subhashitawisdombhartrhariniti-shataka

Prarabhyate Na Khalu Vighna Bhayena (The Three Types of Men)

Prarabhyate Na Khalu Vighna Bhayena (The Three Types of Men) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning before undertaking important work, or when facing difficulty and discouragement·📜 Bhartrhari Niti Shataka

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

One of Bhartrhari's most inspiring verses from the Niti Shataka, this shloka classifies people into three types by how they meet difficulty. The lowest never even start, paralysed by the fear of obstacles; the middling begin but abandon their work at the first hindrance; and the highest, though battered by obstacles again and again, never give up what they have begun. It is a timeless celebration of perseverance and the resolve of the great.

Origin & Story

Bhartrhari Niti Shataka · Bhartrhari · Classical Sanskrit literature (c. 5th century CE)

The Niti Shataka is the first of Bhartrhari's three celebrated centuries of verse, a hundred epigrams on right conduct, perseverance and the ways of the world. This shloka is among its most beloved, dividing humanity into three types by their response to obstacles and crowning the highest with the glory of never abandoning a task once begun — a timeless anthem of perseverance.

✦ As told in scripture

Generations have drawn courage from this verse in the face of failure, repeating its closing line as a vow never to quit. Teachers say that the one who truly lives by it becomes, by that very resolve, an uttama-jana — for greatness lies not in never falling, but in always rising to continue.

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The Mantra

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prārabhyate na khalu vighna-bhayena nīcaiḥ prārabhya vighna-vihatā viramanti madhyāḥ। vighnaiḥ punaḥ punar api pratihanyamānāḥ prārabdham uttama-janā na parityajanti॥

Meaning:The low never begin a task at all, for fear of obstacles. The mediocre begin, but stop the moment difficulties strike. But the noblest, though struck down by obstacles again and again, never abandon the work they have begun. The verse divides all people into three types and exalts the unbreakable perseverance of the truly great.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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prārabhyate na🔊is not even begun, is not undertaken

khalu🔊indeed, surely

vighna-bhayena🔊out of fear of obstacles

nīcaiḥ🔊by the low (the base, inferior type of people)

prārabhya🔊having begun, after starting

vighna-vihatāḥ🔊struck down by obstacles, beset by hindrances

viramanti🔊stop, give up, desist

madhyāḥ🔊the middling, the mediocre type of people

vighnaiḥ🔊by obstacles, by hindrances

punaḥ punar api🔊again and again, repeatedly

pratihanyamānāḥ🔊being struck back, being beaten down

prārabdham🔊the undertaking, the work begun

uttama-janāḥ🔊the noblest of people, the highest type

na parityajanti🔊do not abandon, never give up

Benefits of Chanting Prarabhyate Na Khalu Vighna Bhayena (The Three Types of Men)

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Inspires unshakeable perseverance in the face of obstacles

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Classifies the qualities that separate the great from the ordinary

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Motivates the reciter to begin worthy tasks and never abandon them

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Builds courage, resolve and determination in difficult endeavours

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A powerful reminder that obstacles test, but never defeat, the noble

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A short, memorable verse ideal for daily motivation and reflection

How to Chant Prarabhyate Na Khalu Vighna Bhayena (The Three Types of Men)

Repetitions3times

Best TimeMorning before undertaking important work, or when facing difficulty and discouragement

Recite the verse with feeling, dwelling on the rising scale of the three types and on the final, defiant line — the noble never abandon what they begin. Use it to steel your resolve when obstacles arise, resolving to belong to the highest type. It is widely quoted to inspire students, workers and seekers to persevere through hardship.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Prarabhyate Na Khalu Vighna Bhayena (The Three Types of Men) written in the English 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 one of the most famous verses of the Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari, his classical century of verses on ethics and worldly wisdom. It is widely quoted as a teaching on perseverance and the resolve of great souls.

The lowest (nicha) never begin a task out of fear of obstacles; the middling (madhya) begin but give up at the first difficulty; and the highest (uttama) keep going even when struck down by obstacles again and again, never abandoning what they began.

Because it sets a clear, inspiring ideal: greatness is defined not by avoiding obstacles but by refusing to quit despite them. It challenges the listener to rise to the highest type and persevere through every hindrance.