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Ati Sarvatra Varjayet

अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Anytime for reflection, especially when tempted toward any extreme·📜 Subhashita (Sanskrit niti tradition)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This well-known Subhashita illustrates the principle of moderation through three legendary examples: Sita's surpassing beauty, Ravana's overweening pride, and King Bali's boundless charity — each of which, taken to excess, brought difficulty. Its memorable refrain, 'ati sarvatra varjayet' (avoid excess in all things), distils a core teaching of Indian wisdom: that balance and restraint are essential, since even virtues become dangerous when overdone.

Origin & Story

Subhashita (Sanskrit niti tradition) · Anonymous (traditional Subhashita) · Classical Sanskrit literature

This verse belongs to the rich Subhashita tradition of Sanskrit, which preserves thousands of memorable verses on wisdom and conduct. To teach the value of moderation, it cites three figures from the epics and Puranas whose excess — of beauty, pride and generosity — led to suffering, and closes with the timeless rule to avoid excess in all things.

✦ As told in scripture

It is often said that whoever truly remembers this verse gains a quiet inner compass, for the simple rule 'avoid excess everywhere' has steadied countless people against the extremes of desire, pride and even misplaced virtue.

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The Mantra

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ati rūpeṇa vai sītā ati-garveṇa rāvaṇaḥ। ati-dānād balir baddho ati sarvatra varjayet॥

Meaning:It was excessive beauty that brought trouble to Sita, excessive pride that ruined Ravana, and excessive giving that bound King Bali; therefore one should avoid excess in all things. Drawing on three famous examples, this Subhashita teaches the timeless wisdom of moderation — that even good qualities, carried to extremes, can lead to downfall.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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ati🔊excess, too much

rūpeṇa🔊by (her) beauty

vai🔊indeed, verily

sītā🔊Sita (whose excessive beauty led to her abduction)

ati-garveṇa🔊by excessive pride/arrogance

rāvaṇaḥ🔊Ravana (destroyed by his excessive pride)

ati-dānāt🔊from excessive giving/charity

baliḥ🔊King Bali (bound through his boundless generosity)

baddhaḥ🔊was bound, fettered

ati sarvatra🔊excess everywhere, in all things

varjayet🔊one should avoid, should shun

Benefits of Chanting अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्

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Teaches the vital life-skill of moderation and balance in all things

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Warns that even good qualities become harmful in excess

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Encourages self-restraint, prudence and a measured way of living

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Uses memorable epic examples that make the lesson easy to recall

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A valuable verse for ethical reflection and balanced decision-making

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Helps cultivate equanimity and avoid extremes of conduct

How to Chant अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्

Repetitions3times

Best TimeAnytime for reflection, especially when tempted toward any extreme

Recite the verse and recall its three examples — beauty, pride and giving, each ruined by excess. Apply the closing maxim 'ati sarvatra varjayet' to your own life, asking where moderation is needed. It is best used as a contemplative reminder to keep balance, rather than as a ritual chant.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत् 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 means 'one should avoid excess in all things.' The verse gives three examples — Sita's excessive beauty, Ravana's excessive pride, and Bali's excessive charity, each of which led to difficulty — to teach that moderation should be observed everywhere.

Each illustrates how excess, even of something otherwise good, can cause downfall: Sita's surpassing beauty led to her abduction, Ravana's pride destroyed him, and King Bali's boundless generosity led to his being bound by Vamana. Together they make the case for moderation.

Moderation. The verse teaches that balance and restraint are wise in all areas of life, because anything taken to an extreme — even a virtue like beauty, confidence or generosity — can bring harm.