Vipadi Dhairyam Athabhyudaye Kshama
विपदि धैर्यमथाभ्युदये क्षमा
Also known as: vipadi dhairyam athabhyudaye kshama · vipadi dhairyam · prakriti siddham idam hi mahatmanam · bhartrhari shloka on virtues
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✦ Meaning
This celebrated verse from Bhartrhari's Niti Shataka enumerates the six hallmark virtues of a noble soul: courage in misfortune, forgiveness in success, eloquence in council, valour in war, delight in honour, and devotion to learning. Its closing line — 'these are natural to the great-souled' — teaches that true nobility is not a performance but an innate disposition. It is among the most quoted Sanskrit verses on character.
Origin & Story
Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari (Subhashita) · Bhartrhari · Classical Sanskrit literature (c. 5th century CE)
Bhartrhari's Niti Shataka devotes many verses to the sat-purusha, the truly good and great person. This verse offers a concise portrait of nobility through six contexts of life — danger, success, debate, war, fame and study — and concludes that in the great-souled these virtues are inborn. It has long been cherished as a standard by which character may be measured.
✦ As told in scripture
Across centuries this verse has served warriors, kings and scholars alike as a touchstone of character, and it is often said that to hold these six virtues steadily in mind is to slowly become the very mahatma the verse describes.
The Mantra
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विपदि धैर्यमथाभ्युदये क्षमा सदसि वाक्पटुता युधि विक्रमः। यशसि चाभिरुचिर्व्यसनं श्रुतौ प्रकृतिसिद्धमिदं हि महात्मनाम्॥
vipadi dhairyam athābhyudaye kṣamā sadasi vāk-paṭutā yudhi vikramaḥ। yaśasi cābhirucir vyasanaṁ śrutau prakṛti-siddham idaṁ hi mahātmanām॥
Meaning:Fortitude in adversity, forgiveness in prosperity, eloquence in the assembly, valour in battle, a love of honour, and a passion for learning — these are inborn in the great-souled. Bhartrhari lists the six natural virtues of a noble person, declaring that in truly great people such qualities are not cultivated by effort but flow from their very nature.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Vipadi Dhairyam Athabhyudaye Kshama
Provides a clear, memorable checklist of the virtues of a noble character
Inspires steadfast courage during hardship and forgiveness during success
Encourages eloquence, valour, love of honour and devotion to learning
A powerful verse for self-cultivation and leadership development
Teaches that great qualities should become second nature, not mere show
Excellent for value education, daily reflection and ethical inspiration
How to Chant Vipadi Dhairyam Athabhyudaye Kshama
Recite the verse and pass through its six virtues one by one — fortitude, forgiveness, eloquence, valour, honour and learning — measuring yourself gently against each. Let it set an aspiration for the day. It is best used as a contemplative ideal of character, recited whenever you wish to steady your mind in adversity or temper your conduct in success.