Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

विषादप्यमृतं ग्राह्यममेध्यादपि काञ्चनम् / नीचादप्युत्तमां विद्यां स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलादपि

Transliteration

viṣādapyamṛtaṃ grāhyamamedhyādapi kāñcanam / nīcādapyuttamāṃ vidyāṃ strīratnaṃ duṣkulādapi

Translation

Selbst aus Gift soll man den Nektar annehmen; selbst aus Unreinem kann man Gold nehmen. Selbst von einem Niedrigen soll man erhabenes Wissen lernen; und selbst aus einem übel beleumundeten Hause kann man eine Frau, ein Juwel an Tugend, annehmen.

Word by Word

• विषात्: from poison
• विषात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) ‘even’

• अमृतम्: nectar/ambrosia
• अमृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचनम्

• ग्राह्यम्: should be accepted
• ग्राह्यम्: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive)

• अमेध्यात्: from impurity
• अमेध्यात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमेध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) ‘even’

• काञ्चनम्: gold
• काञ्चनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचनम्

• नीचात्: from a low person
• नीचात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) ‘even’

• उत्तमाम्: excellent
• उत्तमाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• विद्याम्: knowledge
• विद्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• स्त्रीरत्नम्: a precious woman
• स्त्रीरत्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• दुष्कुलात्: from a bad family
• दुष्कुलात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) ‘even’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sāra-grahaṇa: take the beneficial essence even from harmful/impure or low-status sources; excellence is not monopolized by birth.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka and vairāgya toward externals; recognition of satya/vidyā as independent of social upādhi.

Application: Seek mentors and knowledge based on competence and virtue; separate message from messenger while maintaining ethical safeguards.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110.7 (parallel list of ‘accept the good’ maxims); Garuda Purana 1.110.6 (contrast: do not seize dangerous allure; here: extract benefit with discernment)

FAQs

What is the importance of discernment in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that dharmic discernment values the essence (virtue, truth, knowledge) over the source, encouraging one to accept what is truly beneficial even when it appears in unlikely or socially disfavored places.

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

Indirectly, it supports the broader Garuda Purana ethic that right understanding (vidyā) and virtuous choices shape one’s karma; cultivating discernment is part of living dharma that influences one’s post-death outcome.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Evaluate teachings, opportunities, and people by character and truth rather than labels—adopt good counsel wherever found, while rejecting harmful elements even if they come from prestigious sources.