Shloka 66

Devanagari script

अश्वं श्रान्तं गजं मत्तं गावः प्रथमसूतिकाः / अनूदके च मण्डूकान्प्राज्ञो दूरेण वर्जयेत्

Transliteration

aśvaṃ śrāntaṃ gajaṃ mattaṃ gāvaḥ prathamasūtikāḥ / anūdake ca maṇḍūkānprājño dūreṇa varjayet

Translation

A wise person should keep well away from a tired horse, an elephant intoxicated with musth, cows that have newly calved for the first time, and frogs found in places without water.

Word by Word

• aśvam: horse
• aśvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular)

• śrāntam: tired
• śrāntam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrānta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular)

• gajam: elephant
• gajam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular)

• mattam: intoxicated/musth
• mattam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular)

• gāvaḥ: cows
• gāvaḥ: Karma (Object list/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• prathamasūtikāḥ: (cows) calving for the first time
• prathamasūtikāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक) + sūtikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम् (plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (prathamā sūtiḥ yāsām)

• anūdake: in a waterless place
• anūdake: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचनम् (singular); कर्मधारयः (udaka-rahite)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (and)

• maṇḍūkān: frogs
• maṇḍūkān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍūka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• prājñaḥ: a wise person
• prājñaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (singular)

• dūreṇa: from far away/at a distance
• dūreṇa: Kriya-viseshana (Manner/Distance/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम् (singular); क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (adverbial instrumental)

• varjayet: should avoid
• varjayet: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛj/varj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prājña (the wise) practices viveka through avoidance of predictable danger—fatigued animals, musth elephants, protective cows, and anomalous creatures in unsuitable habitats.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka and pramāda-tyāga (avoidance of negligence) as supports for dharmic living; protecting life as a basis for higher pursuits.

Application: Maintain safe distance from stressed animals; respect maternal protectiveness; treat abnormal environmental signs as risk indicators; practice situational awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: wilderness/roadside (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.115 (nīti on prudence and avoidance)

FAQs

What is the importance of prudence (ācāra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that dharma is also practical: a wise person avoids predictable sources of harm, cultivating disciplined, mindful conduct in ordinary life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it supports the broader Purana theme that right conduct preserves life and order; avoiding needless danger helps one fulfill duties (dharma) that shape karma and one’s future course.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain safe distance from stressed or unpredictable animals and avoid risky environments; apply the same principle broadly—do not approach situations where agitation and instability are evident.