Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

एकेनापि सुवृक्षेण पुष्पितेन सुगन्धिना / वनं सुवासितं सर्वं सुपुत्रेण कुलं यथा

Transliteration

ekenāpi suvṛkṣeṇa puṣpitena sugandhinā / vanaṃ suvāsitaṃ sarvaṃ suputreṇa kulaṃ yathā

Translation

Schon ein einziger vortrefflicher Baum, blühend und duftend, durchweht den ganzen Wald mit Wohlgeruch; ebenso bringt ein einziger tugendhafter Sohn Ehre und Güte der ganzen Linie.

Word by Word

• एकेन: by/with one
• एकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-निपात (particle: even)

• सुवृक्षेण: by a fine tree
• सुवृक्षेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (good tree)

• पुष्पितेन: flowering
• पुष्पितेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्पित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पुष्प्/पुष्प)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• सुगन्धिना: fragrant
• सुगन्धिना: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + गन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (fragrant)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सुवासितम्: well-perfumed
• सुवासितम्: Kriya-visheshana (Result/फल)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + वासित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वास्/√वस् caus.)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त); विशेषण

• सर्वम्: entire
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुपुत्रेण: by a good son
• सुपुत्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कुलम्: family/lineage
• कुलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (as/like)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A single virtuous person can ennoble an entire community/lineage, like one fragrant flowering tree perfumes a forest.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva’s subtle influence (sūkṣma-prabhāva); satsaṅga and guṇa-saṅkramaṇa (virtue spreading through association).

Application: Be the ‘fragrant tree’: cultivate virtues that naturally influence family and society; create environments where goodness spreads (education, example, service).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: natural

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.56 and 1.114.58: repeated ‘one excellent entity transforms the whole’ teaching.

FAQs

What is the importance of a suputra (virtuous son) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that one truly virtuous offspring can elevate and bring honor to the entire kula (lineage), just as one fragrant tree can scent a whole forest.

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

Indirectly, it emphasizes dharmic living and family responsibility—virtue and right conduct shape one’s spiritual legacy and the moral environment that supports righteous living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate personal integrity and good conduct; even one person’s virtue can positively transform an entire household and community.