Gata Shoko Na Kartavyah (Do Not Grieve the Past)
गतं शोको न कर्तव्यो
Also known as: gatam shoko na kartavyah · gata shoko na kartavyo · bhavishyam naiva chintayet · vartamanena kalena vartayanti vichakshanah · chanakya live in the present verse
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✦ Meaning
This much-loved verse from Chanakya Niti distils the art of peace into a single line: do not grieve the past, do not worry about the future, for the wise live in the present. It has become a timeless maxim for equanimity and presence of mind, teaching that effective and serene living belongs to those who give themselves fully to the moment at hand.
Origin & Story
Chanakya Niti · Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya) · Ancient India (c. 4th–3rd century BCE)
Chanakya, whose counsel raised an empire, knew that great undertakings demand a mind unclouded by regret or fear. This verse captures that practical wisdom: he holds up the vicakshana — the clear-sighted — as those who neither mourn the past nor dread the future, but give themselves wholly to the present, and so act with clarity and calm.
✦ As told in scripture
Wise teachers say this single verse has the power to lift a sinking heart at once, for the moment one truly stops grieving the past and dreading the future, the burden of the mind falls away and only the clear, workable present remains.
The Mantra
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गतं शोको न कर्तव्यो भविष्यं नैव चिन्तयेत्। वर्तमानेन कालेन वर्तयन्ति विचक्षणाः॥
gataṁ śoko na kartavyo bhaviṣyaṁ naiva cintayet। vartamānena kālena vartayanti vicakṣaṇāḥ॥
Meaning:One should not grieve over what is past, nor should one worry over the future; the wise live their lives in the present time alone. Chanakya teaches the secret of a steady mind: to release regret for what is gone and anxiety for what is to come, and to act fully in the living present.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Gata Shoko Na Kartavyah (Do Not Grieve the Past)
Cultivates equanimity by releasing regret and anxiety
Trains the mind to live and act in the present moment
Eases grief over the past and worry about the future
Promotes calm, clear and effective action
A powerful aid for stress, overthinking and restlessness
A short, memorable verse for daily mindfulness and reflection
How to Chant Gata Shoko Na Kartavyah (Do Not Grieve the Past)
Recite the verse slowly and let each clause loosen the mind's grip: the past is gone — release grief; the future is not yet — set down worry; the wise live now — return to the present. Breathe and rest the attention in the present moment. It is traditionally studied among Chanakya's teachings on a steady mind.