Sahitya Sangita Kala Vihinah
साहित्यसङ्गीतकलाविहीनः
Also known as: sahitya sangita kala vihinah · sahitya sangeeta kala viheenah · sakshat pashuh puccha vishana hinah · bhartrhari shloka on arts
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✦ Meaning
One of Bhartrhari's most famous Niti Shataka verses, this Subhashita proclaims that art, music and literature are what truly distinguish a human being from an animal. With characteristic wit, it calls a person ignorant of the arts 'a beast without tail and horns,' adding that it is only the good luck of real animals that he is not numbered among them. The verse is a timeless celebration of culture and the refinement of the human spirit.
Origin & Story
Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari (Subhashita) · Bhartrhari · Classical Sanskrit literature (c. 5th century CE)
Bhartrhari's Niti Shataka is a garland of a hundred verses on right conduct, wisdom, fortune and the cultivation of the self. Among them, this verse celebrates the arts as the true mark of humanity. By comparing the uncultured person to a tailless, hornless beast, Bhartrhari drives home with humour his deep conviction that literature, music and the fine arts are not luxuries but the very essence of civilised life.
✦ As told in scripture
It is often remarked that this single verse has done more to inspire devotion to the arts in Sanskrit-learning households than any sermon could, planting in generations of students the conviction that a life touched by poetry and music is a life truly lived.
The Mantra
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साहित्यसङ्गीतकलाविहीनः साक्षात्पशुः पुच्छविषाणहीनः। तृणं न खादन्नपि जीवमानस् तद्भागधेयं परमं पशूनाम्॥
sāhitya-saṅgīta-kalā-vihīnaḥ sākṣāt paśuḥ puccha-viṣāṇa-hīnaḥ। tṛṇaṁ na khādann api jīvamānas tad bhāgadheyaṁ paramaṁ paśūnām॥
Meaning:A person devoid of literature, music and the arts is, in plain truth, a beast without a tail and horns; it is the supreme good fortune of the other animals that, though he lives without eating grass, he is still counted a man and not one of them. Bhartrhari wittily declares that the cultivation of arts and letters is what raises a human being above the brute.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Sahitya Sangita Kala Vihinah
Inspires devotion to literature, music and the fine arts as marks of a refined life
Reminds us that culture and learning elevate humanity above mere existence
A memorable, witty verse for teaching the value of arts education
Encourages parents and teachers to nurture aesthetic sensibility in the young
Sharpens appreciation for the cultural heritage of Sanskrit and Indian arts
Motivates lifelong cultivation of taste, knowledge and creativity
How to Chant Sahitya Sangita Kala Vihinah
Recite the verse and reflect on how the arts ennoble human life and separate it from a merely animal existence. Use it as encouragement to engage with music, poetry and the fine arts. It is meant for contemplation and inspiration rather than ritual repetition, ideal as a motto for students of culture and the humanities.