नागणस्याग्रतो गच्छेत्सिद्धे कार्ये समं फलम्

नागणस्याग्रतो गच्छेत्सिद्धे कार्ये समं फलम्।

यदि कार्यविपत्तिः स्यान्मुखरस्तत्र हन्यते॥

हितोपदेशे॥

nāgaṇasyāgrato gacchetsiddhe kārye samaṁ phalam|

yadi kāryavipattiḥ syānmukharastatra hanyate||

hitopadeśe||

A very pragmatic advice we get from HItopadesham

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One should never try to occupy the lead or be in the forefront of any group.

If the activities of the group yield favourable results, the credit will be claimed and shared equally by all in the group.

( The one who stood in the first row is not getting any special benefit)

However if the desired objects of the group get thwarted and the activities go haywire, the person in the forefront will have to take the brunt of the attack and could become a victim too.

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Analysis of words

नरः a man

गणस्य अग्रतो in the lead of a group

न गच्छेत् should not go, should not occupy

कार्ये सिद्धे if the purpose is served

समं फलं the benefit is same (for the one in the front or the one in the back.. no special benefit for the one who led)

यदि if

कार्यविपत्तिः setback or failure to the objective

स्यात् happens

तत्र then and there

मुखरः हन्यते the one who led is just finished off..