Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

अस्थिरं जीवितं लोके अस्थिरं धनयौवनम् / अस्थिरं पुत्त्रदाराद्यं धर्मः कीर्तिर्यशः स्थिरम्

Transliteration

asthiraṃ jīvitaṃ loke asthiraṃ dhanayauvanam / asthiraṃ puttradārādyaṃ dharmaḥ kīrtiryaśaḥ sthiram

Translation

In this world, life is unstable; wealth and youth are unstable. Sons, wife, and the rest are also unstable—only dharma, true renown, and lasting honor remain steady.

Word by Word

• अस्थिरम्: unstable
• अस्थिरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘जीवितम्’

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अस्थिरम्: unstable
• अस्थिरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘धनयौवनम्’

• धनयौवनम्: wealth and youth
• धनयौवनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः ‘धनं च यौवनं च’

• अस्थिरम्: unstable
• अस्थिरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘पुत्रदाराद्यम्’

• पुत्रदाराद्यम्: children, wife, etc.
• पुत्रदाराद्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘पुत्रदाराः आदयः यस्य तत्’ इति ‘आदि’-समास (समाहारार्थे)

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• कीर्तिः: fame
• कीर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• यशः: glory
• यशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• स्थिरम्: stable
• स्थिरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘धर्मः/कीर्तिः/यशः’ (समुच्चितार्थे)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All worldly supports are unstable; only dharma and the kīrti/yasas born of dharma endure beyond one’s immediate life.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā of nāma-rūpa; encouragement toward sattvic living; dharma as a stabilizing axis within vyavahāra (worldly life).

Application: Invest effort in ethical conduct, service, and reputation grounded in virtue rather than clinging to possessions or relationships as permanent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: universal/gnomic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti passages on anityatā and the superiority of dharma over artha/kāma

FAQs

What is the importance of impermanence (asthiratā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that life, wealth, youth, and even family supports are transient, urging one to prioritize dharma as the enduring asset that carries spiritual value beyond changing circumstances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By contrasting temporary worldly supports with lasting dharma, it points to the Garuda Purana’s broader message: at death, external attachments fall away, while one’s accumulated merit and moral conduct shape one’s onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with urgency and clarity: invest in ethical conduct, charity, truthfulness, and duty; treat wealth and relationships responsibly but without clinging, remembering they are not permanent supports.