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හස්තස්ය භූෂණං දානම්

हस्तस्य भूषणं दानम् in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 During reflection on values, while cultivating virtue, or when teaching the young·📜 Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari (Subhashita)
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari (Subhashita) · Bhartrhari · Classical Sanskrit literature (c. 5th century CE)

Bhartrhari's Niti Shataka is a celebrated century of verses on worldly wisdom and right conduct. This shloka contrasts the gaudy ornaments people prize with the true ornaments of the soul — charity, truth and learning — concluding that one adorned with virtue has no need of jewels. It has long been quoted to teach that character is the highest beauty.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said that those who wore these inner ornaments — a giving hand, a truthful tongue and an ear filled with wisdom — shone more brightly in the eyes of the world than any king bedecked in gold, proving the verse's claim that virtue is the only adornment that truly endures.

The Mantra

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හස්තස්ය භූෂණං දානං සත්යං කණ්ඨස්ය භූෂණම්. ශ්රෝත්රස්ය භූෂණං ශාස්ත්රං භූෂණෛඃ කිං ප්රයෝජනම්..

hastasya bhūṣaṇaṁ dānaṁ satyaṁ kaṇṭhasya bhūṣaṇam। śrotrasya bhūṣaṇaṁ śāstraṁ bhūṣaṇaiḥ kiṁ prayojanam॥

Meaning:हाथ का आभूषण दान है; कण्ठ (वाणी) का आभूषण सत्य है; कान का आभूषण शास्त्र (सद्ज्ञान का श्रवण) है — तो फिर (बाहरी) आभूषणों से क्या प्रयोजन? यह श्लोक घोषित करता है कि मनुष्य के सच्चे आभूषण उसके गुण हैं — दान, सत्य और विद्या — जिनके सामने बाह्य अलंकार निरर्थक हैं।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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හස්තස්ය🔊hastasyaof the hand
භූෂණම්🔊bhūṣaṇamornament, adornment
දානම්🔊dānamgiving, charity
සත්යම්🔊satyamtruth, truthfulness
කණ්ඨස්ය🔊kaṇṭhasyaof the throat (neck, voice)
භූෂණම්🔊bhūṣaṇamornament
ශ්රෝත්රස්ය🔊śrotrasyaof the ear
භූෂණම්🔊bhūṣaṇamornament
ශාස්ත්රම්🔊śāstramscripture, learning, sacred knowledge
භූෂණෛඃ🔊bhūṣaṇaiḥwith (jewelled) ornaments
කිම්🔊kimwhat (use), of what purpose
ප්රයෝජනම්🔊prayojanamuse, purpose, need

Benefits of Chanting हस्तस्य भूषणं दानम्

✦

Redirects pride from external display toward inner virtue

✦

Exalts charity, truthfulness and learning as the noblest adornments

✦

Teaches that character, not ornaments, makes a person truly beautiful

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A concise, elegant verse for reflection on values and self-worth

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Inspires generous, honest and learned conduct in daily life

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Frequently quoted to encourage virtue over vanity

How to Chant हस्तस्य भूषणं दानम्

Repetitions3times
Best TimeDuring reflection on values, while cultivating virtue, or when teaching the young

Recite the verse calmly, considering each true ornament in turn — the giving hand, the truthful voice and the ear attuned to wisdom. Let it shift your sense of worth away from outward show toward inner nobility. It is often shared to inspire generosity, honesty and the love of learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete हस्तस्य भूषणं दानम् written in the Sinhala 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: 'Charity is the ornament of the hand, truth the ornament of the voice, and sacred learning the ornament of the ear — so what need is there of jewelled ornaments?' Virtue is a person's true adornment.
It teaches that the real beauty of a human being lies in virtues — generosity, truthfulness and wisdom — and that external ornaments are worthless by comparison.
It is a famous verse from the Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari, the great Sanskrit poet-sage, and is among the most quoted subhashitas on virtue and the true adornments of character.

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केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषम्केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषम्विद्या ददाति विनयम्विद्या ददाति विनयम्अयं निजः परो वेतिअयं निजः परो वेतिपरोपकाराय सतां विभूतयःपरोपकाराय सतां विभूतयःगुणैरुत्तमतां यातिगुणैरुत्तमतां यातिसत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात्सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात्

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