Chanakya Niti · Chapter 17
Chanakya Niti 17.5 meaning
pita ratnakaro yasya lakshmeer yasya sahodara
shankho bhikshatanam kuryan na dattam upatishthate
पिता रत्नाकरो यस्य लक्ष्मीर्यस्य सहोदरा।
शङ्खो भिक्षाटनं कुर्यान्न दत्तमुपतिष्ठते॥
The conch's father is the ocean, home of all jewels, and Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, is its sister. Yet the conch is used for begging alms. What you have not given does not come to you.
What it means
Family connections and privilege don't guarantee anything. What comes back to you depends on what you've put out, your effort and your generosity. Give and work, rather than relying on who you know.हिंदी में अर्थ
शंख का पिता रत्नों की खान समुद्र है और धन की देवी लक्ष्मी उसकी बहन, फिर भी शंख से भीख माँगी जाती है। जो दिया नहीं, वह मिलता नहीं।
खानदान और रिश्ते कुछ गारंटी नहीं देते। तुम्हें वही लौटकर मिलता है जो तुमने दिया है, मेहनत और उदारता। किसकी पहचान है, इस पर नहीं, अपने कर्म पर भरोसा रखो।
Spoken by Chanakya.
Scroll scripture, not noise
Get a verse like this every day, with chanting as you scroll. The Gita, Ramayana, Kabir, Upanishads and more: 4,596 verses, plus panchang, japa and festival reminders.