Shloka 4

Devanagari script

कुलशीलगुणोपेतः सत्यधर्मपरायणः / रूपवान्सुप्रसन्नश्च कोशाध्यक्षो विधीयते

Transliteration

kulaśīlaguṇopetaḥ satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ / rūpavānsuprasannaśca kośādhyakṣo vidhīyate

Translation

One endowed with noble lineage, good conduct, and virtues—devoted to truth and dharma—handsome and of a cheerful disposition, should be appointed superintendent of the treasury.

Word by Word

• कुलशीलगुणोपेतः: endowed with family, character, and virtues
• कुलशीलगुणोपेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुल + शील + गुण + उपेत (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (समाहारार्थे/बहुविशेषण), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (उप + इ (धातु) → उपेत, past passive participle) ; विशेषणम्

• सत्यधर्मपरायणः: devoted to truth and righteousness
• सत्यधर्मपरायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + धर्म + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• रूपवान्: handsome
• रूपवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूपवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम्

• सुप्रसन्नः: very pleasant/cheerful
• सुप्रसन्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• कोशाध्यक्षः: treasury superintendent
• कोशाध्यक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश + अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: 'कोशस्य अध्यक्षः'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• विधीयते: is appointed/ordained
• विधीयते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Treasury superintendent must embody lineage/repute, conduct, virtues, truthfulness, dharma-orientation, and pleasing temperament.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma upheld through satya and guṇa; prosperity (artha) must be governed by righteousness.

Application: Appoint financial custodians with integrity, proven ethics, and emotional steadiness; prioritize trust and accountability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: palace/treasury office

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.112.2-3 on examination; 1.112.5 continues with jewel assessor and army commander.

FAQs

What is the importance of appointing a dharmic kośādhyakṣa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the treasury head must be truth-oriented and devoted to dharma, indicating that public wealth should be guarded by integrity, character, and virtue rather than mere skill or power.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it teaches dharmic conduct in worldly duties—truthfulness and righteousness—which the Purāṇic framework treats as karma-shaping qualities affecting one’s future results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose or become a financial custodian who is transparent, truthful, disciplined in conduct, and calm-minded—especially when handling shared funds, temple accounts, community donations, or institutional budgets.