Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

अनर्था ह्यर्थरूषाश्च अर्थाश्चानर्थरूपिणः / भवन्ति ते विनाशाय दैवायत्तस्य वै सदा

Transliteration

anarthā hyartharūṣāśca arthāścānartharūpiṇaḥ / bhavanti te vināśāya daivāyattasya vai sadā

Translation

Misfortunes may appear in the guise of prosperity, and prosperity in the guise of misfortune; for one who is ever dependent on fate (daiva), these become causes of ruin.

Word by Word

• अनर्थाः: misfortunes
• अनर्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/for)

• अर्थरूषाः: having the guise of benefit
• अर्थरूषाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ + रूष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः: अर्थ-रूष (तत्पुरुष: ‘अर्थस्य रूषा’ = having the appearance of benefit)

• च: and
• च: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अर्थाः: benefits/advantages
• अर्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अनर्थरूपिणः: having the form of harm
• अनर्थरूपिणः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्थ + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः: अनर्थ-रूपिन् (तत्पुरुष: ‘अनर्थरूपः’ = of harmful form)

• भवन्ति: become/turn out
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• विनाशाय: for destruction
• विनाशाय: Sampradana (Purpose/recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• दैवायत्तस्य: of one dependent on fate
• दैवायत्तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैव + आयत्त (यम् धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः: दैव-आयत्त (तत्पुरुष: ‘दैवे आयत्तः’ = dependent on fate)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/emphatic)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Appearances invert: misfortune may masquerade as gain and gain as misfortune; dependence on daiva alone (fatalism) leads to destruction.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka regarding sukha/duḥkha and the deceptive play of prakṛti; critique of tamasic resignation.

Application: Interpret outcomes with long-term ethics and risk; avoid gambling on ‘fate’; cultivate agency, planning, and moral clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110 (nīti: daiva vs puruṣakāra, timing, prudence)

FAQs

What is the importance of daiva (fate) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that when a person becomes wholly daiva-dependent (fatalistic), even apparent prosperity or adversity can turn into a cause of downfall; the teaching implies prioritizing dharma and right effort over blind reliance on “fate.”

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting how attachment, misjudgment, and fatalism lead to ruin, the verse supports the Garuda Purana’s broader theme that one’s post-death condition is shaped by karma and discernment—not merely by external circumstances that look fortunate or unfortunate.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid fatalism: treat success and hardship as tests for dharmic conduct, keep discernment in prosperity, cultivate restraint in desire, and respond to adversity with ethical action rather than resignation.