दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम् । मौनं चैवास्मि गुह्यानां ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामहम् ॥
daṇḍo damayatāmasmi nītirasmi jigīṣatām | maunaṃ caivāsmi guhyānāṃ jñānaṃ jñānavatāmaham ||
Translation
Among punishments, I am the rod of chastisement. Among those who seek victory, I am statecraft. Among secrets, I am silence. Among the wise, I am wisdom.
Interpretation
The divine in governance: danda (the rod of authority, the principle of righteous discipline) among those who must enforce order. Among those seeking victory and excellence (jigishatam), the Divine is niti — statecraft, wisdom in governance and strategy. Among secrets and hidden things, the Divine is silence (maunam) — the great secret that cannot be spoken, the wordless truth. And among the jnanavatam (those who have wisdom), the Divine is jnana itself — wisdom, the highest knowing.