Mata Shatruh Pita Bairi — Word-by-Word Meaning
माता शत्रुः पिता वैरी
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
माता
mātā
the mother
शत्रुः
śatruḥ
an enemy
पिता
pitā
the father
वैरी
vairī
a foe, an adversary
येन
yena
by whom
बालः
bālaḥ
the child
न पाठितः
na pāṭhitaḥ
is not taught, is not educated
न शोभते
na śobhate
does not look good, does not shine
सभामध्ये
sabhā-madhye
in the midst of an assembly (of learned people)
हंसमध्ये
haṁsa-madhye
in the midst of swans
बकः यथा
bako yathā
as a heron (crane), like a stork
Complete Translation
The mother is an enemy and the father a foe by whom a child is not educated; for such an unlettered person does not shine in an assembly of the learned, just as a heron does not shine in the midst of swans. The verse stresses that giving a child education is the highest duty of parents.
Origin & History
Source: Chanakya-niti (Subhashita)
Author: Chanakya (Kautilya / Vishnugupta)
Period: Ancient India (c. 4th century BCE; niti compilations later)
The Chanakya-niti gathers the practical wisdom of the great statesman and teacher Chanakya, who guided the rise of the Mauryan empire. Among its counsels on family and learning, this striking verse declares education the foremost duty of parents, warning that to leave a child unlettered is to do him the harm of an enemy, for he will stand graceless among the learned like a heron among swans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the verse Mata Shatruh Pita Bairi come from?▼
It is one of the most famous verses of the Chanakya-niti, the collection of practical maxims attributed to Acharya Chanakya (Kautilya), and it is widely quoted on the importance of educating children.
What is the central teaching of this shloka?▼
That parents who fail to educate their child do them a great disservice — comparable to being an enemy — because an unlettered person cannot shine among the learned, just as a heron looks out of place among swans. Education is the highest duty of parents.
Why does the verse compare an uneducated person to a heron among swans?▼
The image conveys feeling out of place and unable to shine. In an assembly of the learned (the swans), the unlettered person (the heron) stands apart and unadorned — underscoring how education lends grace and standing in cultured company.
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