उद्योगिनं पुरुषसिंहम् — Word-by-Word Meaning
उद्योगिनं पुरुषसिंहम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
उद्योगिनम्
udyoginam
the industrious one, the diligent and enterprising person
पुरुषसिंहम्
puruṣasiṁham
the lion among men, the lion-hearted hero
उपैति
upaiti
approaches, comes to, attends upon
लक्ष्मीः
lakṣmīḥ
Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune and prosperity
दैवेन देयम्
daivena deyam
it is to be given by fate (destiny)
इति
iti
thus, so saying
कापुरुषाः
kāpuruṣāḥ
cowards, weak and base men
वदन्ति
vadanti
say, declare
दैवं निहत्य
daivaṁ nihatya
setting aside fate, casting destiny aside
कुरु पौरुषम्
kuru pauruṣam
make manly effort, exert your valour
आत्मशक्त्या
ātmaśaktyā
with your own strength, by your own power
यत्ने कृते
yatne kṛte
when effort has been made
यदि न सिध्यति
yadi na sidhyati
if it still does not succeed
कः अत्र दोषः
ko'tra doṣaḥ
what fault is there in that? (no blame attaches)
Complete Translation
लक्ष्मी उस उद्यमी पुरुषसिंह के पास स्वयं आती है जो परिश्रम करता है; 'भाग्य से ही मिलेगा' — ऐसा तो कायर लोग कहते हैं। भाग्य की चिन्ता छोड़कर अपनी आत्मशक्ति से पुरुषार्थ करो; और यदि पूरा प्रयत्न करने पर भी सफलता न मिले, तो इसमें क्या दोष है? यह श्लोक भाग्य पर निर्भर रहने के बजाय आत्मनिर्भर पुरुषार्थ का प्रबल आह्वान है।
Origin & History
Source: Panchatantra (Subhashita)
Author: Vishnu Sharma (traditional author of the Panchatantra)
Period: Classical Sanskrit literature (c. 3rd century BCE – 3rd century CE)
The Panchatantra is a renowned collection of interlinked animal fables composed to instruct young princes in worldly wisdom and right conduct. Among its many niti-verses, this shloka extols purushartha — manly effort — declaring that the goddess of fortune herself comes to the one who strives, and that sincere effort frees a person from all blame regardless of the outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the verse Udyoginam Purushasimham come from?▼
It is a famous niti-shloka from the Panchatantra, the classical Sanskrit collection of fables attributed to Vishnu Sharma, and it is among the most quoted subhashitas on the value of effort and self-reliance.
What is the central teaching of this shloka?▼
That fortune favours the diligent and lion-hearted, while only cowards leave everything to destiny. One should put forth full effort by one's own strength; and if success still does not come after sincere trying, no blame attaches to such a person.
Does this verse reject the idea of destiny?▼
It does not deny destiny but rejects passive dependence on it. It teaches that human effort (purushartha) must come first; leaving everything to fate without trying is the mark of the weak, while the strong act and let the result follow.
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