[1] It contains the flag of Nepal, Mount Everest, green hills symbolising the hilly regions of Nepal and yellow colour symbolising the fertile Terai region, male and female hands joining to symbolise gender equality, and a garland of Rhododendron (the national flower) also called Lali Guransh (लाली गुराँश).

At the base of the design a red scroll carries the national motto in Sanskrit: जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपी गरीयसी (Jananī Janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasī), which translates as 'Mother and Motherland are greater than Heaven.

'[2] The phrase below was quoted by Rama when his brother Lakshmana expresses desire to stay back in Lanka.

Before 28 May 2008, the modern emblem was preceded by an arms of dominion of the monarch, generally consisting of a white cow, a green pheasant, two Gurkha soldiers (one carrying a kukri and a bow; the other a rifle), peaks of the Himalayas, two crossed Nepalese flags and kukris, the footprints of Gorakhnath (the guardian deity of the Gurkhas), and the royal headdress.

From 1935 to 1962, the arms also bore the secondary motto in Latin: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.