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subhashitanitieffortdiligence

ආලස්යං හි මනුෂ්යාණාං ශරීරස්ථෝ මහාන් රිපුඃ

आलस्यं हि मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महान् रिपुः in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Early morning, at the start of work or study, or whenever motivation flags·📜 Chanakya Niti (Subhashita)
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Chanakya Niti (Subhashita) · Attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya) · Classical Sanskrit literature (Mauryan era tradition, c. 4th century BCE onward)

Chanakya, the legendary statesman and author of the Arthashastra, is credited in the Chanakya Niti tradition with many pithy verses on practical wisdom, governance and self-discipline. This verse captures one of his recurring themes — that diligence is the foundation of success. By naming laziness an enemy lodged within the body, it urges constant effort as the surest protection against ruin.

✦ As told in scripture

Teachers across generations have used this verse to rouse students from idleness, and it is often said that a single sincere reading can shame the inner sluggard into action, for once effort is seen as one's truest friend, laziness loses much of its hold.

The Mantra

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ආලස්යං හි මනුෂ්යාණාං ශරීරස්ථෝ මහාන් රිපුඃ. නාස්ත්යුද්යමසමෝ බන්ධුඃ කෘත්වා යං නාවසීදති..

ālasyaṁ hi manuṣyāṇāṁ śarīrastho mahān ripuḥ। nāsty udyama-samo bandhuḥ kṛtvā yaṁ nāvasīdati॥

Meaning:आलस्य ही मनुष्यों के शरीर में स्थित महान् शत्रु है; उद्यम (परिश्रम) के समान कोई बन्धु नहीं, जिसे करके मनुष्य कभी पतन को प्राप्त नहीं होता। यह चाणक्य-नीति का श्लोक आलस्य को भीतर छिपे शत्रु के रूप में बताता है और निरन्तर परिश्रम को सफलता के मार्ग का सच्चा मित्र घोषित करता है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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ආලස්යම්🔊ālasyamlaziness, idleness, sloth
හි🔊hiindeed, verily
මනුෂ්යාණාම්🔊manuṣyāṇāmof human beings, for people
ශරීරස්ථඃ🔊śarīrasthaḥresiding within the body, dwelling inside
මහාන් රිපුඃ🔊mahān ripuḥa great enemy
න අස්ති🔊na astithere is no, there does not exist
උද්යමසමඃ🔊udyama-samaḥequal to effort/diligence
බන්ධුඃ🔊bandhuḥfriend, kinsman, ally
කෘත්වා🔊kṛtvāhaving done/practised (it)
යම්🔊yamwhich (effort)
න අවසීදති🔊na avasīdatione does not sink, does not fall into ruin

Benefits of Chanting आलस्यं हि मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महान् रिपुः

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Inspires diligence and a strong work ethic in study and life

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Warns against laziness as the inner enemy that causes downfall

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Encourages perseverance and consistent effort toward goals

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A motivating verse for students, workers and seekers of success

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Reframes effort as one's most loyal friend and protector

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Excellent for value education and daily self-motivation

How to Chant आलस्यं हि मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महान् रिपुः

Repetitions3times
Best TimeEarly morning, at the start of work or study, or whenever motivation flags

Recite the verse to begin the day with resolve, recognising laziness as the enemy within and effort as your truest friend. Let it spur you to action whenever you feel like delaying or giving up. It is best used as a motivational reflection rather than a ritual chant, ideal for students and anyone pursuing a goal.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete आलस्यं हि मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महान् रिपुः written in the Sinhala 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 'laziness is indeed (the great enemy) of human beings.' The full verse calls sloth a great enemy that lives within the body, and praises diligent effort (udyama) as the best friend, since the one who works never falls into ruin.
It is a well-known niti-shloka associated with the Chanakya tradition and the broader Sanskrit Subhashita literature, widely quoted for its motivating message on effort and the dangers of laziness.
That our greatest enemy is the laziness within us, and our greatest friend is our own sustained effort. Diligence protects a person from failure, while idleness leads to downfall — so we should choose effort over sloth.

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उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्तिउद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्तिविद्या ददाति विनयम्विद्या ददाति विनयम्यस्यास्ति वित्तं स नरः कुलीनःयस्यास्ति वित्तं स नरः कुलीनःविपदि धैर्यमथाभ्युदये क्षमाविपदि धैर्यमथाभ्युदये क्षमासुखस्य मूलं धर्मःसुखस्य मूलं धर्मःसत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात्सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात्अयं निजः परो वेतिअयं निजः परो वेति

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