subhashitawisdombhartrhariniti-shataka

Yasya Na Vidya Na Tapo Na Danam

Yasya Na Vidya Na Tapo Na Danam in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning for self-reflection, or during study of niti and ethical texts·📜 Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

Yasya Na Vidya Na Tapo Na Danam is a famous verse from Bhartrhari's Niti Shataka that defines what truly makes a human being human. It lists seven inner riches — knowledge, austerity, charity, wisdom, character, virtue and righteousness — and declares that one who has none of them merely walks the earth as a beast in human form, a burden to the world. The verse is a powerful call to cultivate genuine inner worth rather than to be human in appearance alone.

Origin & Story

Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari · Bhartrhari · Classical Sanskrit literature (c. 5th century CE)

The Niti Shataka is the first of Bhartrhari's three famous centuries of verse, a collection of a hundred polished couplets on right conduct, wisdom and the ways of the world. In this verse Bhartrhari turns his sharp moral gaze upon the difference between the form of a human and the substance of one, declaring that without the inner riches of learning and virtue a person is no better than a beast that happens to wear a human shape.

✦ As told in scripture

Teachers of niti often note that this verse alone, taken to heart, has turned idle minds toward learning and virtue — for once a person truly fears being a mere 'burden upon the earth,' he begins in earnest to gather the inner wealth that makes a human worthy of the name.

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The Mantra

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yasya na vidyā na tapo na dānaṁ jñānaṁ na śīlaṁ na guṇo na dharmaḥ। te martyaloke bhuvi bhārabhūtā manuṣyarūpeṇa mṛgāś caranti॥

Meaning:Those who possess neither knowledge, nor austerity, nor charity, nor wisdom, nor good character, nor virtue, nor righteousness — they are but a burden upon the earth in the world of mortals, wandering about as beasts in the guise of human beings. This stern verse measures true humanity not by outward form but by inner worth.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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yasya🔊of whom, whoever has

na vidyā🔊no knowledge, no learning

na tapaḥ🔊no austerity, no penance

na dānam🔊no charity, no giving

jñānam🔊spiritual wisdom, discernment

na śīlam🔊no good character, no moral conduct

na guṇaḥ🔊no virtue, no merit

na dharmaḥ🔊no righteousness, no observance of duty

te🔊they, those people

martyaloke🔊in the world of mortals

bhuvi🔊on the earth

bhārabhūtāḥ🔊being a burden, existing as a load (on the earth)

manuṣyarūpeṇa🔊in the form of a human being

mṛgāḥ🔊beasts, animals

caranti🔊wander, roam about, move

Benefits of Chanting Yasya Na Vidya Na Tapo Na Danam

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Inspires the cultivation of genuine inner virtues over mere outward appearance

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Names seven essential human qualities worth striving for in a single verse

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Serves as a sobering reminder to use the rare gift of human birth meaningfully

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Motivates students and seekers to pursue knowledge, character and righteousness

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A succinct measure for self-examination and personal growth

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Encourages charity, discipline and wisdom as the true marks of humanity

How to Chant Yasya Na Vidya Na Tapo Na Danam

Repetitions3times

Best TimeMorning for self-reflection, or during study of niti and ethical texts

Recite the verse thoughtfully and let it serve as a mirror for self-examination. Consider each of the seven qualities it names — knowledge, austerity, charity, wisdom, character, virtue and righteousness — and ask how each may be strengthened in your own life. Use it as a daily resolve to live as a true human being and not merely in human form.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Yasya Na Vidya Na Tapo Na Danam written in the English 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 from the Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari, the renowned Sanskrit poet-philosopher whose three centuries of verses (Shatakatraya) on ethics, love and renunciation are among the most quoted in Sanskrit literature.

That a human being is truly human only by inner worth — knowledge, austerity, charity, wisdom, character, virtue and righteousness. One devoid of all these is, in the poet's words, merely a beast in human form and a burden upon the earth.

Because it draws a sharp and memorable contrast between outward human form and inner human worth, urging every person to earn their humanity through real virtues rather than to assume it by appearance alone.