Shloka 10

Devanagari script

स्तुतः प्रीतो भवति वै बहुभार्या भवन्ति च / पूर्वमित्रेषु शैथिल्यं प्रीतिमन्यैः करोति च

Transliteration

stutaḥ prīto bhavati vai bahubhāryā bhavanti ca / pūrvamitreṣu śaithilyaṃ prītimanyaiḥ karoti ca

Translation

When a man is praised, he truly becomes pleased; he may also come to have many wives. His loyalty to former friends grows slack, and he instead cultivates affection for others.

Word by Word

• स्तुतः: praised
• स्तुतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्तु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रीतः: pleased
• प्रीतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √प्री (धातु)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• बहुभार्याः: many wives
• बहुभार्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (बह्व्यः भार्याः)

• भवन्ति: become/are
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पूर्वमित्रेषु: among former friends
• पूर्वमित्रेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (पूर्वाणि मित्राणि)

• शैथिल्यम्: slackness, looseness (of attachment)
• शैथिल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैथिल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• प्रीतिम्: affection
• प्रीतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्यैः: with others/through others
• अन्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• करोति: does/makes
• करोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Attachment to praise breeds craving and instability—multiplying desires (including relationships) and weakening loyalty and gratitude.

Vedantic Theme: Ahamkara and lobha/kama fueled by rajas; asat-sanga leading to chitta-vikshepa (mental scattering).

Application: Cultivate equanimity toward praise/blame; practice fidelity and gratitude; maintain commitments to friends and mentors; reduce attention-seeking behavior.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ethical sections on sadachara: steadiness, truthfulness, restraint (general thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of praise (stuti) in Garuda Purana teachings?

This verse warns that praise can inflate ego and trigger desire-driven choices, leading to weakened loyalty and shifting attachments—hence it should be met with self-restraint and discernment.

How does this verse relate to karma and ethical conduct in Garuda Purana?

By showing how craving for approval leads to indulgence and betrayal of prior bonds, it highlights subtle causes of adharmic action that later mature into karmic consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat praise as information, not identity: stay steady in commitments, avoid flattery-driven decisions, and keep relationships guided by dharma rather than shifting gratification.