Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

पूर्वं पश्चाच्चरन्त्यार्ये सदैव बहुसम्पदः / विपरीतमनार्ये च यथेच्छसि तथा चर

Transliteration

pūrvaṃ paścāccarantyārye sadaiva bahusampadaḥ / viparītamanārye ca yathecchasi tathā cara

Translation

Dem Edlen folgt der Wohlstand stets — vorne wie hinten. Dem Unedlen aber ist es umgekehrt. Darum lebe, wie du wählst: wähle den Weg der Edlen.

Word by Word

• पूर्वम्: first, beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Sambandha (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: first/before)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Sambandha (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (afterwards)

• चरन्ति: move, come, occur
• चरन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• आर्ये: in the noble (person)
• आर्ये: Adhikarana (Location/Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in/for the noble person)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• बहुसम्पदः: many prosperities
• बहुसम्पदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + sampad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बहु + सम्पद् = many prosperities), स्त्रीलिङ्ग ‘सम्पद्’, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• विपरीतम्: conversely, the opposite
• विपरीतम्: Sambandha (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (neuter accusative used adverbially: conversely/otherwise)

• अनार्ये: in the ignoble (person)
• अनार्ये: Adhikarana (Location/Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as, in whatever way)

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• तथा: so
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तद्वत् (so, accordingly)

• चर: act, conduct yourself
• चर: Kriya (Command/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prosperity tends to accompany the noble (ārya) and elude the ignoble (anārya); choose conduct that aligns with nobility and virtue.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala in social life; sattvic character as a magnet for auspicious outcomes; agency in choosing śreyas-oriented living.

Application: Adopt integrity, generosity, restraint, and reliability; avoid deceit and cruelty; build habits that attract trust and stable prosperity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.49-52 (sequence of nīti teachings culminating in choice of noble conduct)

FAQs

What is the importance of noble conduct (ārya-dharma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that prosperity and well-being naturally accompany the noble, implying that dharmic conduct shapes favorable outcomes in life.

How does this verse explain karma in simple terms?

It contrasts two patterns: righteous character attracts supportive results, while ignoble behavior brings the opposite—highlighting karma as a moral cause-and-effect.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose consistent ethical conduct—truthfulness, restraint, and fairness—because the text frames prosperity as something that follows the noble way of living.