Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

कूपादकं वटच्छाया नारीणाञ्च पयोधरः / शीतकाले भवेदुष्णमुष्णकाले च शीतलम्

Transliteration

kūpādakaṃ vaṭacchāyā nārīṇāñca payodharaḥ / śītakāle bhaveduṣṇamuṣṇakāle ca śītalam

Translation

Water drawn from a well, the shade of a banyan tree, and a woman’s breasts: in the cold season they feel warm, and in the hot season they feel cool.

Word by Word

• कूपोदकम्: well-water
• कूपोदकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप+उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कूपस्य उदकम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पाठे ‘कूपादकं’ = ‘कूपोदकम्’ (सन्धि/लिप्यन्तर-भेद)

• वटच्छाया: shade of a banyan tree
• वटच्छाया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट+छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—वटस्य छाया (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पयोधरः: breast (lit. milk-holder)
• पयोधरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस्+धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—पयः धरतीति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• शीतकाले: in cold season
• शीतकाले: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत+काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—शीतस्य कालः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); कालाधिकरणम्

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• उष्णम्: hot/warm
• उष्णम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• उष्णकाले: in hot season
• उष्णकाले: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्ण+काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—उष्णस्य कालः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); कालाधिकरणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शीतलम्: cool
• शीतलम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritu-dharma of sensations: perceived qualities shift with season; wise living aligns with seasonal context rather than fixed assumptions.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti’s guṇas are relational; cultivate equanimity and discernment amid changing conditions.

Application: Adjust lifestyle to season: seek warming supports in cold and cooling supports in heat; recognize that the same object/place can feel different across seasons.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: village well / sacred tree-grove

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.31 (tree shade mentioned); Garuda Purana 1.114.33 (strength factors; context of bodily condition)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Women
• Banyan tree (Vata)
• Well (Kupa)

FAQs

What is the importance of this seasonal simile in the Garuda Purana?

It teaches that the same object can be experienced as opposite qualities depending on conditions, encouraging discernment rather than rigid judgments.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader moral teaching?

By using familiar examples, it illustrates relativity of comfort and perception—supporting the text’s wider emphasis on self-control, right understanding, and dharmic conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize that feelings and impressions change with context; respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively to pleasure, discomfort, or attraction.