Vidvattvam Cha Nripatvam Cha — Complete Lyrics
विद्वत्त्वं च नृपत्वं च
Sanskrit text with English transliteration and translation
विद्वत्त्वं च नृपत्वं च नैव तुल्यं कदाचन।
स्वदेशे पूज्यते राजा विद्वान्सर्वत्र पूज्यते॥
vidvattvaṁ ca nṛpatvaṁ ca naiva tulyaṁ kadācana।
svadeśe pūjyate rājā vidvān sarvatra pūjyate॥
Scholarship and kingship are never equal: a king is honoured only in his own country, but a learned person is honoured everywhere. The verse exalts knowledge above royal power, for the respect commanded by learning knows no borders.
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