Shloka 62

Devanagari script

अनायके न वस्तव्यं न चैव बहुनायके / स्त्रीनायके न वस्तव्यं वस्तव्यं बालनायके

Transliteration

anāyake na vastavyaṃ na caiva bahunāyake / strīnāyake na vastavyaṃ vastavyaṃ bālanāyake

Translation

Man soll nicht dort wohnen, wo es keinen Anführer gibt, und auch nicht dort, wo es zu viele Anführer gibt. Man soll nicht dort wohnen, wo eine Frau die Führung hat; wohnen darf man dort, wo ein Kind die Führung hat.

Word by Word

• अनायके: in a leaderless (place/state)
• अनायके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन् (नञ्-प्रत्यय) + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थः ‘नायकः न अस्ति यस्मिन्’

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• वस्तव्यम्: should be stayed/dwelt
• वस्तव्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय-भावः ‘to be dwelt/should be stayed’

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• बहुनायके: in a place with many leaders
• बहुनायके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (बहवः नायकाः यस्मिन्)

• स्त्रीनायके: where a woman is the leader
• स्त्रीनायके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्त्रिया नायकः/स्त्री-नायकः)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• वस्तव्यम्: should be stayed/dwelt
• वस्तव्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• वस्तव्यम्: should be stayed/dwelt
• वस्तव्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• बालनायके: where a child is the leader
• बालनायके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (बालः नायकः यस्मिन्)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A stable community requires clear, singular leadership; leaderlessness and too many leaders breed disorder.

Vedantic Theme: Pragmatic dharma for social harmony; indirect support for sattvic living conducive to spiritual practice.

Application: Choose environments with accountable governance and clear responsibility; avoid chaotic organizations with no ownership or with constant power struggles.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: settlement/household polity

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dharma-niti passages advising prudent residence and association (satsanga vs durjana-sanga)

FAQs

What is the importance of leadership (nāyaka) in Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that social stability depends on clear, singular leadership; places without leadership or with competing authorities become unsafe and disorderly.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports dharmic living by advising stable, orderly surroundings—conditions that help one follow duties and avoid actions that lead to suffering and negative karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose communities and institutions with clear accountability and consistent governance; avoid environments marked by lawlessness or power struggles, and prioritize stability for ethical living.