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𑌨𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌨𑍀𑌤𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌃

निन्दन्तु नीतिनिपुणाः in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning, or whenever facing a difficult moral test or hard decision·📜 Bhartrhari Niti Shataka
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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), a hundred epigrams on right conduct and the ways of the world. Among its verses extolling firmness of character, this shloka stands out as the grandest declaration of moral steadfastness, portraying the dhira who clings to justice through every reversal of praise, fortune and life itself.

As told in scripture

This verse has steeled the resolve of reformers, judges and seekers of truth for centuries; it is said that those who recite it before a hard moral choice find the strength to do what is right even when the whole world urges otherwise.

The Mantra

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𑌨𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌨𑍀𑌤𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌣𑌾 𑌯𑌦𑌿 𑌵𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌃 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌤𑍁 𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌤𑍁 𑌵𑌾 𑌯𑌥𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌮𑍍। 𑌅𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍈𑌵 𑌵𑌾 𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌯𑍁𑌗𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌰𑍇 𑌵𑌾 𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌥𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌲𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑌦𑌂 𑌨 𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌃॥

nindantu nītinipuṇā yadi vā stuvantu lakṣmīḥ samāviśatu gacchatu vā yatheṣṭam। adyaiva vā maraṇam astu yugāntare vā nyāyyāt pathaḥ pravicalanti padaṁ na dhīrāḥ॥

Meaning:नीति में निपुण लोग चाहे निन्दा करें या स्तुति; लक्ष्मी चाहे आकर ठहरे या इच्छानुसार चली जाए; मृत्यु चाहे आज ही आ जाए या युगों बाद — फिर भी धीर (दृढ़) पुरुष न्याय के मार्ग से एक कदम भी विचलित नहीं होते। यह श्लोक उन धीर पुरुषों की अटल निष्ठा की प्रशंसा करता है जो निन्दा-स्तुति, लाभ-हानि और जीवन-मृत्यु की परवाह किए बिना धर्म के मार्ग पर अडिग रहते हैं।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌨𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍁🔊nindantulet them blame, let them censure
𑌨𑍀𑌤𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌃🔊nītinipuṇāḥthose skilled in policy and morals, the worldly-wise
𑌯𑌦𑌿 𑌵𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍁🔊yadi vā stuvantuor else let them praise
𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌃 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌤𑍁🔊lakṣmīḥ samāviśatulet fortune (Lakshmi) come and enter (stay)
𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌤𑍁 𑌵𑌾🔊gacchatu vāor let her depart, let her go
𑌯𑌥𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌮𑍍🔊yatheṣṭamas she pleases, at will
𑌅𑌦𑍍𑌯 𑌏𑌵 𑌵𑌾 𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁🔊adyaiva vā maraṇam astuor let death come this very day
𑌯𑍁𑌗𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌰𑍇 𑌵𑌾🔊yugāntare vāor in another age (after a long time)
𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍 𑌪𑌥𑌃🔊nyāyyāt pathaḥfrom the path of justice, from the righteous road
𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌲𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑌦𑌂 𑌨🔊pravicalanti padaṁ nado not move (their) step away, do not swerve a single step
𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌾𑌃🔊dhīrāḥthe steadfast, the resolute and wise

Benefits of Chanting निन्दन्तु नीतिनिपुणाः

Instils unshakable commitment to righteousness and justice

Builds moral courage to remain steadfast amid praise or blame

Frees the mind from anxiety over gain, loss, success or failure

Inspires fearlessness in the face of every uncertainty, even death

A powerful verse for leaders, reformers and anyone tested by adversity

A short, stirring affirmation of integrity for daily strength

How to Chant निन्दन्तु नीतिनिपुणाः

Repetitions3times
Best TimeMorning, or whenever facing a difficult moral test or hard decision

Recite the verse with firm resolve, dwelling on the final line 'nyāyyāt pathaḥ pravicalanti padaṁ na dhīrāḥ' — the steadfast never swerve from the path of justice. Reflect that praise, blame, fortune and even death are all beyond your control, but holding to righteousness is not. Let it steady the heart before any trial of conscience.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete निन्दन्तु नीतिनिपुणाः 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 one of the most famous verses of the Niti Shataka by Bhartrhari, a classical Sanskrit collection of a hundred epigrams on ethics and worldly wisdom. It is frequently quoted as the supreme statement of steadfast integrity.
That the truly resolute (dhira) never abandon the path of justice, no matter what befalls them — whether they are praised or blamed, whether fortune comes or goes, and whether death arrives today or far in the future.
The 'dhirah' are the steadfast, courageous and wise — people of firm character who keep to righteousness with calm resolve, undisturbed by external circumstances or fear of consequences.

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