Shloka 21

Nīti-Upadeśa: Discernment, Proper Use of Resources, and Social Strategy

Devanagari script

उपकारगृहीतेन शत्रुणा शत्रुमुद्धरेत् / पादलग्नं करस्थेन कण्टकेनैव कण्टकम्

Transliteration

upakāragṛhītena śatruṇā śatrumuddharet / pādalagnaṃ karasthena kaṇṭakenaiva kaṇṭakam

Translation

يُغلَب العدوّ بوساطة عدوٍّ آخر قد قُيِّد بفضلٍ ناله؛ كما تُنزع الشوكة العالقة في القدم بشوكةٍ تُمسَك باليد.

Word by Word

• उपकारगृहीतेन: by/with an enemy who has received a favor
• उपकारगृहीतेन: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपकार + गृहीत (ग्रह् धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः: उपकार-गृहीत (तत्पुरुष: ‘उपकारं गृहीतः’ = one who has received a favor)

• शत्रुणा: by an enemy
• शत्रुणा: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• शत्रुम्: the enemy
• शत्रुम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उद्धरेत्: should lift/rescue/remove
• उद्धरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पादलग्नम्: stuck in the foot
• पादलग्नम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद + लग्न (लग् धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः: पाद-लग्न (तत्पुरुष: ‘पादे लग्नम्’ = stuck in the foot)

• करस्थेन: with (one) held in the hand
• करस्थेन: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर + स्थ (स्था धातु, क्त/निष्ठा-आधारित विशेषण)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः: कर-स्थ (तत्पुरुष: ‘करे स्थितः’ = held in the hand)

• कण्टकेन: with a thorn
• कण्टकेन: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कण्टकम्: a thorn
• कण्टकम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Use a rival bound by gratitude (upakāra-gṛhīta) as an instrument to neutralize another enemy—like removing a thorn with a thorn.

Vedantic Theme: Upāya-kauśalya (skillful means) within dharma; acting without naïveté while minimizing harm.

Application: Leverage aligned incentives and reciprocal obligations; build coalitions; resolve conflicts using proportional, targeted tools rather than blunt force.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110 (nīti section: counsel on enemies, timing, and prudence)

FAQs

What is the importance of strategic wisdom in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames strategy as a dharmic tool: even in conflict, one may use an adversary bound by gratitude to neutralize a greater threat, like removing a thorn with another thorn.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it offers worldly ethical-practical counsel within the broader Garuda Purana discourse.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Resolve conflicts by leveraging lawful, ethical alliances and obligations—using appropriate means to remove harm without escalating needless violence.