Shloka 14

Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā

Devanagari script

वने ऽपि सिंहा न नमन्ति कं च बुभु क्षिता मांसनिरीक्षणं च / धनैर्विहीनाः सुकुलेषु जाता न नीचकर्माणि समारभन्ते

Transliteration

vane 'pi siṃhā na namanti kaṃ ca bubhu kṣitā māṃsanirīkṣaṇaṃ ca / dhanairvihīnāḥ sukuleṣu jātā na nīcakarmāṇi samārabhante

Translation

حتى في الغابة لا ينحني الأسد لأحد؛ وإن جاع فلا يطلب إلا اللحم. وكذلك من وُلد في بيوتٍ شريفة—وإن حُرم المال—لا يُقدم على أعمالٍ دنيئةٍ مُهينة.

Word by Word

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), अर्थः ‘even/also’

• सिंहाः: lions
• सिंहाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

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

• नमन्ति: bow
• नमन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• कम्: anyone
• कम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; अनिर्दिष्ट-प्रश्न/अन्य (indefinite ‘anyone’)

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

• बुभुक्षिताः: hungry
• बुभुक्षिताः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुभुक्षित (कृदन्त; √भुज्/भुक्ष् इति धातु-सम्भव)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त/विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘hungry’

• मांस: meat
• मांस: Compound member (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• निरीक्षणम्: looking at
• निरीक्षणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरीक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धनैः: by/with wealth
• धनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• विहीनाः: devoid (of)
• विहीनाः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विहीन (कृदन्त; √हा (धातु) + वि- उपसर्ग)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त/विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘deprived of’

• सुकुलेषु: in good families
• सुकुलेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• जाताः: born
• जाताः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात (कृदन्त; √जन् (धातु))
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘born’

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• नीच: base/low
• नीच: Compound member (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• कर्माणि: base deeds
• कर्माणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः ‘नीचकर्म’ (कर्मधारय)

• समारभन्ते: undertake
• समारभन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kulaja (noble-born) character holds to maryada even in poverty; true nature is shown in crisis.

Vedantic Theme: Svabhava and samskara shaping conduct; sattva as inner strength independent of external wealth.

Application: Maintain ethical boundaries under financial stress; refuse degrading means of livelihood; cultivate inner dignity and disciplined desire.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma-niti sections): praise of satpurusha-lakshana and condemnation of nicha-karman

FAQs

What is the importance of noble conduct (dharma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that true dharma is tested in hardship: even without wealth, a person of good character refuses degrading actions and preserves integrity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing restraint from nīca karma, it points to the karmic principle central to the Garuda Purana: actions shape consequences, and ethical discipline supports an auspicious post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain dignity under pressure—avoid unethical shortcuts for money, choose honest work, and let character (not circumstances) determine your decisions.