Shloka 17

Devanagari script

विषवत्तं तु जानीयात्संस्मरेत्तु विचक्षणः / सौम्यादिशुभकार्येषु लाभादिजयजीविते

Transliteration

viṣavattaṃ tu jānīyātsaṃsmarettu vicakṣaṇaḥ / saumyādiśubhakāryeṣu lābhādijayajīvite

Translation

Der Einsichtige soll es als Gift erkennen, doch diese Lehre im Herzen bewahren: Bei sanften und anderen glückverheißenden Vorhaben — Gewinn, Sieg und Bewahrung des Lebens — handle man mit Achtsamkeit und besonnenem Urteil.

Word by Word

• विषवत्तम्: as poisonous/like poison
• विषवत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म-विशेषण (as object/predicate)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (adversative particle)

• जानीयात्: should know/should consider
• जानीयात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• संस्मरेत्: should remember
• संस्मरेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) उपसर्गः सम्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक-निपात

• विचक्षणः: the discerning person
• विचक्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता

• सौम्यादिशुभकार्येषु: in gentle and other auspicious actions
• सौम्यादिशुभकार्येषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण; समासः ‘सौम्य-आदि’ (beginning with gentle) + ‘शुभ-कार्य’ (auspicious acts)

• लाभादिजयजीविते: in gain etc., victory, and life-preservation
• लाभादिजयजीविते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाभ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक) + जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण; समासः ‘लाभ-आदि’ (gain etc.) + ‘जय-जीवित’ (victory & life)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka: correctly identifying danger (viṣavat) while retaining mindful remembrance and measured action in auspicious pursuits.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka-vairāgya as practical wisdom: seeing what is harmful and not being deluded by appearances.

Application: Name risks clearly (literal toxins, harmful influences, bad counsel), then proceed with mindful planning in beneficial undertakings; keep a ‘remembrance’ practice (smaraṇa) to prevent error.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.67.15-16, 1.67.18-19 (context of auspicious/inauspicious action and nāḍī guidance)

FAQs

What is the importance of discernment in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that a wise person should evaluate choices as carefully as one would avoid poison, applying mindful judgment even in seemingly auspicious pursuits like gain or victory.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader ethic that right choices (dharma-guided action) shape one’s karmic outcomes, which in turn affect post-death experience and the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat tempting opportunities—profit, success, competitive wins—with scrutiny: choose means that are clean and non-harmful, and avoid actions that feel ‘poison-like’ ethically even if they promise benefit.