𑌵𑍃𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌂
वृश्चिकस्य विषं पुच्छं in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥
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Origin & Story
Chanakya Niti · Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya) · Ancient India (c. 4th–3rd century BCE)
Chanakya, the strategist behind the rise of the Mauryan empire, prized a keen reading of human character. In this vivid verse he draws on the natural world — scorpion, fly and serpent — to make the point that whereas dangerous creatures bear poison in a single organ, the truly wicked person is dangerous in every limb, and so warrants the greatest caution.
✦ As told in scripture
Niti teachers say this verse has spared many from ruin, for one who remembers it keeps watch over the whole conduct of a suspect person rather than trusting a single pleasing trait, and so is not taken unawares by a poison that runs through the entire being.
The Mantra
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𑌵𑍃𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌂 𑌮𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌕𑍇। 𑌤𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌂 𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌚॥
vṛścikasya viṣaṁ pucchaṁ makṣikāyāś ca mastake। takṣakasya viṣaṁ dante sarvāṅge durjanasya ca॥
Meaning:बिच्छू का विष उसकी पूँछ में होता है, मक्खी का विष उसके सिर में, और सर्प (तक्षक) का विष उसके दाँत में — किन्तु दुर्जन के तो सम्पूर्ण शरीर (हर अंग) में विष भरा होता है। चाणक्य चेतावनी देते हैं कि विषैला जीव तो केवल एक अंग से हानि पहुँचाता है, परन्तु दुष्ट व्यक्ति समूचा ही हानिकारक होता है।
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting वृश्चिकस्य विषं पुच्छं
Sharpens discernment of character and judgement of company
Warns clearly against the all-pervading danger of wicked people
Encourages caution and vigilance in choosing associates
Uses a vivid natural metaphor that is easy to remember and apply
Protects against being deceived by partially harmful appearances
A concise, memorable maxim for prudent dealings with people
How to Chant वृश्चिकस्य विषं पुच्छं
Recite the verse slowly and picture each creature in turn — the scorpion's tail, the fly's head, the serpent's fang — and then the wicked person whose whole being is poison. Reflect on the lesson of vigilance and discernment in choosing one's company. It is traditionally studied among Chanakya's teachings on judging people.
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Read the full वृश्चिकस्य विषं पुच्छं with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts