Vidvan Eva Vijanati Vidvajjana Parishramam — Word-by-Word Meaning
विद्वानेव विजानाति विद्वज्जनपरिश्रमम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
विद्वान्
vidvān
a learned, wise person
एव
eva
alone, only
विजानाति
vijānāti
truly knows, understands
विद्वज्जन
vidvaj-jana
of a learned person
परिश्रमम्
pariśramam
the toil, hard labour, effort
न हि
na hi
indeed not, surely not
वन्ध्या
vandhyā
a barren woman (who has never borne a child)
विजानाति
vijānāti
knows, understands
गुर्वीम्
gurvīm
great, heavy, intense
प्रसववेदनाम्
prasava-vedanām
the pain of childbirth
Complete Translation
Only a learned person truly understands the toil of another learned person, just as a barren woman can never know the intense pain of childbirth. The verse observes that the worth of hard-won knowledge can be appreciated only by one who has undergone the same labour, for sympathy springs from shared experience.
Origin & History
Source: Sanskrit Subhashita (niti tradition)
Author: Anonymous (traditional subhashita)
Period: Classical Sanskrit literature
This verse belongs to the rich body of subhashitas that celebrate learning and the appreciation of merit. Using the powerful and universal comparison of childbirth, it makes the point that the value of a scholar's painstaking effort is fully grasped only by fellow scholars, a sentiment that has made it a favourite among the learned for centuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Vidvan Eva Vijanati mean?▼
It means that only a learned person can truly understand the hard work of another learned person — just as a woman who has never given birth cannot know the intensity of labour pains. Appreciation comes from shared experience.
What is the central teaching of this shloka?▼
It teaches that genuine empathy and recognition of effort require having undergone the same effort oneself. The toil behind real achievement is understood only by those who have toiled likewise.
Where does this verse come from?▼
It is a well-known Sanskrit subhashita from the classical niti tradition, frequently quoted in collections of wise sayings on knowledge, merit and the appreciation of scholarship.
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