“Tasks are accomplished by effort, not by mere wishes. Deer do not walk into the mouth of a sleeping lion.”
— Hitopadesha (Sanskrit subhashita), English translation
Original Sanskrit: “उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः। न हि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगाः॥”
Hindi: “मेहनत से ही काम पूरे होते हैं, केवल इच्छा करने से नहीं। सोते हुए शेर के मुँह में हिरण अपने आप नहीं आते।”
What it means
This verse from the Hitopadesha, the classic book of moral tales, has been taught to Indian children for centuries. The lion is the strongest animal in the forest, yet if it keeps sleeping, it stays hungry. Strength, talent and good dreams are not enough on their own; they turn into results only when we get up and work. Wishes show the direction, but effort reaches the destination.
A real-life example
Two Class 10 students both dreamed of top marks. One kept saying, “I’ll start tomorrow.” The other fixed one hour every evening and began solving old question papers. The difference showed clearly in the exam. The same is true for a farmer: a good harvest comes only when sowing, watering and care are done on time. For parents and workers the lesson is the same: make a plan, then act on it every day. Also read our earlier quote on effort: Hard Work Is the Real Genius.
What to do today
- Pick one task you have been putting off “till tomorrow” and give it just 15 minutes today.
- Break your big goal into three small steps and finish the first one today.
- Before sleeping, write down the effort you made today; it will fuel tomorrow.
📖 Read today’s Hadith of the Day
FAQ
Q1: Where does “Udyamena hi sidhyanti karyani na manorathaih” come from?
A: This well-known Sanskrit verse (subhashita) appears in the Hitopadesha, the collection of moral fables compiled by Narayana Pandit.
Q2: What does “manoratha” mean?
A: “Manoratha” means a wish or a daydream. The verse says that work is completed by “udyam” (effort), not by wishes alone.
Discover more from ImranJalna
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a Reply