Shloka 72

Devanagari script

ये पदस्थस्य मित्त्राणि ते तस्य रिपुतां गताः / भानोः पद्मे जले प्रीतिः स्थलोद्धरणशोषणः

Transliteration

ye padasthasya mittrāṇi te tasya riputāṃ gatāḥ / bhānoḥ padme jale prītiḥ sthaloddharaṇaśoṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Those who are friends of a person while he is in power later turn into his enemies. Just as the sun delights in a lotus in water, yet when the lotus is lifted onto dry land it dries it up.

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• पदस्थस्य: of one in position
• पदस्थस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त; स्था धातु, क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पदे स्थितस्य)

• मित्राणि: friends
• मित्राणि: Karta-puraka (Predicate noun/कर्तृपूरक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संकेत (correlative pronoun)

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• रिपुताम्: enmity, the state of being an enemy
• रिपुताम्: Gati-karma (Goal as object/गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• गताः: have gone/turned (into)
• गताः: Kriya (Verbal predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + गत (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोग (having gone/turned)

• भानोः: of the sun
• भानोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पद्मे: in the lotus
• पद्मे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• प्रीतिः: delight, affection
• प्रीतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्थलोद्धरणशोषणः: uplifting to land and drying (i.e., drying by taking out)
• स्थलोद्धरणशोषणः: Karta-puraka (Predicate noun/कर्तृपूरक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धरण (कृदन्त; उद्-हृ धातु, ल्युट्) + शोषण (कृदन्त; शुष् धातु, ल्युट्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (स्थलोद्धरणं च शोषणं च)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly friendships often depend on position; when one loses ‘pada’ (status), the same associates may become adversaries.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya (impermanence) of saṃsāric relations; discernment between true well-wishers and transactional ties; refuge in the unchanging (Hari).

Application: Do not base identity on rank; cultivate character-based friendships; prepare for reversals with humility and savings of merit; deepen devotion and inner stability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: waterbody/shore

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): teachings on anitya of wealth/relations and the need for dharma as true companion

Characters & Entities

• Bhānu (Sun)
• Padma (Lotus)

FAQs

What is the importance of impermanence of relationships in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that friendships based on status are unstable; it encourages discernment and detachment so one relies on dharma rather than social power.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting the unreliability of worldly ties, it points the seeker toward inner merit (dharma/karma) as the true support beyond changing circumstances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose integrity over influence, test friendships by virtue (not advantage), and cultivate steady conduct that does not depend on position or praise.