Shloka 7

Sat-saṅga, Dharma-Nīti, Karma-Phala, Śauca, and Vairāgya

Overcoming Grief

Devanagari script

वल्मीकं मधुजालञ्च शुक्लण्क्षे तु चन्द्रमाः / राजद्रव्यञ्च भैक्ष्यञ्च स्तोकंस्तोकं प्रवर्धते

Transliteration

valmīkaṃ madhujālañca śuklaṇkṣe tu candramāḥ / rājadravyañca bhaikṣyañca stokaṃstokaṃ pravardhate

Translation

كما تنمو كومةُ النمل وقرصُ العسل شيئًا فشيئًا، كذلك يزداد القمر في النصف المضيء من الشهر. وعلى هذا المنوال تزداد ثروةُ الملك، وحتى الصدقةُ التي تُنال بالسؤال، زيادةً متدرجةً قطرةً بعد قطرة.

Word by Word

• वल्मीकम्: anthill
• वल्मीकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्मीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• मधुजालम्: honeycomb
• मधुजालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मधुनः जालम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शुक्लपक्षे: in the bright fortnight
• शुक्लपक्षे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (शुक्लः पक्षः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• चन्द्रमाः: the moon
• चन्द्रमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्रमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• राजद्रव्यम्: royal wealth/treasure
• राजद्रव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः द्रव्यम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भैक्ष्यम्: alms/begging (subsistence)
• भैक्ष्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्तोकम्: little
• स्तोकम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• स्तोकम्: by little (gradually)
• स्तोकम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

• प्रवर्धते: increases/grows
• प्रवर्धते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Incremental accumulation: prosperity and sustenance grow drop by drop through steady causes.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as orderly causation (niyati) in the empirical world; fruits arise gradually from repeated action.

Application: Practice consistent saving, giving, and disciplined livelihood; do not despise small gains or small daily efforts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dana-mahatmya and sadachara passages emphasizing daily practice and gradual merit

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘stokaṃ stokaṃ’ (little by little) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes accumulation: outcomes—material or moral—build through repeated small additions, just as the moon waxes and natural structures grow over time.

How does this verse relate to karma and the soul’s journey in the Garuda Purana?

It supports the Garuda Purana’s karma framework: subtle results accrue gradually from repeated actions, shaping one’s condition and experiences after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice steady discipline—small daily charity, truthful conduct, and consistent sadhana—because lasting change comes through incremental accumulation.