subhashitawisdomspeechniti

කේයූරාණි න භූෂයන්ති පුරුෂම්

केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषम् in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning reflection, or before study, teaching or public speaking·📜 Bhartrhari Niti Shataka

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Englishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

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

The Niti Shataka is the first of Bhartrhari's three celebrated centuries of verse (Shatakatraya), gathering a hundred epigrams on right conduct, wisdom and the ways of the world. Among its verses on the worth of learning and character, this shloka contrasts perishable bodily ornaments with the imperishable ornament of cultivated speech, exalting refined language as the truest beauty of a human being.

✦ As told in scripture

Teachers of Sanskrit have long opened lessons in rhetoric with this verse, observing that a person of gracious and well-chosen words commands respect that no jewellery can buy; it is said that the memory of a kind, eloquent word outlives every ornament its speaker ever wore.

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The Mantra

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කේයූරාණි න භූෂයන්ති පුරුෂං හාරා න චන්ද්රෝජ්ජ්වලාඃ න ස්නානං න විලේපනං න කුසුමං නාලඞ්කෘතා මූර්ධජාඃ. වාණ්යේකා සමලඞ්කරෝති පුරුෂං යා සංස්කෘතා ධාර්යතේ ක්ෂීයන්තේ ඛලු භූෂණානි සතතං වාග්භූෂණං භූෂණම්..

keyūrāṇi na bhūṣayanti puruṣaṁ hārā na candrojjvalāḥ na snānaṁ na vilepanaṁ na kusumaṁ nālaṅkṛtā mūrdhajāḥ। vāṇyekā samalaṅkaroti puruṣaṁ yā saṁskṛtā dhāryate kṣīyante khalu bhūṣaṇāni satataṁ vāg-bhūṣaṇaṁ bhūṣaṇam॥

Meaning:बाजूबन्द मनुष्य को सुशोभित नहीं करते, न चन्द्रमा के समान उज्ज्वल हार, न स्नान, न चन्दनादि का लेप, न पुष्प, और न सजे-सँवारे केश। केवल संस्कारयुक्त (परिष्कृत) वाणी ही मनुष्य को सच्चे अर्थ में सुशोभित करती है। शेष सभी आभूषण तो नष्ट हो जाते हैं, किन्तु वाणी का आभूषण ही निरन्तर रहने वाला सच्चा आभूषण है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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කේයූරාණි🔊keyūrāṇiarmlets, bracelets (worn on the upper arm)

න භූෂයන්ති🔊na bhūṣayantido not adorn, do not beautify

පුරුෂම්🔊puruṣama person, a man

හාරාඃ🔊hārāḥnecklaces, garlands

චන්ද්රෝජ්ජ්වලාඃ🔊candrojjvalāḥbright as the moon (gleaming pearl necklaces)

න ස්නානම්🔊na snānamnor bathing (cleansing the body)

න විලේපනම්🔊na vilepanamnor anointing with fragrant paste (sandal etc.)

න කුසුමම්🔊na kusumamnor flowers

න අලඞ්කෘතාඃ මූර්ධජාඃ🔊na alaṅkṛtā mūrdhajāḥnor decorated, well-dressed hair

වාණී ඒකා🔊vāṇī ekāspeech alone, refined language by itself

සමලඞ්කරෝති🔊samalaṅkarotifully adorns, truly beautifies

යා සංස්කෘතා ධාර්යතේ🔊yā saṁskṛtā dhāryatethat which is well-cultivated (refined) and well held / spoken

ක්ෂීයන්තේ🔊kṣīyanteperish, wear out, are destroyed

ඛලු භූෂණානි🔊khalu bhūṣaṇāniindeed (all such material) ornaments

සතතම්🔊satatamalways, constantly, ever

වාග්භූෂණම් භූෂණම්🔊vāg-bhūṣaṇaṁ bhūṣaṇamthe ornament of (good) speech is the (real) ornament

Benefits of Chanting केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषम्

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Teaches that refined, gracious speech is a person's truest and most lasting adornment

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Inspires the cultivation of language, courtesy and eloquence over outward show

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Reminds us that material ornaments fade while good speech endures

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A guiding ideal for students, speakers and anyone who values character over appearance

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Encourages mindful, well-cultivated (samskrita) words in daily life

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A short, memorable verse for reflection on inner versus outer beauty

How to Chant केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषम्

Repetitions3times

Best TimeMorning reflection, or before study, teaching or public speaking

Recite the verse slowly, dwelling on the closing line 'vag-bhushanam bhushanam' — the ornament of speech is the real ornament. Reflect on how cultivated, kind and truthful words outlast every material adornment, and let it set the intention to speak with refinement and grace. It is often taught to students learning Sanskrit and rhetoric as a lesson on the dignity of language.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषम् 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 is a celebrated subhashita from the Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari, a classical Sanskrit collection of a hundred verses on ethics and worldly wisdom. It is one of the most quoted verses on the value of good speech.

That no external ornament truly beautifies a person — only refined, well-cultivated speech does. Since material adornments decay but graceful speech endures, the ornament of speech (vag-bhushanam) is praised as the one real and everlasting ornament.

It means speech that is refined, cultivated and well-formed — language polished by learning, courtesy and good values. The verse celebrates such speech as the highest adornment a human being can wear.