𑌗𑌤𑌂 𑌶𑍋𑌕𑍋 𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍍𑌯𑍋
गतं शोको न कर्तव्यो in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥
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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
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𑌗𑌤𑌂 𑌶𑍋𑌕𑍋 𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌭𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑍈𑌵 𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌯𑍇𑌤𑍍। 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍇𑌨 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍇𑌨 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌾𑌃॥
gataṁ śoko na kartavyo bhaviṣyaṁ naiva cintayet। vartamānena kālena vartayanti vicakṣaṇāḥ॥
Meaning:जो बीत गया उसका शोक नहीं करना चाहिए, और जो आने वाला है उसकी चिन्ता भी नहीं करनी चाहिए; बुद्धिमान लोग केवल वर्तमान काल में ही अपना जीवन व्यतीत करते हैं। चाणक्य स्थिर मन का रहस्य सिखाते हैं — बीते हुए का पश्चाताप और आने वाले की चिन्ता छोड़कर जीवन के वर्तमान क्षण में पूर्णतया कर्म करना।
Word-by-Word Meaning
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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
Promotes calm, clear and effective action
A powerful aid for stress, overthinking and restlessness
A short, memorable verse for daily mindfulness and reflection
How to Chant गतं शोको न कर्तव्यो
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.
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Read the full गतं शोको न कर्तव्यो with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts