𑌮𑍃𑌗𑌾 𑌮𑍃𑌗𑍈𑌃 𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿
मृगा मृगैः सङ्गमनुव्रजन्ति in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥
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Origin & Story
Hitopadesha (Subhashita) · Narayana Pandita (compiler of the Hitopadesha) · Classical Sanskrit literature (c. 9th–12th century CE)
The Hitopadesha teaches wisdom and statecraft through delightful animal fables interspersed with niti-shlokas. This verse, on the natural grouping of like with like, draws on familiar sights of the natural world to make its point about human friendship, and it has become one of the most quoted maxims on the importance of keeping good company.
✦ As told in scripture
Wise elders often cite this verse to show that a person's destiny can be read from their friends; many a youth, it is said, has been turned from ruin to greatness simply by leaving foolish company and seeking out the wise, exactly as the shloka advises.
The Mantra
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𑌮𑍃𑌗𑌾 𑌮𑍃𑌗𑍈𑌃 𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌗𑌾𑌵𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌗𑍋𑌭𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌰𑌗𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍈𑌃। 𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌖𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌖𑍈𑌃 𑌸𑍁𑌧𑌿𑌯𑌃 𑌸𑍁𑌧𑍀𑌭𑌿𑌃 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌶𑍀𑌲𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌨𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌸𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍॥
mṛgā mṛgaiḥ saṅgam anuvrajanti gāvaś ca gobhis turagās turaṅgaiḥ। mūrkhāś ca mūrkhaiḥ sudhiyaḥ sudhībhiḥ samāna-śīla-vyasaneṣu sakhyam॥
Meaning:मृग मृगों के साथ रहते हैं, गायें गायों के साथ और घोड़े घोड़ों के साथ; मूर्ख मूर्खों के साथ और बुद्धिमान बुद्धिमानों के साथ — क्योंकि मित्रता समान स्वभाव और रुचि वालों में ही होती है। यह श्लोक यह शाश्वत सत्य बताता है कि समान समान को आकर्षित करता है, और मनुष्य की संगति उसके स्वभाव को प्रकट भी करती है और गढ़ती भी है।
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting मृगा मृगैः सङ्गमनुव्रजन्ति
Teaches the importance of choosing good and wise company
Illustrates the law that like attracts like with vivid, simple examples
Encourages self-reflection — our friends mirror our own character
A memorable verse for guiding the young in selecting their associations
Reinforces the timeless niti principle that good company elevates and bad company degrades
Useful for reflection on building wholesome friendships and communities
How to Chant मृगा मृगैः सङ्गमनुव्रजन्ति
Recite the verse thoughtfully, picturing each pairing — deer, cows, horses, fools and the wise. Let it prompt honest reflection on the company you keep and the character it reveals. It is often shared as gentle counsel to seek the friendship of the wise and the good.
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