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subhashitawisdomnitichanakya

මාතා ශත්රුඃ පිතා වෛරී

माता शत्रुः पिता वैरी in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning reflection, or when guiding children toward study·📜 Chanakya-niti (Subhashita)
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Chanakya-niti (Subhashita) · Chanakya (Kautilya / Vishnugupta) · Ancient India (c. 4th century BCE; niti compilations later)

The Chanakya-niti gathers the practical wisdom of the great statesman and teacher Chanakya, who guided the rise of the Mauryan empire. Among its counsels on family and learning, this striking verse declares education the foremost duty of parents, warning that to leave a child unlettered is to do him the harm of an enemy, for he will stand graceless among the learned like a heron among swans.

✦ As told in scripture

This verse has spurred countless parents across the ages to ensure their children are educated even at great sacrifice; it is often recounted that families who took its warning to heart lifted their descendants into lives of learning, dignity and respect.

The Mantra

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

මාතා ශත්රුඃ පිතා වෛරී යේන බාලෝ න පාඨිතඃ. න ශෝභතේ සභාමධ්යේ හංසමධ්යේ බකෝ යථා..

mātā śatruḥ pitā vairī yena bālo na pāṭhitaḥ। na śobhate sabhā-madhye haṁsa-madhye bako yathā॥

Meaning:वह माता शत्रु और वह पिता वैरी के समान है जिसने अपने बालक को नहीं पढ़ाया; क्योंकि ऐसा अनपढ़ व्यक्ति विद्वानों की सभा में वैसे ही शोभा नहीं पाता जैसे हंसों के बीच बगुला। यह श्लोक इस बात पर बल देता है कि बालक को शिक्षा देना माता-पिता का सर्वोच्च कर्तव्य है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

මාතා🔊mātāthe mother
ශත්රුඃ🔊śatruḥan enemy
පිතා🔊pitāthe father
වෛරී🔊vairīa foe, an adversary
යේන🔊yenaby whom
බාලඃ🔊bālaḥthe child
න පාඨිතඃ🔊na pāṭhitaḥis not taught, is not educated
න ශෝභතේ🔊na śobhatedoes not look good, does not shine
සභාමධ්යේ🔊sabhā-madhyein the midst of an assembly (of learned people)
හංසමධ්යේ🔊haṁsa-madhyein the midst of swans
බකඃ යථා🔊bako yathāas a heron (crane), like a stork

Benefits of Chanting माता शत्रुः पिता वैरी

✦

Emphasises education as the foremost duty and gift of parents

✦

Inspires families to prioritise learning for their children

✦

Warns of the lifelong disadvantage of remaining unlettered

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Encourages every child to seek knowledge and refinement

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A motivating verse for parents, teachers and students alike

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A short, memorable verse for reflection on the value of education

How to Chant माता शत्रुः पिता वैरी

Repetitions3times
Best TimeMorning reflection, or when guiding children toward study

Recite the verse thoughtfully, dwelling on its vivid image of a heron among swans. Reflect that education is the truest inheritance parents can give, and let it strengthen the resolve to learn and to help others learn. It is often quoted to parents and elders as a reminder that nurturing a child's mind is as vital as caring for the body.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete माता शत्रुः पिता वैरी 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 one of the most famous verses of the Chanakya-niti, the collection of practical maxims attributed to Acharya Chanakya (Kautilya), and it is widely quoted on the importance of educating children.
That parents who fail to educate their child do them a great disservice — comparable to being an enemy — because an unlettered person cannot shine among the learned, just as a heron looks out of place among swans. Education is the highest duty of parents.
The image conveys feeling out of place and unable to shine. In an assembly of the learned (the swans), the unlettered person (the heron) stands apart and unadorned — underscoring how education lends grace and standing in cultured company.

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