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Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

किं जीवितेन धनमानविवर्जितेन मित्रेण किं भवति भीतिसशङ्कितेन / सिंहव्रतं चरत गच्छत मा विषादं काको ऽपि जीवति चिरं च बलिं च भुङ्क्ते

Transliteration

kiṃ jīvitena dhanamānavivarjitena mitreṇa kiṃ bhavati bhītisaśaṅkitena / siṃhavrataṃ carata gacchata mā viṣādaṃ kāko 'pi jīvati ciraṃ ca baliṃ ca bhuṅkte

Translation

ما نفع الحياة بلا مالٍ ولا شرف؟ وما نفع صديقٍ يضطرب خوفًا وشكًّا؟ اسلك عزمَ الأسد—تقدّم ولا تيأس؛ فحتى الغراب يعيش طويلًا ويأكل نصيبه من القرابين (بَلي).

Word by Word
किम्what? (of what use?)
किम्:
Prayojana/Prashna (Interrogative)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun, neuter)
जीवितेनwith life; by living
जीवितेन:
Karana (Instrument/means)
TypeNoun
Rootjīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)
धनमानविवर्जितेनdevoid of wealth and honor
धनमानविवर्जितेन:
Visheshana (Qualifier of जीवितेन)
TypeAdjective
Rootdhana (प्रातिपदिक) + māna (प्रातिपदिक) + vivarjita (कृदन्त; वि+वर्ज् धातु, क्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'धन' च 'मान' च ताभ्यां विवर्जितः इति (devoid of wealth and honor)
मित्रेणwith a friend
मित्रेण:
Karana (Instrument/means)
TypeNoun
Rootmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)
किम्what? (what use?)
किम्:
Prayojana/Prashna (Interrogative)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम
भवतिis/comes to be
भवति:
Kriya (Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
भीतिसशङ्कितेनwith one who is fearful/suspicious
भीतिसशङ्कितेन:
Visheshana (Qualifier of मित्रेण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhīti (प्रातिपदिक) + saśaṅkita (कृदन्त; शङ्क् धातु, क्त; स-उपसर्ग/सहभाव)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भीत्या सशङ्कितः (fearful and suspicious)
सिंहव्रतम्the lion’s vow (lion-like resolve)
सिंहव्रतम्:
Karma (Object of चरत)
TypeNoun
Rootsiṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सिंहस्य व्रतम् (lion-like vow/resolve)
चरतpractice; follow
चरत:
Kriya (Imperative)
TypeVerb
Rootचर् (धातु)
Formलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
गच्छतgo; proceed
गच्छत:
Kriya (Imperative)
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु)
Formलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
माdo not
मा:
Nishedha (Prohibition marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootmā (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (prohibitive particle)
विषादम्despondency; grief
विषादम्:
Karma (Object of implied 'कुरुत/गच्छत' with मा)
TypeNoun
Rootviṣāda (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (accusative singular)
काकःa crow
काकः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootkāka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (nominative singular)
अपिeven; also
अपि:
Sambandha (Emphasis/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: even/also)
जीवतिlives
जीवति:
Kriya (Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootजीव् (धातु)
Formलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
चिरम्for a long time
चिरम्:
Kala-adhikarana (Temporal adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootcira (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
Formकालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)
चand
च:
Samuccaya (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)
बलिम्offering; food morsel
बलिम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootbali (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (accusative singular)
चand
च:
Samuccaya (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)
भुङ्क्तेeats; enjoys
भुङ्क्ते:
Kriya (Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootभुज् (धातु)
Formलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra; proverbial teaching tone)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Utsaha (lion-like resolve) and avoidance of despair; life gains meaning through honor, purposeful striving, and fearless action rather than timid survival.

Vedantic Theme: Purushartha-viveka; tamas (vishada) as a binding tendency to be overcome by sattvic courage.

Application: Choose courageous, value-aligned action; avoid fear-driven alliances; cultivate resilience and self-respect in livelihood and duty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.115.36 (trivarga-shunya life as non-life); Garuda Purana 1.115.37 (paradhinata as living death)

FAQs

This verse praises steadfast courage and forward action—urging one to abandon fear-based hesitation and live with confident discipline, which supports dharmic conduct.

Indirectly, it supports the broader Garuda Purana ethic: fear and weakness obstruct right action, while steady resolve helps one live righteously—shaping karma that influences one’s post-death journey.

Avoid paralysis from anxiety and negative counsel; cultivate disciplined courage, act ethically, and persist—like a “lion’s vow”—even in adverse circumstances.

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