Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

विपरीतरतिः कामः स्वायतेषु न विद्यते / यथोपायो वधो दण्डस्तथैव ह्यनु वर्तते

Transliteration

viparītaratiḥ kāmaḥ svāyateṣu na vidyate / yathopāyo vadho daṇḍastathaiva hyanu vartate

Translation

Desire that seeks perverse pleasure is not found among the self-controlled. And whatever method is adopted—be it killing or punishment—that very consequence surely follows after.

Word by Word

• विपरीत-रतिः: perverse desire/attachment
• विपरीत-रतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक) + rati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (viparītā ratiḥ)

• कामः: lust, desire
• कामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वायतेषु: among those under one’s control
• स्वायतेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; ‘one’s own dependents/under one’s control’

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

• विद्यते: exists, is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Correlation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/अनुपातार्थक-अव्यय (as/according as)

• उपायः: means, method
• उपायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वधः: killing, execution
• वधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दण्डः: punishment
• दण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: so
• तथा: Sambandha (Correlation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: तदनुरूपार्थक-अव्यय (so, in that way)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• हि: for, indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (for/indeed)

• अनु: following, accordingly
• अनु: Sambandha (Preverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय (following/along)

• वर्तते: proceeds, follows
• वर्तते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, as per the common dialogue frame of the Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Self-controlled persons do not entertain विपरीत-रति (perverse/adharmic desire); actions and chosen means (upāya) bring corresponding outcomes—danda/retribution follows the deed.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-niyati (moral causality) and the stabilizing role of dama (self-restraint) in purifying mind.

Application: Cultivate self-control to prevent deviant impulses; recognize that harmful means invite harmful ends (legal, social, psychological); choose nonviolent, dharmic methods.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.5-6 (avoid faults; senses); Garuda Purana 1.114.8 (inscrutability of the faithless)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of self-control (saṃyama) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links self-restraint with freedom from distorted, harmful desire, presenting saṃyama as a safeguard for dharma and a foundation for a clean karmic life.

How does this verse explain karma and consequences?

It states that the chosen course of action becomes the cause of the corresponding result—harmful means like violence or punitive wrongdoing lead to consequences that inevitably follow the doer.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate restraint in sensual impulses and choose non-harmful methods in conflict; the verse’s takeaway is that means matter because outcomes ethically and karmically follow from them.