Shloka 16

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

पातालतलवा सिन्य उच्चप्राकारसंस्थिताः / यदि नो चिकुरोद्भेदाल्लभ्यन्ते कैः स्त्रियो न हि

Transliteration

pātālatalavā sinya uccaprākārasaṃsthitāḥ / yadi no cikurodbhedāllabhyante kaiḥ striyo na hi

Translation

Even if they are hidden in the nether regions of Pātāla or stationed behind lofty ramparts, if women are not obtained merely by the parting of hair, then by what means, indeed, are women obtained?

Word by Word

• pātālatala-vāsinyaḥ: women dwelling in the netherworld levels
• pātālatala-vāsinyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātāla (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (pātālasya tale vāsinyaḥ)

• uccaprākārasaṃsthitāḥ: situated behind high ramparts
• uccaprākārasaṃsthitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ucca (प्रातिपदिक) + prākāra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthita (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; past participle saṃsthita (√sthā with saṃ-) used adjectivally; तत्पुरुषः (uccaiḥ prākāre saṃsthitāḥ)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Condition/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय

• naḥ: for us
• naḥ: Sampradāna/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6/4), बहुवचन; enclitic pronoun "of us/to us" (context: for us)

• cikurodbhedāt: from a lock of hair (hair-raising sign)
• cikurodbhedāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cikura (प्रातिपदिक) + udbheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (cikurasya udbhedaḥ)

• labhyante: are obtained
• labhyante: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; √लभ् = लभ्यन्ते (are obtained)

• kaiḥ: by whom/with what means
• kaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; interrogative instrumental

• striyaḥ: women
• striyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

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

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra, as typical for Preta Khanda narration)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly nīti observation about desire and access; suggests that mere physical seclusion is not the sole determinant in relationships.

Vedantic Theme: Implicit critique of kāma-driven thinking; highlights the mind’s projections and social maneuvering rather than spiritual aims.

Application: Read as a caution: avoid reducing relationships to conquest; recognize how desire rationalizes itself; cultivate respect and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: netherworld/region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti passages that mix worldly counsel with moral warning about kāma and social conduct (general)

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling desire in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames sensual pursuit as irrational and ultimately unfulfillable, pushing the listener toward restraint and dharmic self-control rather than compulsive craving.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Khanda’s moral landscape, uncontrolled desire is treated as a binding force that keeps the being entangled in lower tendencies, obstructing clarity needed for the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat desire as something to be governed by ethics and responsibility—practice restraint, avoid objectification, and align relationships with dharma rather than impulse.