Shloka 23

Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā

Devanagari script

आयुः कर्म च वित्तं च विद्या निधनमेव च / पञ्चैतानि विविच्यन्ते जायमानस्य देहिनः

Transliteration

āyuḥ karma ca vittaṃ ca vidyā nidhanameva ca / pañcaitāni vivicyante jāyamānasya dehinaḥ

Translation

At the very birth of an embodied being, five things are determined: lifespan, actions (karma), wealth, knowledge, and also death.

Word by Word

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• कर्म: action, deeds
• कर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

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

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

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

• विद्या: knowledge
• विद्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• निधनम्: death, end
• निधनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

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

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; अत्र नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे (विशेषण)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• विविच्यन्ते: are determined/decided
• विविच्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-विच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपदम्

• जायमानस्य: of the one being born
• जायमानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) + शानच् (प्रत्यय) → जायमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present participle, आत्मनेपद)

• देहिनः: of the embodied being
• देहिनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prarabdha-karma determines lifespan, life-pattern of action, wealth, learning, and death; one should act wisely within what is allotted.

Vedantic Theme: Prarabdha and embodiment; distinction between what is given (prarabdha) and what is cultivated (purushartha) within dharma.

Application: Accept what cannot be controlled without despair, but pursue dharma and self-improvement; plan life with awareness of mortality and uncertainty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.115 (karma, destiny, and ethical counsel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of destiny at birth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that key life-parameters—lifespan, one’s karmic trajectory, wealth, knowledge, and the certainty of death—are already settled at birth, urging a person to live with dharma rather than arrogance or despair.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing karma and death as fixed realities for the embodied being, it frames human life as a limited window in which one’s actions shape spiritual outcomes, aligning the soul’s journey with karmic law.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Accept what cannot be controlled (life-span and death) and focus on what can be refined—conduct, learning, and charitable discipline—so karma is purified and life is used meaningfully.