Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

स्त्रीषु राजाग्निसर्पेषु स्वाध्याये शत्रुसेवने / भोगास्वादेषु विश्वासं कः प्राज्ञः कर्तुमर्हति

Transliteration

strīṣu rājāgnisarpeṣu svādhyāye śatrusevane / bhogāsvādeṣu viśvāsaṃ kaḥ prājñaḥ kartumarhati

Translation

Bei Frauen, bei Königen, bei Feuer und Schlangen, beim eigenen heiligen Studium (svādhyāya), beim Dienst am Feind und bei den Genüssen der Sinne—welcher Weise dürfte dort Vertrauen setzen?

Word by Word

• स्त्रीषु: among women
• स्त्रीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• राजाग्निसर्पेषु: among kings, fire, and serpents
• राजाग्निसर्पेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (राजा च अग्निः च सर्पः च)

• स्वाध्याये: in self-study (Vedic recitation)
• स्वाध्याये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• शत्रुसेवने: in serving an enemy
• शत्रुसेवने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शत्रोः सेवनम्)

• भोगास्वादेषु: in enjoyments and tastes/pleasures
• भोगास्वादेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + आस्वाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (भोगः च आस्वादः च)

• विश्वासम्: trust
• विश्वासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• प्राज्ञः: wise
• प्राज्ञः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘कः’ इति विशेषणम्

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तुमुन् (infinitive), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• अर्हति: is fit/ought
• अर्हति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinatā-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avishvāsa (non-naïveté) toward inherently unstable or risky objects/relations; cultivate viveka and restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka-vairāgya: the world’s objects and power structures are unreliable; attachment and overconfidence lead to bondage and harm.

Application: Be cautious in intimate/power dynamics, around hazards (fire/snakes), in one’s learning (avoid pride/neglect), in dealings with enemies, and in indulgence (avoid addiction and loss of judgment).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: court/household/forest-edge (implied by kings, fire, snakes)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114 (nīti-like counsel within sadācāra)

FAQs

What is the importance of discernment (viveka) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that a wise person avoids blind trust in unstable or dangerous contexts—cultivating steady judgment rather than impulsive reliance.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purana’s broader ethic: restraint and careful conduct reduce harmful karma, which in turn eases one’s post-death consequences described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain boundaries and caution in high-risk situations (power, danger, temptation), keep disciplined study/practice, and avoid complacency that leads to ethical lapses.