subhashitabhartrhariniti-shatakawealth

𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌸 𑌨𑌰𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌲𑍀𑌨𑌃

यस्यास्ति वित्तं स नरः कुलीनः in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Anytime for reflection, especially when contemplating values, wealth and society·📜 Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari (Subhashita)

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

Origin & Story

Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari (Subhashita) · Bhartrhari · Classical Sanskrit literature (c. 5th century CE)

Bhartrhari, according to tradition a king who renounced his throne for the contemplative life, composed three Shatakas — collections of a hundred verses each — on ethics (Niti), love (Shringara) and renunciation (Vairagya). The Niti Shataka gathers his keen observations on human conduct, fate, wealth and wisdom. This verse stands among his most quoted, a withering commentary on a world that confuses gold with greatness.

✦ As told in scripture

Though a worldly observation rather than a devotional hymn, this verse has guided countless readers across the centuries to a single liberating insight — that the soul's true riches are virtue and wisdom, which no amount of gold can buy or counterfeit.

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The Mantra

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𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌸 𑌨𑌰𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌲𑍀𑌨𑌃 𑌸 𑌪𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌤𑌃 𑌸 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌃। 𑌸 𑌏𑌵 𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌸 𑌚 𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌶𑌨𑍀𑌯𑌃 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌃 𑌕𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿॥

yasyāsti vittaṁ sa naraḥ kulīnaḥ sa paṇḍitaḥ sa śrutavān guṇajñaḥ। sa eva vaktā sa ca darśanīyaḥ sarve guṇāḥ kāñcanam āśrayanti॥

Meaning:जिसके पास धन है वही मनुष्य कुलीन माना जाता है; वही पण्डित, वही शास्त्रज्ञ और गुणों का पारखी कहलाता है; वही वक्ता और वही दर्शनीय (सुन्दर) भी है — क्योंकि सभी गुण तो स्वर्ण (धन) का ही आश्रय लेते हैं। भर्तृहरि व्यंग्यपूर्वक दिखाते हैं कि संसार धनवान पर केवल इसलिए सारे गुण आरोपित कर देता है क्योंकि वह धनी है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯🔊yasyaof whom, the one who

𑌅𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿🔊astithere is, possesses

𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊vittamwealth, money, riches

𑌸 𑌨𑌰𑌃🔊sa naraḥthat man, he

𑌕𑍁𑌲𑍀𑌨𑌃🔊kulīnaḥwell-born, of noble family

𑌪𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌤𑌃🔊paṇḍitaḥlearned, a scholar

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍🔊śrutavānwell-versed in scriptures, knowledgeable

𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌃🔊guṇajñaḥa connoisseur, one who appreciates merit

𑌸 𑌏𑌵 𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾🔊sa eva vaktāhe alone is the eloquent speaker

𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌶𑌨𑍀𑌯𑌃🔊darśanīyaḥhandsome, worth looking at

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌃🔊sarve guṇāḥall virtues, all good qualities

𑌕𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊kāñcanamgold, wealth

𑌆𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿🔊āśrayantitake refuge in, depend upon, cling to

Benefits of Chanting यस्यास्ति वित्तं स नरः कुलीनः

✦

Cultivates discernment to judge people by character rather than wealth

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A powerful reminder that virtues attributed to the rich are often illusory

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Sharpens awareness of social hypocrisy and flattery toward the wealthy

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Encourages humility in prosperity and dignity in modest means

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A memorable verse for teaching ethics, value education and critical thinking

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Inspires the seeker to value true merit over outward riches

How to Chant यस्यास्ति वित्तं स नरः कुलीनः

Repetitions3times

Best TimeAnytime for reflection, especially when contemplating values, wealth and society

Recite the verse slowly, savouring its irony, and reflect on how often the world's praise follows money rather than merit. Read it as a mirror for one's own attitudes — do we respect people for who they are or for what they own? It is best contemplated rather than ritually repeated, used as a daily reminder to honour genuine character over wealth.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete यस्यास्ति वित्तं स नरः कुलीनः 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 is from the Niti Shataka of Bhartrhari, the celebrated poet-philosopher whose three Shatakas (Niti, Shringara and Vairagya) are masterpieces of Sanskrit didactic poetry. This verse appears among his reflections on wealth and worldly conduct.

It is satire, not praise. Bhartrhari uses irony to expose how society wrongly showers every virtue — nobility, learning, eloquence, even beauty — upon a person merely because they are rich. The closing line, 'all virtues take refuge in gold,' is a critique, urging us to look beyond riches.

That true worth lies in character, knowledge and conduct, not in wealth. The verse warns against the human tendency to flatter the rich and to mistake money for merit.