Ayuh Karma Cha Vittam Cha (Five Things Fixed Before Birth)
आयुः कर्म च वित्तं च
Also known as: ayuh karma cha vittam cha vidya · aayuh karma cha vittam cha · five things fixed before birth chanakya · garbhasthasyaiva dehinah · panchaitani hi srijyante
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✦ Meaning
This famous verse from the opening chapter of Chanakya Niti declares that five things — lifespan, deeds, wealth, knowledge and death — are determined for a being while still in the womb. It is a teaching on destiny and acceptance, urging that since the broad arc of life is fixed, one should act with diligence yet remain free of anxiety and arrogance. It has long been quoted to cultivate equanimity and trust in the cosmic order.
Origin & Story
Chanakya Niti · Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya) · Ancient India (c. 4th–3rd century BCE)
Chanakya, the strategist and minister who helped found the Mauryan empire, compiled terse niti verses on ethics, prosperity and the conduct of life. This verse from his opening chapter sets a foundational tone: by declaring that lifespan, deeds, wealth, learning and death are fixed before birth, he frames human striving within an acceptance of destiny, teaching the seeker to remain calm, humble and free of fear.
✦ As told in scripture
Teachers of niti say that whoever truly absorbs this single verse is freed from two great torments at once — the fever of greed and the dread of death — for knowing the essentials of life are ordained, such a person works with a steady hand and a peaceful heart.
The Mantra
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आयुः कर्म च वित्तं च विद्या निधनमेव च। पञ्चैतानि हि सृज्यन्ते गर्भस्थस्यैव देहिनः॥
āyuḥ karma ca vittaṁ ca vidyā nidhanam eva ca। pañcaitāni hi sṛjyante garbhasthasyaiva dehinaḥ॥
Meaning:Lifespan, one's destined deeds, wealth, knowledge, and the time of death — these five are ordained for an embodied being even while it is still in the womb. Chanakya teaches that the essential outlines of one's life are settled before birth, so the wise neither grow vain over fortune nor break down in anxiety over what is destined.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Ayuh Karma Cha Vittam Cha (Five Things Fixed Before Birth)
Cultivates equanimity and acceptance of destiny
Frees the mind from excessive anxiety about wealth and outcomes
Curbs arrogance over fortune by reminding that much is pre-ordained
Encourages calm, diligent effort without attachment to results
A profound aid for facing illness, loss and mortality with peace
A concise, memorable verse for daily reflection on life's true nature
How to Chant Ayuh Karma Cha Vittam Cha (Five Things Fixed Before Birth)
Recite the verse slowly and let its meaning settle: lifespan, deeds, wealth, learning and the moment of death are shaped before one is even born. Reflect that since these essentials are ordained, one's task is to act rightly and leave the fruits to destiny. It is traditionally studied as part of Chanakya's teachings to steady the mind against fear and greed.