Shrotram Shrutenaiva Na Kundalena — Complete Lyrics
श्रोत्रं श्रुतेनैव न कुण्डलेन
Sanskrit text with English transliteration and translation
श्रोत्रं श्रुतेनैव न कुण्डलेन
दानेन पाणिर्न तु कङ्कणेन।
विभाति कायः करुणापराणां
परोपकारैर्न तु चन्दनेन॥
śrotraṁ śrutenaiva na kuṇḍalena
dānena pāṇir na tu kaṅkaṇena।
vibhāti kāyaḥ karuṇāparāṇāṁ
paropakārair na tu candanena॥
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.
Want to understand every word?
Read Word-by-Word Meaning →