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subhashitawisdomchanakyaniti

𑌵𑍃𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌂

Vrishchikasya Visham Puchchhe (The Wicked Are Poison All Over) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning reflection, or when assessing the character of those around you·📜 Chanakya Niti
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Chanakya Niti · Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya) · Ancient India (c. 4th–3rd century BCE)

Chanakya, the strategist behind the rise of the Mauryan empire, prized a keen reading of human character. In this vivid verse he draws on the natural world — scorpion, fly and serpent — to make the point that whereas dangerous creatures bear poison in a single organ, the truly wicked person is dangerous in every limb, and so warrants the greatest caution.

✦ As told in scripture

Niti teachers say this verse has spared many from ruin, for one who remembers it keeps watch over the whole conduct of a suspect person rather than trusting a single pleasing trait, and so is not taken unawares by a poison that runs through the entire being.

The Mantra

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𑌵𑍃𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌂 𑌮𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌕𑍇। 𑌤𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌂 𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌚॥

vṛścikasya viṣaṁ pucchaṁ makṣikāyāś ca mastake। takṣakasya viṣaṁ dante sarvāṅge durjanasya ca॥

Meaning:The scorpion's poison lies in its tail, the fly's in its head, and the serpent's in its fang — but the wicked person carries poison in every part of his being. Chanakya warns that while a venomous creature can harm only through one organ, an evil-minded person is dangerous through and through.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌵𑍃𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌯🔊vṛścikasyaof the scorpion
𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌮𑍍🔊viṣampoison, venom
𑌪𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌮𑍍 (𑌪𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍇)🔊pucchaṁ (pucche)in the tail
𑌮𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌃🔊makṣikāyāḥof the fly (a stinging fly / gnat)
𑌚🔊caand
𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌕𑍇🔊mastakein the head
𑌤𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌯🔊takṣakasyaof the serpent (Takshaka, the great snake)
𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇🔊dantein the tooth / fang
𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇🔊sarvāṅgein every limb, all over the body
𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌸𑍍𑌯🔊durjanasyaof the wicked person, of the evil-doer

Benefits of Chanting Vrishchikasya Visham Puchchhe (The Wicked Are Poison All Over)

✦

Sharpens discernment of character and judgement of company

✦

Warns clearly against the all-pervading danger of wicked people

✦

Encourages caution and vigilance in choosing associates

✦

Uses a vivid natural metaphor that is easy to remember and apply

✦

Protects against being deceived by partially harmful appearances

✦

A concise, memorable maxim for prudent dealings with people

How to Chant Vrishchikasya Visham Puchchhe (The Wicked Are Poison All Over)

Repetitions3times
Best TimeMorning reflection, or when assessing the character of those around you

Recite the verse slowly and picture each creature in turn — the scorpion's tail, the fly's head, the serpent's fang — and then the wicked person whose whole being is poison. Reflect on the lesson of vigilance and discernment in choosing one's company. It is traditionally studied among Chanakya's teachings on judging people.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Vrishchikasya Visham Puchchhe (The Wicked Are Poison All Over) 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 famous verse from the Chanakya Niti (Niti Darpana), the collection of aphorisms attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya / Vishnugupta), the ancient Indian master of ethics and statecraft.
That venomous creatures carry poison in only one organ — the scorpion in its tail, the fly in its head, the snake in its fang — whereas a wicked person is harmful in every part. It is a warning that an evil character is more pervasively dangerous than any single-sting creature.
By exercising discernment and caution with people of bad character. Just as one keeps a safe distance from venomous creatures, Chanakya advises careful vigilance with the wicked, since their harm is not confined to one trait or moment but runs through their whole nature.

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