Shloka 24

Nīti-Upadeśa: Discernment, Proper Use of Resources, and Social Strategy

Devanagari script

कार्यकालोचितापापा मतिः सञ्जायते हि वै / सानुकूले तु दैवे शं पुंसः सर्वत्र जायते

Transliteration

kāryakālocitāpāpā matiḥ sañjāyate hi vai / sānukūle tu daive śaṃ puṃsaḥ sarvatra jāyate

Translation

Wahrlich, wenn die rechte Zeit zum Handeln gekommen ist, entsteht eine angemessene, nicht sündhafte Einsicht. Und wenn das Geschick (daiva) günstig ist, erwachsen dem Menschen überall Wohlergehen und Erfolg.

Word by Word

• कार्यकालोचितापापा: not sinful when suited to the proper time for action
• कार्यकालोचितापापा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य + काल + उचित + अपापा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः: कार्य-काल-उचित-अपापा (= not sinful when appropriate to the time of action)

• मतिः: intelligence/resolve
• मतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सञ्जायते: arises/is produced
• सञ्जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/for)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/emphatic)

• स-अनुकूले: when (it is) favorable
• स-अनुकूले: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अनुकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावसमासः: स-अनुकूले (= when favorable)

• तु: but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: व्यतिरेक/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (but/however)

• दैवे: in/with fate
• दैवे: Adhikarana (Location/condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शम्: welfare/auspiciousness
• शम्: Karman/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd; here as result-noun), एकवचन

• पुंसः: of a man/person
• पुंसः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: everywhere)

• जायते: is born/arises
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When the proper time for action arrives, a fitting non-sinful understanding arises; with favorable destiny, success and well-being manifest widely.

Vedantic Theme: Harmony of kāla, daiva, and puruṣakāra; sattvic buddhi arising when inner readiness meets outer conditions.

Application: Act when conditions are ripe; cultivate ethical discernment so that when opportunity comes, decisions are clean and effective; prepare skills and character in advance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110 (nīti: kāla, daiva, and right action)

Characters & Entities

• Daiva (Destiny)

FAQs

What is the importance of right timing (kāryakāla) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that when the proper moment for a duty arrives, a person naturally gains a clear, dharmic (non-sinful) resolve—implying that timing supports right judgment and correct action.

How does this verse relate destiny (daiva) to human outcomes?

It states that when daiva is favorable, auspicious results and well-being manifest broadly for a person, indicating that effort is strengthened when providence aligns with one’s karmic conditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Wait for the right context before acting, choose options that are clearly non-harmful (apāpa), and cultivate patience—recognizing that favorable conditions amplify success, while unfavorable periods call for restraint and dharmic steadiness.