Vidyā Dadāti Vinayam — Knowledge Gives Humility
विद्या ददाति विनयम्
From Hitopadeśa · Studied in NCERT Sanskrit Class 6 · Ruchira Part 1
Source: Hitopadeśa (a classical Sanskrit text of practical wisdom)
Key Points to Remember
- ▸विद्या = √vid (to know) — same Indo-European root as "wit," "wise," "vision"
- ▸ददाति = √dā with reduplication — one of Sanskrit's most regular verbs
- ▸विनय = vi + √nī (to lead) — humility as the quality of being "led well"
- ▸Chain structure: each word connects to the next with ablative (pañcamī) — "from X comes Y"
The Verse
विद्या ददाति विनयं विनयाद्याति पात्रताम्। पात्रत्वाद्धनमाप्नोति धनाद्धर्मं ततः सुखम्॥
vidyā dadāti vinayaṃ vinayād yāti pātratām | pātratvād dhanam āpnoti dhanād dharmaṃ tataḥ sukham ||
Knowledge gives humility. From humility one attains worthiness. From worthiness one obtains wealth. From wealth one fulfils dharma. From dharma comes happiness.
— Hitopadeśa
Word-by-Word Meaning
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning | Root |
|---|---|---|---|
| विद्या | vidyā | knowledge, learning | √vid (to know) — same root as Latin "video" (I see/know) and English "wit" |
| ददाति | dadāti | gives | √dā (to give) — reduplicated: da-dā-ti; 3rd person singular present |
| विनयम् | vinayam | humility, discipline, good conduct | vi + √nī (to lead, to guide) — that which leads toward good conduct |
| याति | yāti | goes to, attains, reaches | √yā (to go) — 3rd person singular present |
| पात्रताम् | pātratām | worthiness, fitness (as a vessel) | pātra (vessel, one who deserves) + tā (abstract suffix) — "the state of being a worthy vessel" |
| धनम् | dhanam | wealth, riches | √dhā (to hold) — that which is held/stored |
| आप्नोति | āpnoti | obtains, achieves | √āp (to reach, to obtain) — 3rd person singular present |
| धर्मम् | dharmam | righteousness, duty | √dhṛ (to uphold) — Dvitīyā (2nd case) — object of "obtains" |
| सुखम् | sukham | happiness, ease, joy | su (good, well) + kha (axle-hole) — originally "good axle (smooth chariot)"; now: ease, happiness |
The chain: knowledge → humility → worthiness → wealth → dharma → happiness. Notice: wealth is not the end — it is a step toward dharma, which leads to sukham.
Exercises (3)
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the chain from the shloka
1. विद्या gives → _______ (humility)
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विनयम् (vinayam)
2. विनय leads to → _______ (worthiness)
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पात्रताम् (pātratām)
3. पात्रत्व gives → _______ (wealth)
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धनम् (dhanam)
4. धन leads to → _______ (dharma) and then _______ (happiness)
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धर्मम् (dharmam) and सुखम् (sukham)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct answer
1. "Dadāti" (gives) uses a special grammatical form called reduplication (da-dā-ti). Which root is this from?
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√dā
2. "Sukha" (happiness) originally meant:
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Good axle/smooth wheel
3. According to this shloka, what comes DIRECTLY after wealth?
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Dharma
Exercise 3: Short Answer
Reflect and answer
1. The shloka places humility (vinaya) right after knowledge. Why would a truly knowledgeable person become humble, not arrogant?
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2. "Pātra" means both a vessel and a worthy person. What is the connection between these two meanings?
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