Shloka 46

Devanagari script

ऋणशेषं चाग्निशेषं व्याधिशेषं तथैव च / पुनः पुनः प्रवर्धन्ते तस्माच्छेषं न कारयेत्

Transliteration

ṛṇaśeṣaṃ cāgniśeṣaṃ vyādhiśeṣaṃ tathaiva ca / punaḥ punaḥ pravardhante tasmāccheṣaṃ na kārayet

Translation

The remainder of a debt, the remaining embers of a fire, and the residue of a disease grow again and again; therefore leave no remainder—finish it completely.

Word by Word

• ऋणशेषम्: remaining debt
• ऋणशेषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण (प्रातिपदिक) + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ऋणस्य शेषः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अग्निशेषम्: remaining fire/embers
• अग्निशेषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अग्नेः शेषः)

• व्याधिशेषम्: residual disease
• व्याधिशेषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक) + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (व्याधेः शेषः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (रीति/प्रकार-बोधक adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारणार्थक particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पुनरावृत्ति-बोधक adverb)

• पुनः: again and again
• पुनः: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पुनरावृत्ति-बोधक)

• प्रवर्धन्ते: grow/increase
• प्रवर्धन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वर्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

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

• शेषम्: a remainder/residue
• शेषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• कारयेत्: should not leave/should not cause (to remain)
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) (णिच्) → कारय (causative base)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: ‘cause to do/leave’)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Residuals (śeṣa) of debt, fire, and disease tend to re-grow; therefore eliminate the remainder fully.

Vedantic Theme: Kleśa-vāsanā logic: unexhausted seeds (bīja) re-sprout; completeness in purification and duty prevents recurrence.

Application: Pay debts fully (avoid minimum-only cycles), extinguish fires completely (safety), complete treatment and follow-up for illness (no half-cures).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti counsel on apramāda and completing duties; warnings against negligence (general thematic parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of clearing debts in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that partial repayment leaves a lingering liability that tends to grow, so dharmic living includes finishing one’s financial and moral obligations without residue.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing ‘no remainder,’ it points to reducing unresolved burdens (karmic and worldly) that can bind a person to further distress and repeated consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not postpone closure: repay what you owe, fully treat illness, and never leave hazards (like fire risks) unattended—complete what must be completed.