Shloka 67
Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā
अर्थातुराणां न सुहृन्न बन्धुः कामातुराणां न भयं न लज्जा / चिन्तातुराणां न सुखं न निद्रा क्षुधातुराणां न बलं न तेजः
arthāturāṇāṃ na suhṛnna bandhuḥ kāmāturāṇāṃ na bhayaṃ na lajjā / cintāturāṇāṃ na sukhaṃ na nidrā kṣudhāturāṇāṃ na balaṃ na tejaḥ
For those distressed by wealth, there is neither friend nor kinsman; for those distressed by desire, there is neither fear nor shame. For those distressed by anxiety, there is neither happiness nor sleep; for those distressed by hunger, there is neither strength nor radiance.
Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)
Concept: Ātura (afflicted) states—by wealth, desire, worry, hunger—distort perception and behavior, eroding friendship, shame, sleep, and vitality.
Vedantic Theme: Kleśa dynamics: kāma, cintā, kṣudhā as forms of bondage; peace arises from mastery of mind and moderation of desires.
Application: Identify dominant affliction (greed, lust, anxiety, hunger) and address it: simplify needs, cultivate self-restraint, practice mental hygiene, ensure basic nourishment.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.115 (nīti on mental afflictions and their effects)
FAQs
This verse warns that obsession with wealth and desire erodes human bonds and moral restraint, undermining dharma and inner stability.
By showing how uncontrolled impulses and mental afflictions weaken tejas and discernment, it implies that such states obstruct dharmic living—the foundation for a better post-death trajectory described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.
Reduce compulsive pursuit of money and pleasure, manage anxiety through disciplined routine and reflection, and address hunger/needs responsibly—so strength, clarity, and ethical conduct remain intact.