Shloka 51

Devanagari script

नमन्ति फलिनो वृक्षा नमन्ति गुणिनो जनाः / शुष्कवृक्षाश्च मूर्खाश्च भिद्यन्ते न नमन्ति च

Transliteration

namanti phalino vṛkṣā namanti guṇino janāḥ / śuṣkavṛkṣāśca mūrkhāśca bhidyante na namanti ca

Translation

Fruit-laden trees bend low; so too do people of virtue bow in humility. But dry trees and foolish persons break—yet they do not bend.

Word by Word

• नमन्ति: bow, bend
• नमन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• फलिनः: fruit-bearing
• फलिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phalin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘वृक्षाः’)

• वृक्षाः: trees
• वृक्षाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• नमन्ति: bow
• नमन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• गुणिनः: virtuous, possessing qualities
• गुणिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘जनाः’)

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शुष्कवृक्षाः: dry trees
• शुष्कवृक्षाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuṣka (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘शुष्काः वृक्षाः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मूर्खाः: fools
• मूर्खाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• भिद्यन्ते: are broken
• भिद्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: are broken/split)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• नमन्ति: bend
• नमन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True worth expresses as humility and flexibility; arrogance and dryness (inner sterility) lead to fracture.

Vedantic Theme: Ahaṅkāra-kṣaya (diminution of ego) and sattva; humility as a sign of inner fullness rather than weakness.

Application: Practice namratā: accept feedback, apologize readily, remain teachable; avoid brittle pride that breaks relationships and judgment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.50 (tree metaphor); Garuda Purana 1.114.49 (balanced conduct)

FAQs

What is the importance of humility (namratā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents humility as a natural sign of inner worth—just as a fruit-laden tree bends, a person rich in virtues becomes gentle and respectful rather than arrogant.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it frames character as the foundation of dharma: humility and good qualities support righteous living, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly treats as essential for auspicious outcomes after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate quiet strength—listen, speak modestly, and let achievements make you more grounded; pride makes one rigid, while humility keeps one resilient.