Yatha Hyekena Chakrena
यथा ह्येकेन चक्रेण
Also known as: yatha hyekena chakrena · yatha hi ekena chakrena na rathasya gatir bhavet · purushakarena vina daivam na sidhyati · effort and destiny shloka · hitopadesha effort verse
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✦ Meaning
Yatha Hyekena Chakrena is a famous niti verse from the Hitopadesha on the partnership of effort and destiny. Through the simple image of a chariot that needs two wheels to move, it teaches that fate alone accomplishes nothing without human striving. It is a powerful corrective to fatalism, urging wholehearted effort while honouring the role of providence.
Origin & Story
Hitopadesha (Subhashita) · Narayana Pandita (compiler of the Hitopadesha) · Classical Sanskrit literature (c. 9th–12th century CE)
The Hitopadesha weaves practical wisdom into engaging fables for the instruction of princes. This verse appears in its discussion of effort and destiny, using the everyday image of a chariot to settle the age-old question of fate versus free will in favour of diligent action paired with providence. It remains one of the most quoted Sanskrit verses on the value of effort.
✦ As told in scripture
Teachers of niti tell that those who took this verse to heart rose from humble beginnings by sheer perseverance, for, as the shloka promises, when effort is wholehearted, destiny becomes the second wheel that carries the chariot of life forward.
The Mantra
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यथा ह्येकेन चक्रेण न रथस्य गतिर्भवेत्। एवं पुरुषकारेण विना दैवं न सिध्यति॥
yathā hy ekena cakreṇa na rathasya gatir bhavet। evaṁ puruṣakāreṇa vinā daivaṁ na sidhyati॥
Meaning:Just as a chariot cannot move on a single wheel alone, so destiny cannot bear fruit without human effort. The verse pairs fate and effort as the two wheels of one chariot, teaching that providence and personal striving must work together for any success to come about.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Yatha Hyekena Chakrena
Motivates wholehearted effort rather than passive reliance on fate
Balances faith in destiny with the necessity of personal striving
Offers a clear, memorable image of effort and providence as two wheels
Counteracts laziness and fatalism with a call to action
Encourages a healthy, mature attitude toward success and outcomes
A favourite verse for inspiring students, workers and seekers to persevere
How to Chant Yatha Hyekena Chakrena
Recite the verse with resolve, picturing the chariot that needs both wheels to move. Let it strengthen your commitment to give your full effort while leaving the results to providence. It is often invoked at the start of a venture to set the right balance of striving and trust.