Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

बालातपः प्रेतधूमः स्त्री वृद्धा तरुणं दधि / आयुष्कामो न सेवेत तथा संमार्जनीरजः

Transliteration

bālātapaḥ pretadhūmaḥ strī vṛddhā taruṇaṃ dadhi / āyuṣkāmo na seveta tathā saṃmārjanīrajaḥ

Translation

Wer langes Leben begehrt, meide: die raue, noch „junge“ Sonnenhitze (balātapa), den mit den Toten verbundenen Rauch (pretadhūma), eine alte Frau, frisch bereiteten Quark/geronnene Milch und ebenso den beim Kehren aufgewirbelten Staub.

Word by Word

• बाल-आतपः: mild/early sunlight
• बाल-आतपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + आतप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (बालः आतपः)

• प्रेत-धूमः: smoke of a corpse/funeral smoke
• प्रेत-धूमः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + धूम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रेतस्य धूमः)

• स्त्री: a woman
• स्त्री: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वृद्धा: old
• वृद्धा: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• तरुणम्: fresh, young
• तरुणम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दधि: curd, yogurt
• दधि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आयुः-कामः: one desiring long life
• आयुः-कामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आयुषः कामः)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• सेवेत: should use/associate with
• सेवेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus/likewise)

• संमार्जनी-रजः: dust from sweeping/broom-dust
• संमार्जनी-रजः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संमार्जनी (प्रातिपदिक) + रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (संमार्जन्याः रजः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āyuḥ-rakṣaṇa through avoidance of inauspicious/impure exposures; nimitta and śauca as life-supporting disciplines.

Vedantic Theme: Prāṇa and sattva are protected by regulated conduct; avoidance of tamasic influences supports clarity and vitality.

Application: Avoid smoke/fumes (especially from funerary contexts), dusty sweeping exposure, and other listed contacts when seeking health; interpret as a broader rule: reduce pollutants, contagion risk, and destabilizing influences.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/cremation-adjacent social space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.39 (auspicious loci); Garuda Purana 1.114.41-43 (dust auspicious/inauspicious; sin-destroying vs sin-causing)

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding preta-dhūma (funeral/cremation smoke) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats preta-dhūma as inauspicious and connected with impurity (aśauca); avoiding it is presented as supportive of āyuḥ (longevity) and purity of daily living.

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

Indirectly: by mentioning “preta” it echoes the text’s broader concern with death-related states and purity rules, emphasizing that the living should maintain śauca and avoid death-associated influences while pursuing a long, dharmic life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and avoid unhealthy exposures (smoke, dust), follow respectful boundaries around death rites, and adopt disciplined daily habits aimed at health and longevity.