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subhashitawisdomnitifriendship

𑌆𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍁 𑌮𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑍀𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍

आपत्सु मित्रं जानीयात् in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning reflection, or while contemplating one's relationships·📜 Subhashita / Chanakya-niti (classical Sanskrit niti verse)
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Origin & Story

Subhashita / Chanakya-niti (classical Sanskrit niti verse) · Unknown (traditional; commonly cited in Chanakya-niti) · Classical Sanskrit literature

This verse belongs to the rich tradition of Sanskrit niti-shastra — the wisdom of practical conduct preserved in subhashita anthologies and works such as the Chanakya-niti. With its crisp catalogue of life's testing moments, it has become one of the most quoted teachings on how genuine friendship, courage, honesty and devotion reveal themselves only in the hour of trial.

As told in scripture

Generations have found comfort and clarity in this verse during their own hardships; it is often said that adversity, painful as it is, brings the unexpected gift of showing exactly who one's true friends are.

The Mantra

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𑌆𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍁 𑌮𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑍀𑌯𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍇 𑌶𑍂𑌰𑌮𑍃𑌣𑍇 𑌶𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌮𑍍। 𑌭𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌣𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌨𑍇 𑌚 𑌸𑍁𑌹𑍃𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌮𑍍॥

āpatsu mitraṁ jānīyād yuddhe śūram ṛṇe śucim। bhāryāṁ kṣīṇeṣu vitteṣu vyasane ca suhṛj-janam॥

Meaning:सच्चे मित्र को विपत्ति में, वीर को युद्ध में, ईमानदार को ऋण (लेन-देन) में, सच्ची पत्नी को धन के क्षीण होने पर, और सच्चे सम्बन्धी को संकट में पहचाना जाता है। यह श्लोक सिखाता है कि लोगों की वास्तविक योग्यता अच्छे समय में नहीं, बल्कि कठिनाई की घड़ी में प्रकट होती है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌆𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍁🔊āpatsuin times of misfortune, in adversity
𑌮𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊mitrama true friend
𑌜𑌾𑌨𑍀𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍🔊jānīyātone should know, one comes to recognise
𑌯𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍇🔊yuddhein battle, in war
𑌶𑍂𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊śūramthe brave one, the true hero
𑌋𑌣𑍇🔊ṛṇein (the matter of) debt, when money is owed
𑌶𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌮𑍍🔊śucimthe honest, upright person
𑌭𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊bhāryāmthe (true) wife
𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌣𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌷𑍁🔊kṣīṇeṣu vitteṣuwhen wealth has dwindled, when riches are gone
𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌨𑍇🔊vyasanein calamity, in distress and hardship
𑌚🔊caand
𑌸𑍁𑌹𑍃𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊suhṛj-janama well-wisher, a true kinsman or relative

Benefits of Chanting आपत्सु मित्रं जानीयात्

Teaches how to recognise genuine friends and well-wishers

Reveals that true character is proven in hardship, not in comfort

Encourages gratitude toward those who stand by us in difficulty

Offers practical wisdom for judging sincerity in relationships

Inspires one to be the kind of friend who is steadfast in adversity

A short, memorable verse for reflection on loyalty and trust

How to Chant आपत्सु मित्रं जानीयात्

Repetitions3times
Best TimeMorning reflection, or while contemplating one's relationships

Recite the verse thoughtfully, considering each test it names — adversity, battle, debt, loss of wealth and calamity. Reflect with gratitude on those who have stood by you in hard times, and resolve to be equally steadfast for others. It is often quoted as practical wisdom on friendship and loyalty, reminding us that true bonds are proven in difficulty.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete आपत्सु मित्रं जानीयात् 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 'a true friend is known in adversity.' The verse goes on to say that a real hero is known in battle, an honest person in money matters, a devoted spouse when wealth is lost, and a genuine relative in calamity — all true worth is revealed in hard times.
That the sincerity of people is tested and revealed in difficult times rather than in prosperity. Those who remain loyal and supportive during hardship are the truly trustworthy friends, partners and kin.
It is a well-known subhashita (wise saying) of classical Sanskrit, widely quoted in niti literature on friendship and conduct, and commonly cited in collections such as the Chanakya-niti tradition.

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Read the full आपत्सु मित्रं जानीयात् with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts