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subhashitawisdomchanakyaniti

Gata Shoko Na Kartavyah (Do Not Grieve the Past)

गतं शोको न कर्तव्यो in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning reflection, or whenever the mind is caught in regret or worry·📜 Chanakya Niti
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Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This much-loved verse from Chanakya Niti distils the art of peace into a single line: do not grieve the past, do not worry about the future, for the wise live in the present. It has become a timeless maxim for equanimity and presence of mind, teaching that effective and serene living belongs to those who give themselves fully to the moment at hand.

Origin & Story

Chanakya Niti · Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya) · Ancient India (c. 4th–3rd century BCE)

Chanakya, whose counsel raised an empire, knew that great undertakings demand a mind unclouded by regret or fear. This verse captures that practical wisdom: he holds up the vicakshana — the clear-sighted — as those who neither mourn the past nor dread the future, but give themselves wholly to the present, and so act with clarity and calm.

✦ As told in scripture

Wise teachers say this single verse has the power to lift a sinking heart at once, for the moment one truly stops grieving the past and dreading the future, the burden of the mind falls away and only the clear, workable present remains.

The Mantra

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

gataṁ śoko na kartavyo bhaviṣyaṁ naiva cintayet। vartamānena kālena vartayanti vicakṣaṇāḥ॥

Meaning:One should not grieve over what is past, nor should one worry over the future; the wise live their lives in the present time alone. Chanakya teaches the secret of a steady mind: to release regret for what is gone and anxiety for what is to come, and to act fully in the living present.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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gatam🔊that which is gone, the past
śokaḥ🔊grief, sorrow, lamentation
na kartavyaḥ🔊should not be done / one should not (grieve)
bhaviṣyam🔊the future, that which is yet to come
na eva🔊not at all, never
cintayet🔊one should worry about / brood over
vartamānena🔊with the present
kālena🔊time
vartayanti🔊live, carry on, conduct their lives
vicakṣaṇāḥ🔊the wise, the discerning, the clear-sighted

Benefits of Chanting गतं शोको न कर्तव्यो

✦

Cultivates equanimity by releasing regret and anxiety

✦

Trains the mind to live and act in the present moment

✦

Eases grief over the past and worry about the future

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Promotes calm, clear and effective action

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A powerful aid for stress, overthinking and restlessness

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A short, memorable verse for daily mindfulness and reflection

How to Chant गतं शोको न कर्तव्यो

Repetitions3times
Best TimeMorning reflection, or whenever the mind is caught in regret or worry

Recite the verse slowly and let each clause loosen the mind's grip: the past is gone — release grief; the future is not yet — set down worry; the wise live now — return to the present. Breathe and rest the attention in the present moment. It is traditionally studied among Chanakya's teachings on a steady mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete गतं शोको न कर्तव्यो 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 is a famous verse from the Chanakya Niti (Niti Darpana), the collection of aphorisms attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya / Vishnugupta), the ancient Indian teacher of ethics, statecraft and practical wisdom.
That the wise neither lament the past nor fret over the future, but live fully in the present. By letting go of regret and anxiety, one keeps the mind clear and steady, which is the foundation of both peace and effective action.
It is a concise antidote to overthinking. When the mind is pulled into old sorrows or future fears, recalling this verse helps bring attention back to the present, where alone life can actually be lived and right action taken.

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