ॐMantra.Tips
subhashitawisdomchanakyaniti

කාමධේනුගුණා විද්යා

Kamadhenu Guna Vidya (Knowledge, the Wish-Fulfilling Cow) in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning study time, before learning, or while reflecting on the value of education·📜 Chanakya Niti
Share:

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Chanakya Niti · Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya) · Ancient India (c. 4th–3rd century BCE)

Chanakya, himself a learned acharya who shaped an empire by his wisdom, repeatedly exalted knowledge above material wealth. In this verse he heaps three great images upon vidya — the wish-fulfilling cow, the protecting mother, and the hidden treasure — to teach that learning is the surest and most enduring of all forms of wealth.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said of many a scholar who lost everything in misfortune yet rose again by their learning alone, that they proved this verse true — for knowledge, the hidden treasure none could steal, fed them like a mother and bore fruit even in their hardest season.

The Mantra

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

කාමධේනුගුණා විද්යා හ්යකාලේ ඵලදායිනී. ප්රවාසේ මාතෘසදෘශී විද්යා ගුප්තං ධනං ස්මෘතම්..

kāmadhenu-guṇā vidyā hy akāle phala-dāyinī। pravāse mātṛ-sadṛśī vidyā guptaṁ dhanaṁ smṛtam॥

Meaning:Knowledge is like the divine wish-fulfilling cow (Kamadhenu), for it bears fruit even in adverse, out-of-season times; in a foreign land it is like a mother, and it is regarded as a hidden, inexhaustible treasure. Chanakya extols learning as the most reliable of all riches — nourishing, protective and ever-yielding, even when all else fails.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

කාමධේනු🔊kāmadhenuthe divine wish-fulfilling cow that grants all desires
ගුණා🔊guṇāhaving the qualities (of), like in nature
විද්යා🔊vidyāknowledge, learning, education
හි🔊hiindeed, truly (emphatic)
අකාලේ🔊akālein adverse / out-of-season times, in hard times when nothing else avails
ඵලදායිනී🔊phala-dāyinībestowing fruit, yielding results / rewards
ප්රවාසේ🔊pravāsein a foreign land, while travelling or living away from home
මාතෘසදෘශී🔊mātṛ-sadṛśīlike a mother, equal to a mother (in protecting and nurturing)
ගුප්තම්🔊guptamhidden, secret, well-concealed
ධනම්🔊dhanamwealth, treasure
ස්මෘතම්🔊smṛtamis considered, is regarded, is said to be

Benefits of Chanting Kamadhenu Guna Vidya (Knowledge, the Wish-Fulfilling Cow)

✦

Inspires devotion to learning and lifelong education

✦

Reminds that knowledge yields rewards even in adversity

✦

Portrays vidya as a protector, like a mother, in unfamiliar circumstances

✦

Frames knowledge as an inexhaustible, theft-proof wealth

✦

Motivates students and seekers to value learning above material gain

✦

A concise, memorable verse for reflection on the worth of knowledge

How to Chant Kamadhenu Guna Vidya (Knowledge, the Wish-Fulfilling Cow)

Repetitions3times
Best TimeMorning study time, before learning, or while reflecting on the value of education

Recite the verse slowly and dwell on its three images — knowledge as the wish-fulfilling cow, as a mother in a foreign land, and as a hidden treasure. Let it renew your dedication to learning. It is traditionally studied among Chanakya's teachings on vidya and is a fitting verse for students and teachers alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Kamadhenu Guna Vidya (Knowledge, the Wish-Fulfilling Cow) written in the Sinhala script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.
Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.
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 ethics, statecraft and learning.
Kamadhenu is the divine cow that grants every wish. Chanakya compares vidya (knowledge) to her because it fulfills one's needs and bears fruit even in adverse, out-of-season times (akale) when ordinary resources fail.
Because, unlike material wealth, knowledge cannot be stolen, lost or divided. It travels with a person everywhere, protects them like a mother in foreign lands, and remains a secret, inexhaustible store of value throughout life.

You May Also Like

Gata Shoko Na Kartavyah (Do Not Grieve the Past)गतं शोको न कर्तव्योYasya Putro Vashibhutah (Heaven Is Right Here)यस्य पुत्रो वशीभूतोPustakastha Tu Ya Vidya (Knowledge in a Book Is of No Use)पुस्तकस्था तु या विद्याSaraswati Vandanaसरस्वती वंदनाSaraswati Mantraसरस्वती मंत्रGuru Stotram — Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnuगुरु स्तोत्रम् — गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः

Found this helpful? Share it with loved ones 🙏

Share:

ॐ

Read the full Kamadhenu Guna Vidya (Knowledge, the Wish-Fulfilling Cow) with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts

Full Kamadhenu Guna Vidya (Knowledge, the Wish-Fulfilling Cow) (Devanagari)All MantrasFind by Purpose