Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अपि कल्पानिलस्यैव तुरगस्य महोदधेः / शक्यते प्रसरो बोद्धुं न ह्यरक्तस्ये चतसः

Transliteration

api kalpānilasyaiva turagasya mahodadheḥ / śakyate prasaro boddhuṃ na hyaraktasye catasaḥ

Translation

قد يُدرَك مدى الريح الممتدة عبر الدهور، أو عَدْوُ الفرس السريع، أو سَعةُ المحيط العظيم؛ أمّا سُبُلُ من لا يملك تَعبُّدًا وإخلاصًا فلا تُفهَم على الحقيقة.

Word by Word

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावनार्थक/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (even/also)

• कल्प-अनिलस्य: of the aeon-wind (mighty wind)
• कल्प-अनिलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + anila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (kalpaḥ anilaḥ = world-age wind)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• तुरगस्य: of a horse
• तुरगस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: turaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महोदधेः: of the great ocean
• महोदधेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + udadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (mahān udadhiḥ = great ocean)

• शक्यते: is possible
• शक्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive); आत्मनेपद

• प्रसरः: extent, range
• प्रसरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बोद्धुम्: to know, to understand
• बोद्धुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive/तुमन्त), परस्मैपद-धातु

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• अरक्तस्य: of one who is not attached/unloving
• अरक्तस्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: araktá (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of implied person)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• तसः: of his inner disposition/heart
• तसः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दुर्लभ-प्रातिपदिक (context: ‘mind/heart’ or ‘intent’—textual variant possible)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The conduct/trajectory of the अरक्त (unattached/without devotion—contextually ‘without loving attachment/faith’) is difficult to comprehend; devotion/steadfast attachment makes one intelligible and reliable.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva vs rajas/tamas: steadiness born of śraddhā/bhakti; the unstable mind is hard to ‘measure’ like an ocean.

Application: Value consistency rooted in faith and principles; cultivate śraddhā and disciplined practice to become steady; be cautious in relying on those lacking commitment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic/natural expanse (ocean, wind, swift horse as metaphors)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.4 (trust and reliability); Garuda Purana 1.114.5-6 (faults and senses undermining steadiness)

FAQs

What is the importance of devotion (rakti/bhakti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that without inner devotion/commitment to dharma, a person’s motives and actions become difficult to grasp and unreliable—highlighting devotion as a stabilizing force for righteous conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it points to the inner orientation that shapes one’s karmic trajectory: a devoted, dharmic mind is intelligible and aligned, whereas an undevoted mind tends toward confused action, affecting one’s post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady commitment to dharma—through sincerity in worship, ethical habits, and self-restraint—so actions become consistent, trustworthy, and karmically beneficial.