Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

चूडामणिः समुद्रो ऽग्निर्घण्टा चाखण्डमम्बरम् / अथवा पृथिवीपालो मूर्ध्नि पादे प्रमादतः

Transliteration

cūḍāmaṇiḥ samudro 'gnirghaṇṭā cākhaṇḍamambaram / athavā pṛthivīpālo mūrdhni pāde pramādataḥ

Translation

A crest-jewel, the ocean, fire, a bell, and the unbroken sky—even such mighty and revered things—or even a king upon the earth, may through heedlessness fall from the head to the foot, from the highest to the lowest.

Word by Word

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

• समुद्रः: ocean
• समुद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अग्निः: fire
• अग्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• घण्टा: bell
• घण्टा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घण्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• अखण्डम्: unbroken/whole
• अखण्डम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अम्बरम्: sky/garment (here: garment/cloth)
• अम्बरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha/Disjunction (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive)

• पृथिवीपालः: king (protector of the earth)
• पृथिवीपालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पृथिव्याः पालः)

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• प्रमादतः: through negligence
• प्रमादतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), हेत्वर्थ (from/through)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāda (heedlessness) causes downfall; greatness without vigilance is insecure.

Vedantic Theme: Impermanence of worldly elevation (anityatā) and the need for sattvic attentiveness (apramāda).

Application: Cultivate carefulness in power/wealth/knowledge; maintain discipline and humility to prevent ethical and social collapse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic elements

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110.11 (crest-jewel analogy); Garuda Purana 1.110.13 (two destinies of the strong-minded); Garuda Purana 1.110.14 (fault of the placer)

FAQs

What is the importance of pramāda (heedlessness) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that even the highest status or sacred greatness can be overturned by negligence; pramāda is treated as a root cause of moral and spiritual decline.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stressing vigilance and restraint, it implies that one’s post-death trajectory depends on sustained dharmic conduct; carelessness can squander accumulated merit and lead to a lower state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid complacency: maintain daily discipline in conduct, speech, and duties; consistent attentiveness protects one’s reputation, merit, and spiritual progress.