Shloka 11

Nīti-Upadeśa: Discernment, Proper Use of Resources, and Social Strategy

Devanagari script

स्थानेष्वेव प्रयोक्ताव्या भृत्याश्चाभरणानि च / न हि चूडामणिः पादे शोभते वै कदाचन

Transliteration

sthāneṣveva prayoktāvyā bhṛtyāścābharaṇāni ca / na hi cūḍāmaṇiḥ pāde śobhate vai kadācana

Translation

Servants and ornaments should be used only in their proper places; for a crest-jewel never appears fitting when worn upon the foot.

Word by Word

• स्थानेषु: in (proper) places
• स्थानेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• प्रयोक्ताव्याः: to be used/should be employed
• प्रयोक्ताव्याः: Kriya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+युज् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• भृत्याः: servants/attendants
• भृत्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• आभरणानि: ornaments
• आभरणानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for/indeed)

• चूडामणिः: a crest-jewel
• चूडामणिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चूडामणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चूडायाः मणिः)

• पादे: on the foot
• पादे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शोभते: shines/looks beautiful
• शोभते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• वै: certainly
• वै: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थक (certainly)

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Adverbial (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb), नकारेण सह 'कदापि न' अर्थः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yathāsthāna (proper place) for people and possessions; misplacement creates disharmony.

Vedantic Theme: Sattvic order: harmony arises when guṇa and svabhāva are respected; confusion of roles breeds tamas.

Application: Use servants according to their roles and capacities; wear/use ornaments appropriately; avoid status-symbol misuse that undermines dignity and function.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110.10 (proper appointment); Garuda Purana 1.110.12-14 (falling from head to foot; jewel set in tin)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of propriety (using things in their proper place) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches yathā-sthāna dharma—right placement and right use—showing that even good things become inappropriate and unbecoming when misapplied.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on dharma and the afterlife?

The Preta Kanda repeatedly stresses disciplined, ordered living; such dharmic restraint supports righteous karma, which the text links to one’s post-death condition and experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use status, wealth, power, and even religious symbols appropriately—assign duties to the right people, avoid showy misplacement, and practice suitability and restraint in daily life.