Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

केचिन्मृगमुखा व्याघ्राः केचिद्व्याघ्रमुखा मृगाः / तत्स्वरूपपहिज्ञाने ह्यविश्वासः पदेपदे

Transliteration

kecinmṛgamukhā vyāghrāḥ kecidvyāghramukhā mṛgāḥ / tatsvarūpapahijñāne hyaviśvāsaḥ padepade

Translation

Some are tigers with the faces of deer, and some are deer with the faces of tigers; because their true nature is hard to recognize, distrust arises at every step.

Word by Word

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचनस्य एकदेश-रूपम् (indefinite: some)

• मृगमुखाः: having a deer’s face
• मृगमुखाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः (येषां मुखं मृगस्य इव/मृगस्य मुखम्), पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; व्याघ्राः इति विशेष्ये

• व्याघ्राः: tigers
• व्याघ्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा, बहुवचनस्य एकदेश-रूपम् (indefinite: some)

• व्याघ्रमुखाः: having a tiger’s face
• व्याघ्रमुखाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः (येषां मुखं व्याघ्रस्य), पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; मृगाः इति विशेष्ये

• मृगाः: deer
• मृगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• तत्: in that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषणम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; स्वरूप...ज्ञाने इति विशेष्ये

• स्वरूप: true form/nature
• स्वरूप: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (स्वस्य रूपम्), नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; (समासाङ्ग)

• अपहिज्ञाने: in the concealment/denial (of it)
• अपहिज्ञाने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप-हि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: ल्युट्/अन-प्रत्ययान्त भाववाचक-नाम (action noun) ‘अपहिज्ञान’ = concealment/denial; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; स्वरूपापहिज्ञाने (समासार्थः)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (emphatic particle: indeed/for)

• अविश्वासः: distrust
• अविश्वासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• पदे: at a step
• पदे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• पदे: at every step
• पदे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्; पुनरुक्त्या ‘पदेपदे’ = at every step

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: People may conceal harmful intent under gentle appearances (and vice versa); therefore cultivate viveka and cautious trust.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) amid māyā-like appearances; judging by guṇa and karma rather than outer form.

Application: Verify character through consistent actions; avoid naïveté; build trust gradually with safeguards in relationships and agreements.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114 (nīti on recognizing character and avoiding harm)

FAQs

What is the importance of discernment (viveka) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that appearances can be misleading, so Dharma requires careful discernment of a person’s real nature before placing trust.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it reinforces ethical vigilance: right conduct depends on seeing through deceptive forms, which supports righteous choices that shape one’s karmic trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not rely on outward presentation alone—verify character through consistent actions, especially when choosing guides, advisors, or spiritual authorities.