𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍
पुनर्वित्तं पुनर्मित्रम् in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥
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Origin & Story
Chanakya Niti · Chanakya (Kautilya / Vishnugupta) · Ancient India (c. 4th century BCE)
The Chanakya Niti is a celebrated compendium of aphorisms on ethics, prudence and practical living attributed to Chanakya, the legendary teacher and minister who guided the rise of the Mauryan empire. Among its many reflections, this verse on the irreplaceable value of human life stands out as one of the most quoted, urging the wise to spend their rare birth well.
✦ As told in scripture
This verse has long served as a wake-up call on the spiritual path; seekers recount that meditating on the non-repeatable nature of human life shook them from complacency and spurred them to pursue dharma and self-knowledge with new urgency.
The Mantra
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𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌭𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌹𑍀। 𑌏𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌲𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌨 𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌃॥
punar vittaṁ punar mitraṁ punar bhāryā punar mahī। etat sarvaṁ punar labhyaṁ na śarīraṁ punaḥ punaḥ॥
Meaning:धन पुनः प्राप्त किया जा सकता है, मित्र पुनः मिल सकता है, पत्नी और भूमि भी पुनः प्राप्त हो सकती है — यह सब पुनः प्राप्य है; परन्तु यह शरीर बार-बार प्राप्त नहीं होता। अतः मनुष्य-जीवन का यह दुर्लभ अवसर व्यर्थ नहीं करना चाहिए, क्योंकि यह सहज ही पुनः नहीं मिलता।
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting पुनर्वित्तं पुनर्मित्रम्
Awakens awareness of the rare and precious value of human life
Inspires the wise and purposeful use of one's limited time
Cultivates healthy detachment from transient gains and losses
Encourages prioritising the eternal over the merely material
A sobering reminder to pursue higher goals (dharma and self-realisation)
Helps reframe setbacks — most losses are recoverable, life is not
How to Chant पुनर्वित्तं पुनर्मित्रम्
Recite the verse slowly and reflect on the unique, non-repeatable gift of human birth. Let it temper anxiety over material losses, which are recoverable, and renew your resolve to use your life for what truly matters. It is especially valuable as a daily contemplation on purpose and detachment.
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Read the full पुनर्वित्तं पुनर्मित्रम् with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts