Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

पन्थान इव विप्रेन्द्र सर्वसाधारणाः श्रियः / मदीया इति मत्वा वै न हि हर्षयुतो भवेत्

Transliteration

panthāna iva viprendra sarvasādhāraṇāḥ śriyaḥ / madīyā iti matvā vai na hi harṣayuto bhavet

Translation

O Bester der Brahmanen, Wohlstand und Glück sind allen gemeinsam, wie öffentliche Wege. Darum soll man, im Gedanken „Dies ist mein“, nicht in überheblichen Jubel verfallen.

Word by Word

• पन्थानः: roads, paths
• पन्थानः: Upamāna (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• इव: like, as
• इव: Sambandha (Comparative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• विप्रेन्द्र: O best of Brahmins
• विप्रेन्द्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• सर्वसाधारणाः: common to all
• सर्वसाधारणाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + साधारण (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय-समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (श्रियः इति विशेष्य)

• श्रियः: prosperities, fortunes
• श्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• मदीयाः: mine, belonging to me
• मदीयाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (श्रियः इति विशेष्य)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-प्रयोगः (quotative particle)

• मत्वा: having thought
• मत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial to main verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having thought/considered)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• हि: for, indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/causal particle)

• हर्षयुतः: endowed with joy
• हर्षयुतः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्ष + युत (प्रातिपदिक; तत्पुरुष-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (अध्याहृतः ‘जनः/सः’)

• भवेत्: should be, would become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prosperity is not truly ‘mine’; avoid elation born of ownership-illusion.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā of worldly gains; ahaṅkāra-mamatā as bondage; cultivation of samatva.

Application: Practice gratitude without pride; treat wealth/status as stewardship; restrain celebration that turns into arrogance; give generously and remain even-minded in gain/loss.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring nīti/vairāgya passages on impermanence of wealth and non-attachment (general thematic parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment from wealth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that wealth is not a permanent personal possession; since it is “common like a road,” one should avoid ego and excessive exhilaration over it.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By discouraging possessiveness and pride, it points to inner non-attachment—an essential mindset for the soul’s journey, where worldly wealth cannot be carried forward.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat success and money as temporary stewardship, not identity; stay humble, share responsibly, and avoid arrogance when fortune increases.