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subhashitawisdomnitibhartrhari

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍇𑌨𑍈𑌵 𑌨 𑌕𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌲𑍇𑌨

Shrotram Shrutenaiva Na Kundalena in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning reflection, before study, or before an act of charity or service·📜 Bhartrhari Niti Shataka
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

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 (Shatakatraya), gathering a hundred epigrams on right conduct and the ways of the world. Among its verses on virtue and character, this shloka beautifully lists the genuine ornaments of a human being — learning, charity and compassion — declaring them far superior to earrings, bracelets and sandal paste.

✦ As told in scripture

This verse has long inspired the learned and the generous; teachers recount that students who take it to heart come to value a well-read mind and an open hand above any finery, understanding that the kindness one shows others is the only adornment that truly shines.

The Mantra

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𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍇𑌨𑍈𑌵 𑌨 𑌕𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌲𑍇𑌨 𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍇𑌨 𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌨 𑌤𑍁 𑌕𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌣𑍇𑌨। 𑌵𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌤𑌿 𑌕𑌾𑌯𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑍋𑌪𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌨 𑌤𑍁 𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑍇𑌨॥

śrotraṁ śrutenaiva na kuṇḍalena dānena pāṇir na tu kaṅkaṇena। vibhāti kāyaḥ karuṇāparāṇāṁ paropakārair na tu candanena॥

Meaning:The ear is adorned by sacred learning, not by an earring; the hand by charity, not by a bracelet. The body of the compassionate shines through acts of kindness to others, not through sandalwood paste. The verse teaches that the true ornaments of a person are learning, generosity and benevolence — not jewellery or cosmetics.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊śrotramthe ear
𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍇𑌨 𑌏𑌵🔊śrutena evaby sacred learning alone, by the hearing of scripture
𑌨 𑌕𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌲𑍇𑌨🔊na kuṇḍalenanot by an earring
𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍇𑌨🔊dānenaby charity, by giving
𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌃🔊pāṇiḥthe hand
𑌨 𑌤𑍁 𑌕𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌣𑍇𑌨🔊na tu kaṅkaṇenanot by a bracelet
𑌵𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌤𑌿🔊vibhātishines, is resplendent, looks beautiful
𑌕𑌾𑌯𑌃🔊kāyaḥthe body
𑌕𑌰𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊karuṇāparāṇāmof the compassionate ones, of those devoted to mercy
𑌪𑌰𑍋𑌪𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍈𑌃🔊paropakāraiḥby acts of kindness to others, by benevolence
𑌨 𑌤𑍁 𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑍇𑌨🔊na tu candanenanot by sandalwood paste

Benefits of Chanting Shrotram Shrutenaiva Na Kundalena

✦

Teaches that learning, charity and kindness are a person's true ornaments

✦

Inspires the pursuit of knowledge and the practice of generosity

✦

Redirects pride from outward show to inner virtue

✦

Encourages compassion and selfless service (paropakara)

✦

A guiding ideal for students, donors and the kind-hearted

✦

A short, elegant verse for daily reflection on real beauty

How to Chant Shrotram Shrutenaiva Na Kundalena

Repetitions3times
Best TimeMorning reflection, before study, or before an act of charity or service

Recite the verse calmly, pausing on each pairing — ear and learning, hand and charity, body and kindness. Reflect that the noblest adornments are not jewels but virtues, and let it inspire a day of study, giving and compassion. It is often taught alongside other Bhartrhari verses as a lesson on the dignity of inner worth over outward display.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Shrotram Shrutenaiva Na Kundalena written in the Grantha 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 celebrated subhashita from the Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari, a classical Sanskrit collection of a hundred verses on ethics and worldly wisdom. It is among the most quoted verses on the true ornaments of a person.
That a person's real ornaments are inner virtues, not jewellery. The ear is adorned by learning (not earrings), the hand by charity (not bracelets), and the body by acts of kindness (not sandal paste).
Paropakara means benevolence — doing good to others, selfless service and kindness. The verse says it is this, not cosmetics or finery, that makes the body of a compassionate person truly shine.

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