त्यजेदेकं कुलस्यार्थे — Word-by-Word Meaning
त्यजेदेकं कुलस्यार्थे
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
त्यजेत्
tyajet
one should give up, abandon, sacrifice
एकम्
ekam
one (individual person)
कुलस्य अर्थे
kulasya arthe
for the sake of the family / lineage
ग्रामस्य अर्थे
grāmasya arthe
for the sake of the village
कुलम्
kulam
the family, the household
ग्रामम्
grāmam
the village
जनपदस्य अर्थे
janapadasya arthe
for the sake of the country / the wider region or nation
आत्म अर्थे
ātma arthe
for the sake of the self (the soul / one's true good)
पृथिवीम्
pṛthivīm
the earth, the whole world
तयजेत् (पृथिवीं त्यजेत्)
pṛthivīṁ tyajet
one should give up (even) the whole earth
Complete Translation
कुल (परिवार) के हित के लिए एक व्यक्ति का त्याग करें; गाँव के हित के लिए कुल का त्याग करें; जनपद (देश) के हित के लिए गाँव का त्याग करें; और आत्म (अपने वास्तविक कल्याण) के लिए सम्पूर्ण पृथ्वी का त्याग करें। चाणक्य मूल्यों की एक आरोही सीढ़ी प्रस्तुत करते हैं, जिसमें प्रत्येक बड़ा हित छोटे से ऊपर है, और इसकी पराकाष्ठा आत्म एवं अन्तिम आध्यात्मिक कल्याण के सर्वोच्च मूल्य में होती है।
Origin & History
Source: Chanakya Niti
Author: Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya)
Period: Ancient India (c. 4th–3rd century BCE)
Chanakya, the architect of the Mauryan empire, taught that wise action requires weighing the greater good against the lesser. This verse, among his most quoted, builds a ladder from the individual up to the whole world and crowns it with the Self, reflecting both his statecraft — where the welfare of the nation outranks lesser units — and the deeper spiritual teaching that the Self is the highest value of all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does 'Tyajed Ekam Kulasyarthe' come from?▼
It is a famous niti verse preserved in the Chanakya Niti tradition (and echoed in other classical works), attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya / Vishnugupta), the ancient teacher of ethics and statecraft.
What is the meaning of the ascending sacrifice in this verse?▼
Each larger circle of welfare outweighs the smaller: an individual may be given up for the family, the family for the village, the village for the country, and finally the entire world for the sake of the Self — one's true and ultimate spiritual good.
Why is the Self placed above even the whole world?▼
Because in Indian thought the realization and welfare of the atman (the Self) is the highest aim of life. All external goods, however large, are means; the liberation and integrity of the Self is the final end, for whose sake even the world may be renounced.
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