Shloka 31

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

सद्यः पक्रघृतं द्राक्षा बाला स्त्री क्षीरभोजनम् / उष्णोदकं तरुच्छाया सद्यः प्राणहराणि षट्

Transliteration

sadyaḥ pakraghṛtaṃ drākṣā bālā strī kṣīrabhojanam / uṣṇodakaṃ tarucchāyā sadyaḥ prāṇaharāṇi ṣaṭ

Translation

Sechs Dinge gelten (in empfindlichen Zuständen) als sofort lebensgefährdend: frisch bereitetes Ghee, Trauben, ein sehr junges Mädchen, das Schwelgen in milchbasierten Speisen, heißes Wasser und das Ruhen im Schatten eines Baumes.

Word by Word

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• पक्रघृतम्: cooked/aged ghee
• पक्रघृतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्व+घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—पक्वं घृतम् (कर्मधारय); पाठे ‘पक्र-’ = ‘पक्व-’

• द्राक्षा: grapes
• द्राक्षा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्राक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बाला: a young girl
• बाला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्त्री: woman
• स्त्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• क्षीरभोजनम्: milk-based meal
• क्षीरभोजनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर+भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—क्षीरस्य भोजनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• उष्णोदकम्: hot water
• उष्णोदकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्ण+उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—उष्णम् उदकम् (कर्मधारय)

• तरुच्छाया: shade of a tree
• तरुच्छाया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरु+छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तरूणां छाया (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• प्राणहराणि: life-taking
• प्राणहराणि: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण+हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—प्राणान् हरन्ति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vainateya)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yukti (discernment): even ‘good’ things can be harmful depending on time, constitution, and condition; health rules are contextual, not absolute.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka in practical life; wise discrimination supports steadiness of mind and body for higher pursuits.

Application: Apply individualized regimen: consider season, digestion (agni), illness, and strength before taking rich foods, hot water, or resting in certain environments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: forest/grove

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.30 (six prāṇahara list); Garuda Purana 1.114.32 (seasonal inversion of warm/cool sensations); Garuda Purana 1.114.33 (strength-increasing/draining factors)

FAQs

What is the importance of dietary discipline in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames certain items/conditions as “prāṇa-hara” (life-diminishing), reinforcing that right conduct includes careful regulation of food and comfort to protect vitality and dharmic living.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

Although the Garuda Purana is famous for afterlife themes, it also teaches daily āchāra (conduct). Here, Vishnu highlights practical safeguards for preserving life, which supports one’s ability to perform dharma, rituals, and spiritual practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a cautionary rule: be mindful of diet and exposure (heat/shade) during vulnerable states (illness, weakness, extremes), and follow individualized health guidance rather than indulgence or sudden changes.