Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

विद्याघातो ह्यनभ्यासः स्त्रीणां घातः कुचैलता / व्याधीनां भोजनं जीर्णं शत्रोर्घातः प्रपञ्चता

Transliteration

vidyāghāto hyanabhyāsaḥ strīṇāṃ ghātaḥ kucailatā / vyādhīnāṃ bhojanaṃ jīrṇaṃ śatrorghātaḥ prapañcatā

Translation

Mangel an Übung zerstört das Wissen; für Frauen ist nachlässige Kleidung verderblich; für Kranke ist abgestandene Speise schädlich; und für den Feind wird das eigene Ränkegerede zur Ursache des Sturzes.

Word by Word

• विद्याघातः: destruction of learning
• विद्याघातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विद्यायाः घातः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम् (indeed)

• अनभ्यासः: lack of practice
• अनभ्यासः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• घातः: harm/destruction
• घातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कुचैलता: wearing bad/dirty clothes
• कुचैलता: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कु (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + चैल (प्रातिपदिक) + ता (तद्धित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धित (abstract noun)

• व्याधीनाम्: of diseases
• व्याधीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• भोजनम्: food/eating
• भोजनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जीर्णम्: stale/old/digested
• जीर्णम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त from √जॄ/√जृ (धातु) ‘to decay’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) विशेषणम्

• शत्रोः: of an enemy
• शत्रोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• घातः: harm/destruction
• घातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रपञ्चता: deceit/duplicity/expansive scheming
• प्रपञ्चता: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + ता (तद्धित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धित (abstract noun)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect and impropriety become the immediate ‘slayers’ of one’s own goods—knowledge, reputation, health, and security.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as self-forged consequence (svakarma-phala) operating through ordinary habits; tamas (negligence) as a veiling force.

Application: Maintain abhyasa (regular practice), uphold appropriate decorum, avoid stale/unsuitable diet especially in illness, and restrain boastful or over-clever speech that creates enemies.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (niti/dharma counsel cluster)

FAQs

What is the importance of self-discipline in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames discipline as protection: practice preserves learning, cleanliness safeguards dignity, proper diet supports healing, and restrained speech prevents self-created harm.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it teaches that everyday choices (habit, purity, food, speech) shape one’s dharmic life—foundational for karma that later influences post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep skills alive through regular practice, maintain cleanliness and propriety, give patients fresh and suitable food, and avoid over-complicated or manipulative speech that backfires.