Shloka 12

Devanagari script

मानो हि मूलमर्थस्य माने सति धनेन किम् / प्रभ्रष्टमानदर्पस्य किं धनेन किमायुषा

Transliteration

māno hi mūlamarthasya māne sati dhanena kim / prabhraṣṭamānadarpasya kiṃ dhanena kimāyuṣā

Translation

Honor—self-respect—is truly the root of all prosperity; if honor is present, what need is there for wealth? But for one whose honor and dignity have fallen away, what is the use of wealth—or even of a long life?

Word by Word

• मानः: honour
• मानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतुबोधक-अव्यय (emphatic/causal particle)

• मूलम्: root/foundation
• मूलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• अर्थस्य: of prosperity/wealth (artha)
• अर्थस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• माने: when honour (is present)
• माने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• सति: being (present)
• सति: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: सत् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ), सप्तमी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• धनेन: with wealth/by wealth
• धनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle), अर्थः 'what use?'

• प्रभ्रष्टमानदर्पस्य: of one who has lost honour and pride
• प्रभ्रष्टमानदर्पस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभ्रष्ट-मान-दर्प (प्रातिपदिक; प्रभ्रष्ट (कृदन्त) + मान + दर्प)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मानदर्पयोः प्रभ्रष्टः) = 'one whose honour and pride are lost'; सम्बन्ध

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• धनेन: with wealth
• धनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• आयुषा: with life/longevity
• आयुषा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Māna (honor/self-respect) is foundational; wealth and even long life are hollow if dignity is lost.

Vedantic Theme: Artha subordinated to dharma; inner worth over external accumulation; viveka regarding life’s aims (puruṣārthas).

Application: Choose ethical livelihood; protect integrity even at financial cost; cultivate self-respect through truthful speech and principled action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti on māna, artha, and the hierarchy of values

FAQs

What is the importance of honor (māna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents honor as the foundation of meaningful prosperity—without dignity and right conduct, wealth (and even long life) loses its value.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes that inner virtue and ethical standing—not mere material gain—are what make life spiritually meaningful, aligning one toward better outcomes beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize integrity, reputation earned through dharma, and principled living; treat wealth and longevity as secondary to character.