Shloka 9

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

सत्यं मनोरमाः कामाः सत्यं रम्या विभूतयः / किन्तु वै वनितापाङ्गभङ्गिलोलं हि जीवितम्

Transliteration

satyaṃ manoramāḥ kāmāḥ satyaṃ ramyā vibhūtayaḥ / kintu vai vanitāpāṅgabhaṅgilolaṃ hi jīvitam

Translation

Wahr ist, dass Genüsse lieblich sein können; wahr ist, dass Wohlstand und Glanz bezaubern. Doch das Leben selbst ist wahrhaft wankelmütig — bebend und unstet wie der flüchtige Seitenblick einer Frau.

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truly/indeed
• सत्यम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे नपुंसक-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत् (indeclinable-like: ‘truly’)

• मनोरमाः: delightful
• मनोरमाः: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोरम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कामाः-विशेषण

• कामाः: desires/pleasures
• कामाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• सत्यम्: truly
• सत्यम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे क्रियाविशेषणवत् (truly)

• रम्याः: charming
• रम्याः: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विभूतयः-विशेषण

• विभूतयः: splendors/prosperities
• विभूतयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• किन्तु: but
• किन्तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kintu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोधार्थक (but/however)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक (indeed)

• वनितापाङ्गभङ्गिलोलम्: fickle like the sidelong-glance gestures of a woman
• वनितापाङ्गभङ्गिलोलम्: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वनिता + अपाङ्ग + भङ्गि + लोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (वनितायाः अपाङ्गस्य भङ्गिः—तया लोलम्)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (for/indeed)

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pleasures and prosperity may be delightful, but life is unstable; therefore do not rely on transient enjoyments.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya-viveka and vairāgya; preyas is alluring yet unreliable—turn toward śreyas (dharma/bhakti).

Application: Enjoy without clinging; prioritize duties, relationships, and spiritual practice; keep readiness for change and mortality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring motif that wealth, youth, and life are fleeting; dharma alone accompanies the soul (general puranic teaching)

FAQs

What is the importance of impermanence in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that even attractive pleasures and prosperity are unreliable because life itself is unstable; remembering impermanence supports Dharma and spiritual seriousness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting life’s fragility, it prompts timely practice of Dharma and preparation for death-related transitions taught in the Garuda Purana rather than delaying spiritual duties.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Enjoy responsibly but don’t cling—prioritize ethical living, duties to family and society, and regular spiritual practice, recognizing that life can change suddenly.