Shloka 2

Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma

Devanagari script

त्यजेदकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् / ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत्

Transliteration

tyajedakaṃ kulasyārthe grāmasyārthe kulaṃ tyajet / grāmaṃ janapadasyārthe ātmārthe pṛthivīṃ tyajet

Translation

Zum Wohl der Familie kann man einen Einzelnen aufgeben; zum Wohl des Dorfes kann man die Familie aufgeben; zum Wohl des Landes kann man das Dorf aufgeben; und zum Wohl des Ātman, des wahren Selbst, soll man sogar die ganze Erde entsagen.

Word by Word

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एकम्: one (person/thing)
• एकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• कुलस्य: of the family
• कुलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• अर्थे: for the sake of
• अर्थे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ-सप्तमी

• ग्रामस्य: of the village
• ग्रामस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• अर्थे: for the sake of
• अर्थे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ-सप्तमी

• कुलम्: family
• कुलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ग्रामम्: village
• ग्रामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• जनपदस्य: of the country/region
• जनपदस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• अर्थे: for the sake of
• अर्थे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ-सप्तमी

• आत्मार्थे: for one’s own sake
• आत्मार्थे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः अर्थः)

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Graded sacrifice for higher goods; ultimate value is atma-artha (the Self’s highest good), surpassing all social and territorial attachments.

Vedantic Theme: Atma-parama; disidentification from upadhis (person, family, community, polity, world).

Application: Clarify values: sacrifice lesser commitments for greater responsibilities; for spiritual realization, be ready to relinquish status, property, and identity-attachments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: settlement/region/world

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: vairagya and niti passages that prepare the listener for death-awareness and liberation-oriented counsel

FAQs

What is the importance of prioritization in Garuda Purana?

This verse lays out a graded scale of sacrifice—personal, familial, social, and political—culminating in the highest priority: the welfare of the Self (ātman), which surpasses all external possessions and attachments.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By placing ātmārtha above all worldly identities (family, village, nation, earth), it points the seeker toward inner liberation and detachment—the orientation needed for the soul’s highest good beyond transient social bonds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Make decisions by higher principles: protect larger welfare over narrow interests, and reserve ultimate allegiance for inner integrity and spiritual growth—so duty is guided by conscience and the pursuit of lasting well-being.