Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

तन्मङ्गलं यत्र मनः प्रसन्नं तज्जीवनं यन्न परस्य सेवा / तदर्जितं यत्स्वजनेन भुक्तं तद्गर्जितं यत्समरे रिपूणाम्

Transliteration

tanmaṅgalaṃ yatra manaḥ prasannaṃ tajjīvanaṃ yanna parasya sevā / tadarjitaṃ yatsvajanena bhuktaṃ tadgarjitaṃ yatsamare ripūṇām

Translation

مباركٌ هو الموضعُ الذي يصفو فيه القلبُ ويطمئنّ. والحياةُ الحقّةُ هي ألا يكون المرءُ في تبعيّةٍ ذليلةٍ لغيره. والمالُ المكتسَبُ حقًّا هو ما يهنأ به أهلُه وذووه. وأما زئيرُ البأسِ الحقّ فهو ما يُبدى في ساحةِ القتالِ على الأعداء.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshya (Correlative/अन्वय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• maṅgalam: auspiciousness
• maṅgalam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-अव्यय (relative adverb: 'where')

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• prasannam: calm, pleased
• prasannam: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with manaḥ)

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshya (Correlative/अन्वय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• jīvanam: life
• jīvanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• yat: which
• yat: Visheshya (Relative/यद्-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• parasya: of another
• parasya: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; 'other/person'

• sevā: service
• sevā: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sevā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshya (Correlative/अन्वय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• arjitam: earned, acquired
• arjitam: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √arj (धातु) + arjita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; 'earned'

• yat: which
• yat: Visheshya (Relative/यद्-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• svajanena: by one’s own people
• svajanena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svajana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; 'one’s own people/kinsman'

• bhuktam: enjoyed
• bhuktam: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bhuj (धातु) + bhukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; 'enjoyed/consumed'

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshya (Correlative/अन्वय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• garjitam: roar, boast
• garjitam: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √garj (धातु) + garjita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; 'roaring/boast' (as noun)

• yat: which
• yat: Visheshya (Relative/यद्-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• ripūṇām: of enemies
• ripūṇām: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspiciousness and true worth are measured by inner composure, independence from servility, rightful earning shared with one’s own, and courage directed toward rightful opposition.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-prasada as the basis of mangala; dignity (svatantrya) and right action as supports for sattva.

Application: Cultivate mental serenity; avoid degrading dependence; earn honestly and support family/community; show courage in protecting dharma rather than in empty boasting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma-niti sections): recurring aphorisms on self-control, non-servility, and valor

FAQs

What is the importance of mental serenity (prasanna manaḥ) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats inner clarity and calmness as the mark of true auspiciousness, implying that dharmic living is validated by a mind that becomes peaceful rather than agitated.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana’s broader teaching?

While not describing afterlife mechanics directly, it lays the ethical foundation—right conduct, non-servile living, and dharmic courage—that supports punya (merit) and a steadier journey after death as taught elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose environments and habits that make the mind calm, pursue dignified work over degrading dependence, earn in a way your family can sustainably benefit from, and show courage when confronting injustice or harmful forces.