Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

त्यजेद्देशमसद्वृत्तं वासं सोपद्रवं त्यजेत् / त्यजेत्कृपणराजानं मित्रं मायामयं त्यजेत्

Transliteration

tyajeddeśamasadvṛttaṃ vāsaṃ sopadravaṃ tyajet / tyajetkṛpaṇarājānaṃ mitraṃ māyāmayaṃ tyajet

Translation

Man soll das Land verlassen, in dem verderbtes Verhalten herrscht; man soll die Wohnstatt meiden, die voller Gefahr und Bedrängnis ist. Man soll sich von einem geizigen König abwenden und einen Freund aufgeben, der aus Trug besteht.

Word by Word

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• देशम्: a place, country
• देशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• असद्वृत्तम्: of bad conduct
• असद्वृत्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत् + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—असद्-वृत्तम् (bad-conducted)

• वासम्: dwelling, residence
• वासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सोपद्रवम्: troublesome, with calamity
• सोपद्रवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + उपद्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—स-उपद्रवम् (with trouble)

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कृपणराजानम्: a miserly king
• कृपणराजानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपण + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कृपण-राजा (miserly king)

• मित्रम्: a friend
• मित्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मायामयम्: deceitful, illusory
• मायामयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—माया-मयम् (made of deceit/illusion)

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Abandon corrupt society, dangerous residence, miserly ruler, and deceitful friendship; choose environments and relations that support dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅga-tyāga (renouncing harmful association) and śuddha-saṅga (seeking purity-supporting company).

Application: Leave exploitative workplaces/communities, unsafe housing, abusive leadership, and manipulative relationships; cultivate trustworthy networks and safe living conditions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: region/household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (nīti on association, safety, and loyalty)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding corrupt places in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats environment and company as direct influences on dharma: staying amid immoral conduct and danger weakens right living, so one should leave to protect virtue and stability.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing ethical choices and associations, it implies that one’s conduct (shaped by place, ruler, and companions) becomes karma—affecting future outcomes described elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Leave settings that normalize unethical behavior, avoid unsafe living conditions, do not depend on exploitative leadership, and distance yourself from manipulative friendships.