Aapadarthe Dhanam Rakshet (Guard Wealth, Wife and Self) — Word-by-Word Meaning
आपदर्थे धनं रक्षेत्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
आपदर्थे
āpad-arthe
for the sake of (times of) calamity or adversity
धनम्
dhanam
wealth, money
रक्षेत्
rakṣet
one should protect / save / guard
दारान्
dārān
wife (and family); the household
धनैः
dhanaiḥ
by means of wealth, with money
अपि
api
even, also
आत्मानम्
ātmānam
oneself, one's own self
सततम्
satatam
always, constantly, at all times
दारैः
dāraiḥ
by (even sacrificing) the wife/family
धनैः अपि
dhanaiḥ api
and even by (sacrificing) wealth
दारैरपि धनैरपि
dārair api dhanair api
even at the cost of both wife and wealth (self must be guarded first)
रक्षेद् धनैरपि
rakṣed dhanair api
should protect (the family) even by spending wealth
Complete Translation
One should save wealth to meet times of calamity; one should protect one's wife and family even by spending that wealth; but one should at all times protect one's own self, even if it means giving up both family and wealth. Chanakya sets out a clear order of priorities: wealth guards against adversity, family is dearer than wealth, but the self — one's own life and integrity — must be guarded above all.
Origin & History
Source: Chanakya Niti
Author: Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya)
Period: Ancient India (c. 4th–3rd century BCE)
Chanakya, who guided Chandragupta Maurya to the throne, distilled his hard-won wisdom on survival and prosperity into pithy niti verses. This verse on guarding wealth, family and self reflects his pragmatic ethics: it ranks the values a prudent person must weigh in a crisis, placing the preservation of one's own self above even wealth and household.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does 'Aapadarthe Dhanam Rakshet' come from?▼
It is a famous verse from the Chanakya Niti (Niti Darpana), the body of aphorisms attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya / Vishnugupta), the ancient Indian teacher of statecraft, economics and ethics.
What is the order of priorities in this verse?▼
Wealth should be saved for adversity; family (dara) should be protected even by spending that wealth; and one's own self (atman) must always be protected, even at the cost of both family and wealth. Self comes first, then family, then wealth — an ascending order of value.
Does protecting 'oneself first' mean being selfish?▼
No. The verse speaks of prudence in genuine calamity, not selfishness. Its point is that one cannot protect family or use wealth if one's own life and integrity are lost; preserving the self is therefore the foundation that makes all other duties possible.
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