Sāhitya Saṅgīta Kalā — Education Makes Us Human
साहित्यसङ्गीतकलाविहीनः
Subhāṣitāni · NCERT Class 7 Sanskrit · Ruchira Part 2 · Chapter 1
Source: Classical Sanskrit Nīti literature
Key Points to Remember
- ▸साहित्य = sahita (together) — literature joins language to feeling
- ▸पशु = √paś (to be bound) — animals were tethered; humans are free when educated
- ▸यत्नेन = Tṛtīyā (3rd case) of yatna — "by means of effort" (the instrument)
- ▸विनीयताम् = causative of √nī — "let him be led/educated"
The Verse
साहित्यसङ्गीतकलाविहीनः साक्षात्पशुः पुच्छविषाणहीनः। तृणं न खादन्नपि जीवमानः तस्मात् स यत्नेन विनीयतां सः॥
sāhitya-saṅgīta-kalā-vihīnaḥ sākṣāt paśuḥ puccha-viṣāṇa-hīnaḥ | tṛṇaṃ na khādan napi jīvamānaḥ tasmāt sa yatnena vinīyatāṃ saḥ ||
One without literature, music, and art is directly a beast — without a tail and horns (the only difference). Though living, not eating grass. Therefore, let that person be educated with effort.
— Classical Sanskrit Nīti literature
Word-by-Word Meaning
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning | Root |
|---|---|---|---|
| साहित्य | sāhitya | literature | sahita (together, connected) — language joined with meaning and feeling |
| सङ्गीत | saṅgīta | music | sam (together) + √gai (to sing) — singing together |
| कला | kalā | art, skill | √kal (to calculate, to create with precision) |
| विहीनः | vihīnaḥ | devoid of, without | vi + √hā (to abandon) — one who is abandoned by / one without |
| साक्षात् | sākṣāt | directly, literally, in front of the eyes | sa (with) + akṣa (eye) + āt — an indeclinable (avyaya) |
| पशुः | paśuḥ | animal, beast | √paś (to be bound) — animals were tethered, unlike free human beings |
| तृणम् | tṛṇam | grass | tṛṇa — grass, blade of grass (neuter noun) |
| यत्नेन | yatnena | with effort (by effort) | yatna (effort) — Tṛtīyā vibhakti singular (instrument case) |
| विनीयताम् | vinīyatām | let him/her be educated | vi + √nī (to lead, to guide) — causative passive optative (ājñārtha) |
The shloka is not insulting — it is motivating. It says: a person without the arts is like an animal. But an animal cannot change. A person can. Therefore: educate with effort.
Exercises (3)
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blank with the correct Sanskrit word
1. _______ (music) comes from sam + √gai (to sing together).
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सङ्गीत (saṅgīta)
2. _______ (art/skill) comes from √kal, to create with precision.
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कला (kalā)
3. पशुः (paśuḥ) means _______ in English.
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animal, beast
4. यत्नेन (yatnena) is in _______ vibhakti (the "by/with" case).
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Tṛtīyā (3rd)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct answer
1. What does "sākṣāt" mean?
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Directly / literally
2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the shloka as something a person should have?
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dhana (wealth)
3. The root of "vinīyatām" is:
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√nī
Exercise 3: Short Answer
Answer in your own words
1. Why does the poet say "without tail and horns" (puccha-viṣāṇa-hīnaḥ)? What is the humour in this line?
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2. The shloka says education should happen "yatnena" — with effort. Why is effort needed for Sanskrit (or any language)?
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