Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

अर्थेन किं कृपणहस्तगतेन केन ज्ञानेन किं बहुशठाग्रहसंकुलेन / रूपेण किं गुणपराक्रमवर्जितेन मित्रेण किं व्यसनकालपराङ्मुखेन

Transliteration

arthena kiṃ kṛpaṇahastagatena kena jñānena kiṃ bahuśaṭhāgrahasaṃkulena / rūpeṇa kiṃ guṇaparākramavarjitena mitreṇa kiṃ vyasanakālaparāṅmukhena

Translation

Wozu taugt Reichtum, wenn er in der Hand eines Geizhalses liegt? Wozu taugt Wissen, wenn es in vielerlei trügerischer Verstocktheit verstrickt ist? Wozu taugt Schönheit ohne Tugend und Tapferkeit? Und wozu taugt ein Freund, der sich in der Not abwendet?

Word by Word

• अर्थेन: with wealth; by wealth
• अर्थेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle), अर्थे—'किं प्रयोजनम्'

• कृपणहस्तगतेन: that is in a miser’s hand
• कृपणहस्तगतेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपण + हस्त + गत (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—कृपण-हस्त-गत (gone into a miser's hand)

• केन: with what (use)?
• केन: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle), अर्थे—'किं प्रयोजनम्'

• ज्ञानेन: with knowledge
• ज्ञानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle), अर्थे—'किं प्रयोजनम्'

• बहुशठाग्रहसंकुलेन: full of many deceitful obstinacies
• बहुशठाग्रहसंकुलेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + शठ + आग्रह + संकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—बहु-शठ-आग्रह-संकुल (crowded with many deceitful obstinacies)

• रूपेण: with beauty; by form
• रूपेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle), अर्थे—'किं प्रयोजनम्'

• गुणपराक्रमवर्जितेन: devoid of virtue and valor
• गुणपराक्रमवर्जितेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + पराक्रम + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—गुण-पराक्रम-वर्जित (devoid of virtues and valor)

• मित्रेण: with a friend
• मित्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle), अर्थे—'किं प्रयोजनम्'

• व्यसनकालपराङ्मुखेन: who turns away in times of trouble
• व्यसनकालपराङ्मुखेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यसन + काल + पराङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—व्यसन-काल-पराङ्मुख (turned away at the time of calamity)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Wealth, learning, beauty, and friendship are worthless when corrupted by miserliness, deceit, lack of virtue/valor, or abandonment in adversity.

Vedantic Theme: Sāra-asāra-viveka (discerning essence vs. non-essence); guṇa over mere upādhi (external attributes).

Application: Evaluate people and pursuits by character and reliability; invest in virtue, competence, and loyal relationships rather than appearances or credentials alone.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (nīti on true worth and testing of relations)

FAQs

What is the importance of virtue over wealth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that wealth has little value when controlled by miserliness; without right use and generosity aligned with dharma, possessions do not become meaningful or beneficial.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing virtue, courage, and steadfast character over mere externals, it points to the inner qualities that shape one’s karmic trajectory—what truly accompanies the soul rather than superficial assets.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use resources generously and responsibly, pursue learning with integrity (not stubborn deceit), cultivate virtue alongside appearance, and value friends who stand by you in difficult times.