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subhashitawisdomchanakyaniti

𑌗𑌤𑌂 𑌶𑍋𑌕𑍋 𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍍𑌯𑍋

गतं शोको न कर्तव्यो in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning reflection, or whenever the mind is caught in regret or worry·📜 Chanakya Niti
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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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𑌗𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊gatamthat which is gone, the past
𑌶𑍋𑌕𑌃🔊śokaḥgrief, sorrow, lamentation
𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌃🔊na kartavyaḥshould not be done / one should not (grieve)
𑌭𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊bhaviṣyamthe future, that which is yet to come
𑌨 𑌏𑌵🔊na evanot at all, never
𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌯𑍇𑌤𑍍🔊cintayetone should worry about / brood over
𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍇𑌨🔊vartamānenawith the present
𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍇𑌨🔊kālenatime
𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿🔊vartayantilive, carry on, conduct their lives
𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌾𑌃🔊vicakṣaṇāḥthe 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

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

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 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 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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Read the full गतं शोको न कर्तव्यो with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts