is to be dwelt in by the Lord. Enjoy it by letting go; do not covet: whose is wealth?

ईशा वास्यम् इदं सर्वं यत् किं च जगत्यां जगत् । तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्य स्विद् धनम् ॥

īśā vāsyam idaṃ sarvaṃ yat kiṃ ca jagatyāṃ jagat | tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam ||

ī·śā vās·yam i·daṃ sar·vaṃ yat kiṃ ca ja·gat·yāṃ ja·gat | te·na tyak·te·na bhuñ·jī·thā mā gṛ·dhaḥ kas·ya svid dha·nam ||

Truth alone conquers, not falsehood. By truth the path of the gods is laid out, by which the seers, their desires fulfilled, go to where the highest treasure of truth is.

सत्यम् एव जयते नानृतं सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयानः । येनाक्रमन्त्य् ऋषयो ह्य् आप्तकामा यत्र तत् सत्यस्य परमं निधानम् ॥

satyam eva jayate nānṛtaṃ satyena panthā vitato devayānaḥ | yenākramanty ṛṣayo hy āptakāmā yatra tat satyasya paramaṃ nidhānam ||

sat·yam e·va ja·ya·te nā·nṛ·taṃ sat·ye·na pan·thā vi·ta·to de·va·yā·naḥ | ye·nāk·ra·manty ṛ·ṣa·yo hy āp·ta·kā·mā yat·ra tat sat·yas·ya pa·ra·maṃ ni·dhā·nam ||

The mind alone is the cause of bondage and freedom for people: attached to objects it binds, free of objects it liberates.

मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः । बन्धाय विषयासक्तं मुक्त्यै निर्विषयं स्मृतम् ॥

mana eva manuṣyāṇāṃ kāraṇaṃ bandhamokṣayoḥ | bandhāya viṣayāsaktaṃ muktyai nirviṣayaṃ smṛtam ||

ma·na e·va ma·nuṣ·yā·ṇāṃ kā·ra·ṇaṃ ban·dha·mok·ṣa·yoḥ | ban·dhā·ya vi·ṣa·yā·sak·taṃ muk·tyai nir·vi·ṣa·yaṃ smṛ·tam ||

Your right is to the action alone, never to its fruits. Do not let the fruit be your motive, nor be attached to doing nothing.

कर्मण्य् एवाधिकारस् ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर् भूर् मा ते सङ्गो ऽस्त्व् अकर्मणि ॥

karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana | mā karmaphalahetur bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi ||

kar·maṇy e·vā·dhi·kā·ras te mā pha·le·ṣu ka·dā·ca·na | mā kar·ma·pha·la·he·tur bhūr mā te saṅ·go 'stv a·kar·ma·ṇi ||

Steady in yoga, do your work, giving up attachment, Dhanañjaya, the same in success and failure: evenness of mind is called yoga.

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय । सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥

yogasthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā dhanañjaya | siddhyasiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṃ yoga ucyate ||

yo·gas·thaḥ ku·ru kar·mā·ṇi saṅ·gaṃ tyak·tvā dha·nañ·ja·ya | sid·dhya·sid·dhyoḥ sa·mo bhūt·vā sa·mat·vaṃ yo·ga uc·ya·te ||

As a person throws off worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so the embodied self leaves worn-out bodies and enters new ones.

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरो ऽपराणि । तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णान्य् अन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ॥

vāsāṃsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛhṇāti naro 'parāṇi | tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny anyāni saṃyāti navāni dehī ||

vā·sāṃ·si jīr·ṇā·ni ya·thā vi·hā·ya na·vā·ni gṛh·ṇā·ti na·ro 'pa·rā·ṇi | ta·thā śa·rī·rā·ṇi vi·hā·ya jīr·ṇāny an·yā·ni saṃ·yā·ti na·vā·ni de·hī ||

Whenever dharma declines, Bhārata, and adharma rises, then I bring myself forth.

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर् भवति भारत । अभ्युत्थानम् अधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्य् अहम् ॥

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata | abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṃ sṛjāmy aham ||

ya·dā ya·dā hi dhar·mas·ya glā·nir bha·va·ti bhā·ra·ta | abh·yut·thā·nam a·dhar·mas·ya ta·dāt·mā·naṃ sṛ·jāmy a·ham ||

Nothing here purifies like knowledge. One perfected in yoga finds it in oneself in time.

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रम् इह विद्यते । तत् स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ॥

na hi jñānena sadṛśaṃ pavitram iha vidyate | tat svayaṃ yogasaṃsiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati ||

na hi jñā·ne·na sa·dṛ·śaṃ pa·vit·ram i·ha vid·ya·te | tat sva·yaṃ yo·ga·saṃ·sid·dhaḥ kā·le·nāt·ma·ni vin·da·ti ||

One with faith, devoted to it and with the senses restrained, gains knowledge; having gained knowledge, one soon reaches supreme peace.

श्रद्धावांल् लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः । ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिम् अचिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥

śraddhāvāṃl labhate jñānaṃ tatparaḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ | jñānaṃ labdhvā parāṃ śāntim acireṇādhigacchati ||

śrad·dhā·vāṃl la·bha·te jñā·naṃ tat·pa·raḥ saṃ·ya·ten·dri·yaḥ | jñā·naṃ lab·dhvā pa·rāṃ śān·tim a·ci·re·ṇā·dhi·gac·cha·ti ||

Lift yourself up by yourself; do not let yourself sink. You alone are your own friend, and you alone your own enemy.

उद्धरेद् आत्मनात्मानं नात्मानम् अवसादयेत् । आत्मैव ह्य् आत्मनो बन्धुर् आत्मैव रिपुर् आत्मनः ॥

uddhared ātmanātmānaṃ nātmānam avasādayet | ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ ||

ud·dha·red āt·ma·nāt·mā·naṃ nāt·mā·nam a·va·sā·da·yet | āt·mai·va hy āt·ma·no ban·dhur āt·mai·va ri·pur āt·ma·naḥ ||

Even golden Laṅkā does not please me, Lakṣmaṇa: mother and motherland are greater than heaven.

अपि स्वर्णमयी लङ्का न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते । जननी जन्मभूमिश् च स्वर्गाद् अपि गरीयसी ॥

api svarṇamayī laṅkā na me lakṣmaṇa rocate | jananī janmabhūmiś ca svargād api garīyasī ||

a·pi svar·ṇa·ma·yī laṅ·kā na me lak·ṣma·ṇa ro·ca·te | ja·na·nī jan·ma·bhū·miś ca svar·gād a·pi ga·rī·ya·sī ||