Shloka 51
Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma
तर्के ऽप्रतिष्ठा श्रुतयो विभिन्नाः नासावृषिर्यस्य मतं न भिन्नम् / धर्मस्य तत्त्वं निहितं गुहायां महाजनो येन गतः स पन्थाः
tarke 'pratiṣṭhā śrutayo vibhinnāḥ nāsāvṛṣiryasya mataṃ na bhinnam / dharmasya tattvaṃ nihitaṃ guhāyāṃ mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ
Das Denken findet keinen letzten Halt, und die Śruti sind vielfältig; kein Ṛṣi ist wahrhaft Ṛṣi, wenn seine Ansicht nicht eigenständig ist. Das Wesen des Dharma liegt verborgen in einer Höhle des Geheimnisses; darum ist der Weg der, den die Großen (Mahājanas) gegangen sind.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)
Concept: Pure reasoning is inconclusive and texts vary; dharma is subtle—therefore rely on the path trodden by the great (mahājanas) and realized tradition.
Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa-vicāra: śabda-pramāṇa and sadācāra of āptas; dharma-sūkṣmatā; guru/paramparā as guide when tarka conflicts.
Application: When ethical dilemmas are complex, consult trustworthy exemplars/teachers, lived traditions, and community-tested norms; cultivate humility about one’s arguments; prioritize integrity over novelty.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: inner realm (hṛdaya-guhā)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (nīti on dharma and discernment)
FAQs
This verse teaches that when logic and scriptures appear conflicting, dharma is best understood by following the lived example of recognized great authorities (mahājanas) who embody the tradition.
Indirectly, it frames spiritual progress as requiring reliable guidance: the soul’s welfare depends on dharma, and dharma is discerned not by argument alone but by the proven path upheld by realized exemplars.
When unsure about right action, prioritize sincere practice grounded in authentic lineage/teachers and time-tested dharmic conduct rather than endless debate or purely personal opinion.