Ati Sarvatra Varjayet — Word-by-Word Meaning
अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
अति
ati
excess, too much
रूपेण
rūpeṇa
by (her) beauty
वै
vai
indeed, verily
सीता
sītā
Sita (whose excessive beauty led to her abduction)
अतिगर्वेण
ati-garveṇa
by excessive pride/arrogance
रावणः
rāvaṇaḥ
Ravana (destroyed by his excessive pride)
अतिदानात्
ati-dānāt
from excessive giving/charity
बलिः
baliḥ
King Bali (bound through his boundless generosity)
बद्धः
baddhaḥ
was bound, fettered
अति सर्वत्र
ati sarvatra
excess everywhere, in all things
वर्जयेत्
varjayet
one should avoid, should shun
Complete Translation
It was excessive beauty that brought trouble to Sita, excessive pride that ruined Ravana, and excessive giving that bound King Bali; therefore one should avoid excess in all things. Drawing on three famous examples, this Subhashita teaches the timeless wisdom of moderation — that even good qualities, carried to extremes, can lead to downfall.
Origin & History
Source: Subhashita (Sanskrit niti tradition)
Author: Anonymous (traditional Subhashita)
Period: Classical Sanskrit literature
This verse belongs to the rich Subhashita tradition of Sanskrit, which preserves thousands of memorable verses on wisdom and conduct. To teach the value of moderation, it cites three figures from the epics and Puranas whose excess — of beauty, pride and generosity — led to suffering, and closes with the timeless rule to avoid excess in all things.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ati Sarvatra Varjayet mean?▼
It means 'one should avoid excess in all things.' The verse gives three examples — Sita's excessive beauty, Ravana's excessive pride, and Bali's excessive charity, each of which led to difficulty — to teach that moderation should be observed everywhere.
Why are Sita, Ravana and Bali mentioned?▼
Each illustrates how excess, even of something otherwise good, can cause downfall: Sita's surpassing beauty led to her abduction, Ravana's pride destroyed him, and King Bali's boundless generosity led to his being bound by Vamana. Together they make the case for moderation.
What is the central teaching of this Subhashita?▼
Moderation. The verse teaches that balance and restraint are wise in all areas of life, because anything taken to an extreme — even a virtue like beauty, confidence or generosity — can bring harm.
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