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subhashitanitieffortdiligence

𑌆𑌲𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌹𑌿 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌥𑍋 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌰𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌃

Aalasyam Hi Manushyanam Sharirastho Mahan Ripuh in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Early morning, at the start of work or study, or whenever motivation flags·📜 Chanakya Niti (Subhashita)
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Chanakya Niti (Subhashita) · Attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya) · Classical Sanskrit literature (Mauryan era tradition, c. 4th century BCE onward)

Chanakya, the legendary statesman and author of the Arthashastra, is credited in the Chanakya Niti tradition with many pithy verses on practical wisdom, governance and self-discipline. This verse captures one of his recurring themes — that diligence is the foundation of success. By naming laziness an enemy lodged within the body, it urges constant effort as the surest protection against ruin.

✦ As told in scripture

Teachers across generations have used this verse to rouse students from idleness, and it is often said that a single sincere reading can shame the inner sluggard into action, for once effort is seen as one's truest friend, laziness loses much of its hold.

The Mantra

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𑌆𑌲𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌹𑌿 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌥𑍋 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌰𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌃। 𑌨𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌸𑌮𑍋 𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌵𑌸𑍀𑌦𑌤𑌿॥

ālasyaṁ hi manuṣyāṇāṁ śarīrastho mahān ripuḥ। nāsty udyama-samo bandhuḥ kṛtvā yaṁ nāvasīdati॥

Meaning:Laziness is verily the great enemy that dwells within the human body; there is no friend like diligent effort, for having practised it one never falls into ruin. This Chanakya-niti verse names sloth as the foe lurking inside us and hails sustained effort as the truest ally on the path to success.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌆𑌲𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊ālasyamlaziness, idleness, sloth
𑌹𑌿🔊hiindeed, verily
𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊manuṣyāṇāmof human beings, for people
𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌃🔊śarīrasthaḥresiding within the body, dwelling inside
𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌰𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌃🔊mahān ripuḥa great enemy
𑌨 𑌅𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿🔊na astithere is no, there does not exist
𑌉𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌸𑌮𑌃🔊udyama-samaḥequal to effort/diligence
𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍁𑌃🔊bandhuḥfriend, kinsman, ally
𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾🔊kṛtvāhaving done/practised (it)
𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊yamwhich (effort)
𑌨 𑌅𑌵𑌸𑍀𑌦𑌤𑌿🔊na avasīdatione does not sink, does not fall into ruin

Benefits of Chanting Aalasyam Hi Manushyanam Sharirastho Mahan Ripuh

✦

Inspires diligence and a strong work ethic in study and life

✦

Warns against laziness as the inner enemy that causes downfall

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Encourages perseverance and consistent effort toward goals

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A motivating verse for students, workers and seekers of success

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Reframes effort as one's most loyal friend and protector

✦

Excellent for value education and daily self-motivation

How to Chant Aalasyam Hi Manushyanam Sharirastho Mahan Ripuh

Repetitions3times
Best TimeEarly morning, at the start of work or study, or whenever motivation flags

Recite the verse to begin the day with resolve, recognising laziness as the enemy within and effort as your truest friend. Let it spur you to action whenever you feel like delaying or giving up. It is best used as a motivational reflection rather than a ritual chant, ideal for students and anyone pursuing a goal.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Aalasyam Hi Manushyanam Sharirastho Mahan Ripuh written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.
Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.
It means 'laziness is indeed (the great enemy) of human beings.' The full verse calls sloth a great enemy that lives within the body, and praises diligent effort (udyama) as the best friend, since the one who works never falls into ruin.
It is a well-known niti-shloka associated with the Chanakya tradition and the broader Sanskrit Subhashita literature, widely quoted for its motivating message on effort and the dangers of laziness.
That our greatest enemy is the laziness within us, and our greatest friend is our own sustained effort. Diligence protects a person from failure, while idleness leads to downfall — so we should choose effort over sloth.

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