Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma
कोर्ऽथं प्राप्य न गर्वितो भुवि नरः कस्यापदोनागताः स्त्रीभिः कस्य न खण्डितं भुवि मनः को नाम राज्ञां प्रियः / कः कालस्य न गोचरान्तरगतः कोर्ऽथो गतो गौरवं को वा दुर्जनवागुरानिपतितः क्षेमेण यातः पुमान्
kor'thaṃ prāpya na garvito bhuvi naraḥ kasyāpadonāgatāḥ strībhiḥ kasya na khaṇḍitaṃ bhuvi manaḥ ko nāma rājñāṃ priyaḥ / kaḥ kālasya na gocarāntaragataḥ kor'tho gato gauravaṃ ko vā durjanavāgurānipatitaḥ kṣemeṇa yātaḥ pumān
Welcher Mensch auf Erden ist, nachdem er Wohlstand erlangt hat, nicht hochmütig geworden? Zu wem sind keine Unheile gekommen? Wessen Geist ist nicht durch Frauen gebrochen worden? Wer ist den Königen wahrhaft lieb? Wer ist nicht in den Bereich der Zeit gefallen und in einen anderen Zustand fortgetragen worden? Welcher Reichtum hat je seinen Glanz bewahrt? Und wer, in die Falle der Bösen geraten, ist heil davongegangen?
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Universality of pride after success, inevitability of calamity, instability of royal favor, inescapability of Time, fading of wealth’s glory, and danger of wicked traps.
Vedantic Theme: Kāla as all-devouring; anityatā of artha and rājaprasāda; duḥkha-doṣa-darśana fostering vairāgya and discrimination.
Application: Hold success lightly; avoid dependence on political favor; anticipate change; practice ethical caution with manipulators; invest in inner stability (values, devotion, knowledge).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: courtly/social world
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (extended rhetorical nīti on kāla, artha, rāja, strī, durjana)
This verse stresses that wealth, status, and relationships are unstable—pride and dependence on them lead to suffering, so one should cultivate detachment and dharmic conduct.
By highlighting Kala’s inescapable reach and constant change, it points the listener away from temporary worldly supports and toward spiritual preparedness and righteous living.
Treat success as temporary, expect reversals without panic, avoid seeking validation from power, be cautious of manipulative people, and anchor decisions in ethics and self-discipline.