Shloka 75

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

Devanagari script

चित्तायत्तं धातुवश्यं शरीरं चित्ते नष्टे धातवो यान्ति नाशम् / तस्माच्चित्तं सर्वदा रक्षणीयं स्वस्थे चित्ते धातवः सम्भवन्ति

Transliteration

cittāyattaṃ dhātuvaśyaṃ śarīraṃ citte naṣṭe dhātavo yānti nāśam / tasmāccittaṃ sarvadā rakṣaṇīyaṃ svasthe citte dhātavaḥ sambhavanti

Translation

Der Körper, von den Dhātus (Körperbestandteilen) beherrscht, ist vom Geist abhängig. Wenn der Geist zugrunde geht, gehen auch die Dhātus dem Verderben entgegen. Darum ist der Geist stets zu schützen; ist der Geist gesund, gedeihen die Dhātus.

Word by Word

• चित्तायत्तम्: dependent on the mind
• चित्तायत्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्त + आयत्त (प्रातिपदिक; तत्पुरुष-समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (शरीरम् इति विशेष्य)

• धातुवश्यम्: subject to the bodily constituents (dhātus)
• धातुवश्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धातु + वश्य (प्रातिपदिक; तत्पुरुष-समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (शरीरम् इति विशेष्य)

• शरीरम्: the body
• शरीरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चित्ते: when/in the mind
• चित्ते: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• नष्टे: when (it is) destroyed
• नष्टे: Adhikaraṇa (Locative absolute condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (नश् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• धातवः: the dhātus (bodily elements)
• धातवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• यान्ति: go, proceed
• यान्ति: Kriyā (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• नाशम्: to destruction
• नाशम्: Gati-Karma (Goal as object/गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतु-अर्थ (therefore/from that reason)

• चित्तम्: the mind
• चित्तम्: Karma (Object of obligation/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Temporal adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• रक्षणीयम्: should be protected
• रक्षणीयम्: Kriyā (Predicative obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) + अनीय (अनीयर्-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate: ‘to be protected’)

• स्वस्थे: when (it is) healthy/steady
• स्वस्थे: Adhikaraṇa (Locative absolute condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• चित्ते: in the mind
• चित्ते: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• धातवः: the dhātus
• धातवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सम्भवन्ति: arise, thrive
• सम्भवन्ति: Kriyā (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mind governs bodily stability; mental ruin precipitates dhātu decline; mental protection sustains health.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa discipline as foundation for sādhana; mind as instrument that conditions embodied experience.

Application: Cultivate mental hygiene: moderation, truthful living, meditation/japa, avoiding harmful company; treat stress and agitation as primary causes of decline; prioritize sleep, routine, and sattvic inputs.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections that blend nīti with health/discipline (general thematic parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of protecting the mind (citta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that the body’s stability depends on the mind; when the mind collapses, the bodily constituents deteriorate, so guarding citta is essential for health and dharmic living.

How does this verse explain the relationship between mind and the body’s dhatus?

It states that the dhatus are sustained when the mind is steady and healthy, but they decline when the mind is disturbed or destroyed—linking mental discipline directly to physical integrity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate mental steadiness through ethical conduct, moderation, and daily practices like japa, meditation, and regulated habits—because a stable mind supports bodily health.