Sahitya Sangita Kala Vihinah — Word-by-Word Meaning
साहित्यसङ्गीतकलाविहीनः
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
साहित्य
sāhitya
literature, poetry
सङ्गीत
saṅgīta
music
कला
kalā
the (fine) arts
विहीनः
vihīnaḥ
devoid of, lacking
साक्षात्
sākṣāt
literally, directly, in plain truth
पशुः
paśuḥ
a beast, an animal
पुच्छ
puccha
tail
विषाण
viṣāṇa
horns
हीनः
hīnaḥ
without, lacking (here: a beast without tail and horns)
तृणम्
tṛṇam
grass
न खादन्
na khādan
not eating
अपि जीवमानः
api jīvamānaḥ
though living, yet alive
तत् भागधेयम्
tat bhāgadheyam
that is the (great) good fortune
परमम्
paramam
supreme, greatest
पशूनाम्
paśūnām
of the (other) animals
Complete Translation
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.
Origin & History
Source: Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari (Subhashita)
Author: Bhartrhari
Period: 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sahitya Sangita Kala Vihinah mean?▼
It means 'one devoid of literature, music and art.' The verse from Bhartrhari's Niti Shataka declares that such a person is, in truth, no better than an animal, only without a tail and horns — emphasising that the arts are what make us truly human.
Who wrote this verse?▼
It is from the Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari, the great Sanskrit poet-philosopher who composed three celebrated Shatakas on ethics, love and renunciation.
What is the deeper message of this Subhashita?▼
That the cultivation of art, music and literature is essential to a fully human life. Without the refinement they bring, a person merely exists; with them, the human spirit is elevated and ennobled.
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