subhashitawisdomnitihumility

𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌕𑍁𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋 𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍋𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑌬𑍍𑌦𑌮𑍍

सम्पूर्णकुम्भो न करोति शब्दम् in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning reflection, or whenever tempted toward boastfulness·📜 Subhashita (classical Sanskrit niti verse)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Subhashita (classical Sanskrit niti verse) · Unknown (traditional subhashita) · Classical Sanskrit literature

This verse belongs to the vast Subhashita tradition — pithy, elegant Sanskrit sayings on wisdom and right living passed down through generations and gathered in numerous anthologies. With its homely image of the silent full pot and the noisy half-empty one, it has become one of the most quoted illustrations of humility, contrasting the calm dignity of true merit with the loud emptiness of the unworthy.

✦ As told in scripture

Elders and teachers across India quote this verse to gently humble the boastful; it is often said that a single hearing of the image of the silent full pot has quieted many a proud tongue and turned a show-off toward the deeper dignity of genuine learning.

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The Mantra

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𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌕𑍁𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋 𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍋𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑌬𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍋 𑌘𑌟𑍋 𑌘𑍋𑌷𑌮𑍁𑌪𑍈𑌤𑌿 𑌨𑍂𑌨𑌮𑍍। 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌲𑍀𑌨𑍋 𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍋𑌤𑌿 𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌹𑍀𑌨𑌾 𑌬𑌹𑍁 𑌜𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿॥

sampūrṇakumbho na karoti śabdaṁ ardho ghaṭo ghoṣam upaiti nūnam। vidvān kulīno na karoti garvaṁ guṇair vihīnā bahu jalpayanti॥

Meaning:पूरी तरह भरा हुआ घड़ा शब्द नहीं करता, जबकि आधा भरा घड़ा निश्चय ही ख़ूब छलकता और शोर मचाता है। इसी प्रकार सच्चा विद्वान और कुलीन व्यक्ति कभी गर्व नहीं करता, जबकि गुणों से रहित लोग बहुत बकवास और डींग हाँकते हैं। यह श्लोक खोखले शोर की तुलना खोखले चरित्र से करते हुए वास्तविक योग्यता की शान्त गरिमा की प्रशंसा करता है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌕𑍁𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌃🔊sampūrṇakumbhaḥa completely filled pot, a full pitcher

𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍋𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑌬𑍍𑌦𑌮𑍍🔊na karoti śabdammakes no sound, does not rattle

𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌃 𑌘𑌟𑌃🔊ardho ghaṭaḥa half-filled pot

𑌘𑍋𑌷𑌮𑍍 𑌉𑌪𑍈𑌤𑌿🔊ghoṣam upaitimakes a loud noise, produces a splashing sound

𑌨𑍂𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊nūnamcertainly, surely, indeed

𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍🔊vidvāna learned person, a wise scholar

𑌕𑍁𑌲𑍀𑌨𑌃🔊kulīnaḥwell-born, of noble family and good breeding

𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍋𑌤𑌿 𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍍🔊na karoti garvamdoes not become arrogant, shows no pride

𑌗𑍁𑌣𑍈𑌃 𑌵𑌿𑌹𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌃🔊guṇair vihīnāḥthose devoid of merits and good qualities

𑌬𑌹𑍁 𑌜𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿🔊bahu jalpayantichatter much, prattle and boast loudly

Benefits of Chanting सम्पूर्णकुम्भो न करोति शब्दम्

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Teaches humility — that real knowledge and worth express themselves quietly

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Warns against boastfulness and empty chatter that betray a lack of merit

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Offers a memorable image to recognise true substance versus mere show

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Encourages modesty and dignified conduct in the learned and accomplished

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A valuable lesson for students and professionals on character over self-promotion

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A short, vivid verse ideal for daily reflection on humility

How to Chant सम्पूर्णकुम्भो न करोति शब्दम्

Repetitions3times

Best TimeMorning reflection, or whenever tempted toward boastfulness

Recite the verse slowly, picturing the silent full pot and the noisy half-empty one. Reflect on the closing contrast — that the truly worthy stay humble while the merit-less prattle loudly — and let it inspire quiet, dignified conduct. It is frequently taught to children and students as a lesson on modesty and the value of substance over show.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete सम्पूर्णकुम्भो न करोति शब्दम् 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 means 'a full pot makes no sound.' Just as a brimful pitcher is silent while a half-filled one splashes noisily, the truly learned and noble remain humble, while those without real merit boast and chatter the loudest.

Humility. Genuine knowledge, ability and good breeding show themselves through quiet dignity, not loud self-praise. Excessive boasting is a sign of emptiness, not of worth.

Yes. It is a well-loved subhashita (wise saying) of classical Sanskrit, widely quoted in collections of niti verses on humility and character, and often taught alongside other verses praising modesty.