Gunair Uttamatam Yati (Greatness Comes from Virtue, Not Position) — Complete Lyrics
गुणैरुत्तमतां याति
Sanskrit text with English transliteration and translation
गुणैरुत्तमतां याति नोच्चैरासनसंस्थितः।
प्रासादशिखरस्थोऽपि काकः किं गरुडायते॥
guṇair uttamatāṁ yāti noccair āsana-saṁsthitaḥ।
prāsāda-śikhara-stho 'pi kākaḥ kiṁ garuḍāyate॥
One attains greatness through one's virtues, not merely by occupying a high position. Even if it is perched on the very summit of a palace, does a crow thereby become Garuda, the king of birds? Chanakya teaches that rank and elevated seats do not confer true worth — only one's qualities and character can.
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