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𑌯𑌥𑌾 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌕𑍇𑌨 𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌣

Yatha Hyekena Chakrena in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Before beginning an important task or undertaking, or when tempted toward inaction·📜 Hitopadesha (Subhashita)
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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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𑌯𑌥𑌾 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌕𑍇𑌨 𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌣 𑌨 𑌰𑌥𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌭𑌵𑍇𑌤𑍍। 𑌏𑌵𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌷𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍇𑌣 𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌾 𑌦𑍈𑌵𑌂 𑌨 𑌸𑌿𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥

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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𑌯𑌥𑌾🔊yathājust as
𑌹𑌿🔊hiindeed (emphatic)
𑌏𑌕𑍇𑌨🔊ekenaby a single (one)
𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌣🔊cakreṇawheel
𑌨🔊nanot
𑌰𑌥𑌸𑍍𑌯🔊rathasyaof the chariot
𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌃🔊gatiḥmotion, movement
𑌭𑌵𑍇𑌤𑍍🔊bhavetwould happen, can occur
𑌏𑌵𑌮𑍍🔊evamin the same way, likewise
𑌪𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌷𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍇𑌣🔊puruṣakāreṇaby human effort, personal exertion
𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌾🔊vināwithout
𑌦𑍈𑌵𑌮𑍍🔊daivamdestiny, fate, divine providence
𑌨 𑌸𑌿𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿🔊na sidhyatiis not accomplished, does not succeed

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

Repetitions3times
Best TimeBefore beginning an important task or undertaking, or when tempted toward inaction

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Yatha Hyekena Chakrena 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 means: 'Just as a chariot cannot move on a single wheel, so destiny cannot succeed without human effort.' Fate and effort are likened to the two wheels of one chariot — both are needed for anything to be accomplished.
It teaches that human effort (purushakara) and destiny (daiva) must work together. It rejects passive fatalism, insisting that even a favourable fate bears no fruit unless one strives wholeheartedly.
It is a celebrated subhashita from the Hitopadesha, the classical Sanskrit collection of moral fables, and is widely quoted in the niti literature on effort, perseverance and success.

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