Shloka 74

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

पन्थान इव विप्रेन्द्र सर्वसाधारणाः श्रियः / मदीया इति मत्वा वै न हि हर्षयुतो भवेत्

Transliteration

panthāna iva viprendra sarvasādhāraṇāḥ śriyaḥ / madīyā iti matvā vai na hi harṣayuto bhavet

Translation

يا أفضلَ البراهمة، إنّ النِّعَمَ والازدهارَ مشاعٌ للناس جميعًا كالسُّبُلِ العامّة. فلا يَنبغي لمن ظنَّ «هذا لي» أن يَغتبطَ ويَطغى فرحًا.

Word by Word

• पन्थानः: roads, paths
• पन्थानः: Upamāna (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• इव: like, as
• इव: Sambandha (Comparative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• विप्रेन्द्र: O best of Brahmins
• विप्रेन्द्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• सर्वसाधारणाः: common to all
• सर्वसाधारणाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + साधारण (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय-समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (श्रियः इति विशेष्य)

• श्रियः: prosperities, fortunes
• श्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• मदीयाः: mine, belonging to me
• मदीयाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (श्रियः इति विशेष्य)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-प्रयोगः (quotative particle)

• मत्वा: having thought
• मत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial to main verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having thought/considered)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• हि: for, indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/causal particle)

• हर्षयुतः: endowed with joy
• हर्षयुतः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्ष + युत (प्रातिपदिक; तत्पुरुष-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (अध्याहृतः ‘जनः/सः’)

• भवेत्: should be, would become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prosperity is not truly ‘mine’; avoid elation born of ownership-illusion.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā of worldly gains; ahaṅkāra-mamatā as bondage; cultivation of samatva.

Application: Practice gratitude without pride; treat wealth/status as stewardship; restrain celebration that turns into arrogance; give generously and remain even-minded in gain/loss.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring nīti/vairāgya passages on impermanence of wealth and non-attachment (general thematic parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment from wealth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that wealth is not a permanent personal possession; since it is “common like a road,” one should avoid ego and excessive exhilaration over it.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By discouraging possessiveness and pride, it points to inner non-attachment—an essential mindset for the soul’s journey, where worldly wealth cannot be carried forward.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat success and money as temporary stewardship, not identity; stay humble, share responsibly, and avoid arrogance when fortune increases.