Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

एको हि गुणवान्पुत्रो निर्गुणेन शतेन किम् / चन्द्रो हन्ति तमांस्येको न च ज्योतिः सहस्रकम्

Transliteration

eko hi guṇavānputro nirguṇena śatena kim / candro hanti tamāṃsyeko na ca jyotiḥ sahasrakam

Translation

One virtuous son alone is enough—what use are a hundred sons without virtue? A single moon dispels the darkness; a thousand lamps cannot do the same.

Word by Word

• एकः: one
• एकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• गुणवान्: virtuous/possessing qualities
• गुणवान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• निर्गुणेन: by/with a worthless (one)
• निर्गुणेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (without qualities)

• शतेन: with a hundred
• शतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक (idiom: what use?)

• चन्द्रः: the moon
• चन्द्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हन्ति: destroys/removes
• हन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तमांसि: darknesses
• तमांसि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (for चन्द्रः)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation)

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

• ज्योतिः: light/luminary
• ज्योतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सहस्रकम्: a thousand (lights)
• सहस्रकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सामूहिक/परिमाणवाचक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One virtuous son outweighs many without virtue; true efficacy is qualitative, not numerical.

Vedantic Theme: Knowledge/virtue as ‘light’ that removes tamas; sattva’s superiority over mere multiplicity (nāma-rūpa proliferation).

Application: Choose depth over breadth: cultivate one strong ethical exemplar; in decisions, prioritize quality, competence, and character over headcount.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.56–57: moon and tree analogies; consistent nīti on one excellent entity transforming the whole.

FAQs

What is the importance of virtue (guṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prioritizes inner virtue over mere numbers—dharma is upheld by quality of character, not by external abundance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it implies that righteous qualities (guṇa) are what support dharmic outcomes; mere social or familial expansion without virtue does not aid spiritual welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Focus on cultivating character—truthfulness, restraint, compassion, and responsibility—rather than measuring success by quantity (status, possessions, or even numbers in family).