5. सुभाषितानि - Subhashitani - Class 10 - Shemushi 2
- Jan 21
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 23
1. Chapter Summary (Paath Saar)
English Summary: This chapter is a collection of ten "Subhashitas" (good sayings) compiled from various ancient Sanskrit scriptures. These verses illuminate universal truths and ethical values. The chapter covers diverse topics: the importance of hard work (identifying laziness as the great enemy), the nature of anger (distinguishing between cause-based and baseless anger), the definition of true intelligence (understanding the unsaid), the danger of anger (comparing it to a fire that burns oneself), and the importance of company (friendship among equals). It also highlights that nothing in this world is useless—everything has its own utility, just as a horse is good for running and a donkey for carrying loads.
Moral (Sandesh): We must cultivate virtues like hard work and patience, avoid vices like laziness and anger, and recognize the inherent value in every being and object in the universe.
2. Sentence-by-Sentence Translation (Anuvad)
Sanskrit Text (Split Sandhis) | English Translation |
Shloka 1: | |
आलस्यं हि मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महान् रिपुः। | Laziness is indeed the great enemy residing in the bodies of humans. |
नास्ति उद्यमसमः बन्धुः कृत्वा यं न अवसीदति। | There is no friend equal to hard work, by doing which one does not suffer/regret. |
Shloka 2: | |
गुणी गुणं वेत्ति न वेत्ति निर्गुणो। | A virtuous person knows the value of virtue; a person without virtue does not know it. |
बली बलं वेत्ति न वेत्ति निर्बलः। | A strong person knows the value of strength; a weak person does not know it. |
पिको वसन्तस्य गुणं न वायसः। | The Cuckoo knows the quality of Spring, not the Crow. |
करी च सिंहस्य बलं न मूषकः। | And the Elephant knows the strength of the Lion, not the Mouse. |
Shloka 3: | |
निमित्तम् उद्दिश्य हि यः प्रकुप्यति। | He who gets angry aiming at a specific cause. |
ध्रुवं स तस्यापगमे प्रसीदति। | He certainly becomes happy (calm) when that cause is removed. |
अकारणद्वेषि मनस्तु यस्य वै। | But whose mind hates without any reason. |
कथं जनस्तं परितोषयिष्यति। | How will anyone satisfy him?. |
Shloka 4: | |
उदीरितोऽर्थः पशुनापि गृह्यते। | Even animals understand the meaning of uttered words. |
हयाश्च नागाश्च वहन्ति बोधिताः। | Horses and elephants carry burdens when instructed. |
अनुक्तमप्यूहति पण्डितो जनः। | A wise person guesses (understands) even what is not said. |
परेङ्गितज्ञानफला हि बुद्धयः। | Because intellects have the fruit of knowing what is hinted by others. |
Shloka 5: | |
क्रोधो हि शत्रुः प्रथमो नराणां देहस्थितो देहविनाशनाय। | Anger is indeed the first enemy of humans, residing in the body to destroy the body. |
यथास्थितः काष्ठगतो हि वह्निः। | Just as fire resides inside the wood. |
स एव वह्निर्दहते शरीरम्। | That very fire burns the body (of the angry person). |
Shloka 6: | |
मृगा मृगैः सङ्गमनुव्रजन्ति। | Deer follow (socialize) with deer. |
गावश्च गोभिः तुरगास्तुरङ्गैः। | Cows with cows, and horses with horses. |
मूर्खाश्च मूखैः सुधियः सुधीभिः। | Fools with fools, and the wise with the wise. |
समान-शील-व्यसनेषु सख्यम्। | Friendship happens among those with equal character and habits. |
Shloka 7: | |
सेवितव्यो महावृक्षः फलच्छायासमन्वितः। | A great tree endowed with fruit and shade should be resorted to. |
यदि दैवात् फलं नास्ति छाया केन निवार्यते। | If by luck there is no fruit, by whom can the shade be prevented?. |
Shloka 8: | |
अमन्त्रम् अक्षरं नास्ति। | There is no letter that is not a Mantra (that has no power). |
नास्ति मूलम् अनौषधम्। | There is no root that is not medicinal. |
अयोग्यः पुरुषः नास्ति। | There is no person who is unworthy (useless). |
योजकस्तत्र दुर्लभः। | A connector (administrator/manager) who knows how to use them is rare there. |
Shloka 9: | |
संपत्तौ च विपत्तौ च महताम् एकरूपता। | Great people maintain consistency (uniformity) in prosperity and adversity. |
उदये सविता रक्तो रक्तश्चास्तमये तथा। | Just as the Sun is red at sunrise and also red at sunset. |
Shloka 10: | |
विचित्रे खलु संसारे नास्ति किञ्चिन्निरर्थकम्। | Indeed, in this strange world, there is nothing useless. |
अश्वश्चेद् धावने वीरः भारस्य वहने खरः। | If a horse is a hero in running, a donkey is a hero in carrying loads. |
3. Shloka Analysis
Shloka 1 आलस्यं हि मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महान् रिपुः। नास्त्युद्यमसमो बन्धुः कृत्वा यं नावसीदति॥
Anvaya: मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थः महान् रिपुः आलस्यम् (अस्ति)। उद्यमसमः बन्धुः न अस्ति, यं कृत्वा (मनुष्यः) न अवसीदति.
English Meaning: Laziness is the greatest enemy living in the human body. There is no friend equal to hard work; doing which, one does not feel sorrow or regret.
Shloka 2 गुणी गुणं वेत्ति न वेत्ति निर्गुणो...
Anvaya: गुणी गुणं वेत्ति, निर्गुणः (गुणं) न वेत्ति। बली बलं वेत्ति, निर्बलः (बलं) न वेत्ति। वसन्तस्य गुणं पिकः (वेत्ति), वायसः न। सिंहस्य बलं करी (वेत्ति), मूषकः न.
English Meaning: Only a virtuous person knows the worth of virtue, not a person without virtue. A strong person knows the worth of strength, not a weak one. The Cuckoo understands the quality of Spring, not the crow. The Elephant knows the strength of a lion, not the mouse.
Shloka 3 निमित्तमुद्दिश्य हि यः प्रकुप्यति...
Anvaya: यः निमित्तम् उद्दिश्य प्रकुप्यति, सः तस्य (निमित्तस्य) अपगमे ध्रुवं प्रसीदति। यस्य मनः अकारणद्वेषि (अस्ति), जनः तं कथं परितोषयिष्यति.
English Meaning: He who gets angry for a specific reason surely calms down when that reason is removed. But how can people satisfy a person whose mind hates without any reason?
Shloka 4 उदीरितोऽर्थः पशुनापि गृह्यते...
Anvaya: पशुना अपि उदीरितः अर्थः गृह्यते। हयाः नागाः च बोधिताः (भारं) वहन्ति। पण्डितः जनः अनुक्तम् अपि ऊहति। (हि) बुद्धयः परेङ्गितज्ञानफलाः (भवन्ति).
English Meaning: Even animals grasp the meaning of uttered words; horses and elephants carry loads when instructed. A wise person guesses even what is unsaid, for intelligence has the fruit of understanding others' hints.
Shloka 5 क्रोधो हि शत्रुः प्रथमो नराणां...
Anvaya: नराणां देहविनाशनाय प्रथमः शत्रुः देहस्थितः क्रोधः (अस्ति)। यथा काष्ठगतः स्थितः वह्निः (काष्ठम् एव दहते), सः एव वह्निः शरीरं दहते.
English Meaning: Anger is the first enemy of humans, residing within the body to destroy it. Just as fire situated inside wood burns the wood itself, similarly, anger burns the body.
Shloka 6 मृगा मृगैः सङ्गमनुव्रजन्ति...
Anvaya: मृगाः मृगैः सह, गावश्च गोभिः सह, तुरगाः तुरङ्गैः सह, मूर्खाः मूर्खैः सह, सुधियः सुधीभिः सह (सङ्गम) अनुव्रजन्ति। समानशीलव्यसनेषु सख्यम् (भवति).
English Meaning: Deer follow deer, cows follow cows, horses follow horses, fools follow fools, and wise people follow wise people. Friendship occurs among those who have similar character and habits.
Shloka 7 सेवितव्यो महावृक्षः फलच्छायासमन्वितः...
Anvaya: फलच्छाया-समन्वितः महावृक्षः सेवितव्यः। दैवात् यदि फलं नास्ति, (तर्हि वृक्षस्य) छाया केन निवार्यते.
English Meaning: One should take shelter under a great tree that has both fruit and shade. If by luck there is no fruit, who can prevent the shade? (Great people always offer some benefit).
Shloka 8 अमन्त्रमक्षरं नास्ति नास्ति मूलमनौषधम्...
Anvaya: अमन्त्रम् अक्षरं नास्ति, अनौषधम् मूलं नास्ति, अयोग्यः पुरुषः नास्ति, तत्र योजकः दुर्लभः.
English Meaning: There is no letter that cannot be a mantra (sound/spell), no root that cannot be medicine, and no person who is completely useless. What is rare is a connector (manager) who knows how to utilize them.
Shloka 9 संपत्तौ च विपत्तौ च महतामेकरूपता...
Anvaya: महताम् संपत्तौ विपत्तौ च एकरूपता (भवति)। यथा सविता उदये रक्तः (भवति), तथा एव अस्तमये च रक्तः भवति.
English Meaning: Great people remain the same in prosperity and adversity. Just as the sun is red while rising and equally red while setting.
Shloka 10 विचित्रे खलु संसारे नास्ति किञ्चिन्निरर्थकम्...
Anvaya: विचित्रे संसारे खलु किञ्चित् निरर्थकं नास्ति। अश्वः चेत् धावने वीरः, (तर्हि) भारस्य वहने खरः (वीरः अस्ति).
English Meaning: In this strange world, nothing is useless. If the horse is capable in running, the donkey is capable in carrying loads.
4. Word Meanings (Kathin Shabdarth)
रिपुः (Ripuh) = Enemy (शत्रुः)
वायसः (Vayasah) = Crow (काकः)
करी (Kari) = Elephant (गजः)
निमित्तम् (Nimittam) = Cause/Reason (कारणम्)
ध्रुवम् (Dhruvam) = Certainly/Surely (निश्चितम्)
उदीरितः (Udiritah) = Said/Uttered (कथितः)
नागाः (Nagah) = Elephants (हस्तिनः)
वह्निः (Vahnih) = Fire (अग्निः)
सुधियः (Sudhiyah) = Learned People/Wise (विद्वांसः)
सविता (Savita) = The Sun (सूर्यः)
5. Competency-Based Assessment
A. Question Construction (Prashna Nirman)
Sentence | Question | Explanation |
शरीरस्थः महान् रिपुः आलस्यम्। | कुत्रस्थः/कीदृशः महान् रिपुः आलस्यम्? | Used 'Kutrasthah' (Situated where) or 'Kidrishah' (What kind). |
गुणी गुणं वेत्ति। | कः गुणं वेत्ति? | Used 'Kah' because 'Guni' is Masculine Singular. |
निमित्तम् उद्दिश्य सः प्रकुप्यति। | किम् उद्दिश्य सः प्रकुप्यति? | Used 'Kim' for the object 'Nimittam' (Cause). |
मृगाः मृगैः सङ्गमनुव्रजन्ति। | के मृगैः सङ्गमनुव्रजन्ति? | Used 'Ke' because 'Mrigah' is Masculine Plural. |
महताम् एकरूपता भवति। | केषाम् एकरूपता भवति? | Used 'Kesham' because 'Mahatam' is Genitive Plural. |
B. Bhashik Karyam (Linguistic Work)
Question: In "नास्त्युद्यमसमो बन्धुः", write the antonym for 'रिपुः' (Enemy).
Answer: बन्धुः (Bandhuh).
Explanation: 'Bandhu' means friend/relative, which is the opposite of 'Ripu' (enemy).
Question: In "सूर्यः" (The Sun), write a synonym from the text (Shloka 9).
Answer: सविता (Savita).
Explanation: 'Savita' is the specific name used for the Sun in the verse.
Question: In "पण्डितो जनः", what is the Visheshan (Adjective)?
Answer: पण्डितः (Panditah).
Explanation: 'Panditah' (Wise) describes the noun 'Janah' (Person).
Question: In "मृगा मृगैः सङ्गमनुव्रजन्ति", what is the Kriya Padam (Verb)?
Answer: अनुव्रजन्ति (Anuvrajanti).
Explanation: It indicates the action of following.
6. Subjective Q&A (Pathit Avabodhanam)
A. Ekpaden Uttarat (One Word Answers)
Q: मनुष्याणां महान् रिपुः कः? (Who is the great enemy of humans?)
Ans: आलस्यम् (Laziness).
Q: गुणी किं वेत्ति? (What does a virtuous person know?)
Ans: गुणम् (Virtue).
Q: उदयसमये अस्तसमये च कः रक्तः भवति? (Who is red at sunrise and sunset?)
Ans: सविता (The Sun).
Q: पशुना अपि कीदृशः अर्थः गृह्यते? (What kind of meaning is grasped even by animals?)
Ans: उदीरितः (Uttered/Spoken).
B. Purnavakyen Uttarat (Full Sentence Answers)
Q: केन समः बन्धुः नास्ति? (Equal to what there is no friend?)
Ans: उद्यमेन समः बन्धुः नास्ति। (There is no friend equal to hard work).
Q: वसन्तस्य गुणं कः जानाति? (Who knows the quality of Spring?)
Ans: वसन्तस्य गुणं पिकः जानाति। (The Cuckoo knows the quality of Spring).
Q: नराणां प्रथमः शत्रुः कः? (Who is the first enemy of humans?)
Ans: नराणां प्रथमः शत्रुः क्रोधः अस्ति। (Anger is the first enemy of humans).
Q: सुधियः सख्यं केन सह भवति? (With whom does the friendship of the wise happen?)
Ans: सुधियः सख्यं सुधीभिः सह भवति। (The friendship of the wise happens with the wise).
7. Integrated Grammar (Vyakaran)
A. Sandhi (Joining/Splitting)
नास्त्युद्यमसमः = न + अस्ति + उद्यमसमः (Yan Sandhi context).
तस्यापगमे = तस्य + अपगमे (Dirgha Sandhi).
योजकस्तत्र = योजकः + तत्र (Visarga Sandhi - Satvam).
B. Samas (Compounds)
शरीरस्थः = शरीरे स्थितः (Saptami Tatpurusha).
निर्मक्षिकम् = मक्षिकाणाम् अभावः (Avyayibhava).
समानशीलव्यसनेषु = समानानि शीलानि च व्यसनानि च येषां तेषु (Bahuvrihi/Karmadharaya Complex).
C. Pratyaya (Suffixes)
बोधिताः = बुध् + क्त (Kta) - Instructed.
विनाशनाय = वि + नश् + ल्युट् (Lyut) - For destruction.
सेवितव्यः = सेव् + तव्यत् (Tavyat) - Should be served/resorted to.
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