Shloka 44

Devanagari script

लोभप्रमादविश्वासैः पुरुषो नश्यति त्रिभिः / तस्माल्लोभो न कर्तव्यः प्रमादो नोन विश्वसेत्

Transliteration

lobhapramādaviśvāsaiḥ puruṣo naśyati tribhiḥ / tasmāllobho na kartavyaḥ pramādo nona viśvaset

Translation

A person is ruined by three—greed, heedlessness, and misplaced trust. Therefore do not indulge in greed, do not be careless, and do not trust blindly.

Word by Word

• लोभप्रमादविश्वासैः: by greed, negligence, and misplaced trust
• लोभप्रमादविश्वासैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक) + विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतर-द्वन्द्व (त्रयाणां साधनत्वेन)

• पुरुषः: a man/person
• पुरुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• नश्यति: perishes/is ruined
• नश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• त्रिभिः: by three (things)
• त्रिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/सम्बन्धबोधक), अर्थे ‘अतः/तस्माद्’

• लोभः: greed
• लोभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निपात)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• कर्तव्यः: should be done/undertaken
• कर्तव्यः: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (कर्तव्यः = ‘to be done/should be done’)

• प्रमादः: negligence/carelessness
• प्रमादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• उ: indeed/at all
• उ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उ (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात), अवधान/अनुनासिक-बलार्थक (emphatic particle)

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• विश्वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Three ruinous causes—lobha (greed), pramāda (carelessness), and andha-viśvāsa (blind trust)—must be restrained through viveka.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyāsa/avidyā-driven impulses obscure buddhi; cultivating sattva and viveka protects dharma and supports eventual mokṣa.

Application: Set boundaries for desire (budgeting/ethical earning), reduce pramāda (checklists, sobriety, attention), and practice calibrated trust (verify claims, due diligence).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (nīti/dharma sections): recurring warnings on lobha, pramāda, and asat-saṅga; counsel on satya, ahiṃsā, and viveka (general thematic parallels)

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling lobha (greed) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that greed is a primary cause of ruin; restraining lobha protects one’s dharma and prevents actions that lead to suffering.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death described in the Garuda Purana?

By warning against greed and negligence, it points to the moral causes that create harmful karma—karma that later ripens as suffering in post-death states described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint in desires, avoid careless decisions, and apply discernment before trusting people or promises—these three reduce avoidable harm and ethical lapses.