Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

भोज्ये भोजनशक्तिश्च रतिशक्तिर्वरस्त्रियः / विभवे दानशक्तिश्च नाल्पस्य तपसः फलम्

Transliteration

bhojye bhojanaśaktiśca ratiśaktirvarastriyaḥ / vibhave dānaśaktiśca nālpasya tapasaḥ phalam

Translation

When good food is at hand, one needs the strength to partake and digest; for enjoyment, one needs the power of desire and worthy companions. When wealth is present, one needs the ability to offer dāna, sacred charity. The fruit of tapas, austerity, is not small.

Word by Word

• bhojye: in food/edibles
• bhojye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (in/with food)

• bhojana-śaktiḥ: power to eat/digestive capacity
• bhojana-śaktiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (bhojanasya śaktiḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• rati-śaktiḥ: sexual capacity
• rati-śaktiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rati (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rateḥ śaktiḥ)

• vara-striyaḥ: excellent women
• vara-striyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (varāḥ striyaḥ = excellent women)

• vibhave: in prosperity/wealth
• vibhave: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (in prosperity/wealth)

• dāna-śaktiḥ: power to give/charity
• dāna-śaktiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dānasya śaktiḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• alpasya: of little (austerity)
• alpasya: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तपसः-विशेषण (of little)

• tapasaḥ: of austerity
• tapasaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External availability is insufficient without inner capacity; wealth finds meaning through dāna, enjoyment through worthy context, and tapas yields substantial results.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi through tapas and dāna; right use of artha and kāma under dharma as preparation for higher pursuit.

Application: Build capacity: health for nourishment, restraint and discernment for pleasure, generosity for wealth; adopt steady tapas (discipline) as a high-leverage practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana teachings on dāna, tapas, and the proper use of wealth; Sections praising self-control and disciplined living

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse links wealth with the duty and inner capability to give—prosperity becomes dharmic only when it expresses itself as dāna.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing tapas and dāna, it points to merit-producing disciplines that support the soul’s higher journey; inner capacity (śakti) matters as much as external circumstances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate self-discipline (tapas), use resources ethically, and practice regular giving—so enjoyment and prosperity stay aligned with dharma.