Form

The Subhashita

Also Known As Sanskrit subhashita is the IAST transliteration subhāṣita.
Short Lyric and Epigrammatic Forms

A Sanskrit epigrammatic verse form, typically a single self-contained stanza, expressing a polished maxim, observation or piece of worldly wisdom, collected by the thousands in dedicated Sanskrit anthologies from the classical period onward.

Facts
Place of Origin
India, classical Sanskrit literary period. 1
Structure
A single self-contained stanza, most often in the anushtubh (shloka) meter of four eight-syllable quarters, built to stand alone rather than as part of a longer narrative. 1
Notable Example
Bhartrihari's Shatakatraya, three centuries of subhashita verses on worldly life, love and renunciation. 1
Mode
Poetry 2
Structure
Metrical Form 2
Connections

Associated With

The Panchatantra, Works

The Panchatantra frames many of its embedded verses as subhashita-style aphoristic wisdom sayings within its animal-fable narrative.

Form Of Genre

Lyric Poetry, Genres
Source The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
In the Other Atlases

Original Language

Sanskrit

Also in Language Atlas: the original language of this subject.

Source Subhashita (Wikipedia)Lead paragraphtier 2
Quote, Lead paragraph
is a literary genre of Sanskrit epigrammatic poems

Originated In

India

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Source The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poeticstier 1
Sources
1. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
Princeton University Press
  • Place of Origin: India, classical Sanskrit literary period.
  • Structure: A single self-contained stanza, most often in the anushtubh (shloka) meter of four eight-syllable quarters, built to stand alone rather than as part of a longer narrative.
  • Notable Example: Bhartrihari's Shatakatraya, three centuries of subhashita verses on worldly life, love and renunciation.
2. Subhashita (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia)
  • Lead section, first sentence
    A subhashita (Sanskrit: सुभाषित, subhāṣita) is a literary genre of Sanskrit epigrammatic poems and their message is an aphorism, maxim, advice, fact, truth, lesson or riddle.
  • Lead paragraph
    is a literary genre of Sanskrit epigrammatic poems
  • Lead paragraph, sentence on structure
    Subhashitas in Sanskrit are short memorable verses, typically in four padas (verses) but sometimes just two; but their structure follows a meter.
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