Shloka 12

The Eight Nidhis: Guna-Based Types of Wealth, Giving, Hoarding, and Public Benefit

Devanagari script

त्रिपू(पौ) रुषो निधिश्चैव आम्रारामादि कारयेत् / एकस्य स्यान्निधिः शङ्खः स्वयं भुङ्क्ते धनादि(न्त)कम्

Transliteration

tripū(pau) ruṣo nidhiścaiva āmrārāmādi kārayet / ekasya syānnidhiḥ śaṅkhaḥ svayaṃ bhuṅkte dhanādi(nta)kam

Translation

One should also establish a treasure (nidhi) and create mango-groves and the like. For one person, the “treasure” may be a sacred conch (śaṅkha); it itself yields benefit, granting wealth and the rest.

Word by Word

• त्रिपू: Tripū/Tripau (name; reading uncertain)
• त्रिपू: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + पू (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या-सम्बद्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (त्रयः पू/पवः इत्यादि; पाठभेदः—त्रिपू/त्रिपौ)

• रुषः: Ruṣa (name/‘anger’; uncertain)
• रुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; पाठ/अर्थ अनिश्चित (रुषः = anger/person named Ruṣa?)

• निधिः: treasure, store
• निधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• आम्रारामादि: mango-groves and the like
• आम्रारामादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आराम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आम्र-आराम-आदि = mango-groves etc.)

• कारयेत्: should cause to be made/should have made
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु), णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• एकस्य: of one (person)
• एकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be/should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• निधिः: treasure
• निधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शङ्खः: conch (also: one named Śaṅkha)
• शङ्खः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: by oneself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वार्थक-अव्यय (adverb)

• भुङ्क्ते: enjoys/consumes
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• धनादिन्तकम्: wealth etc. (ending/including wealth; reading uncertain)
• धनादिन्तकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धन-आदि-अन्तक = ending in wealth etc.; पाठभेदः—धनादि(न्त)कम्)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Create enduring sources of welfare (orchards, endowments); sacred objects like the śaṅkha symbolize and attract auspicious prosperity when aligned with dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Auspicious symbols as supports (ālambana) for sattva and bhakti; wealth becomes dharmic when made stable and shared.

Application: Plant and maintain community orchards; create endowments/trusts for public good; keep sacred symbols as reminders to use wealth ethically.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: grove/garden

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dana and public benefactions (arama, tadaga) as punya (general thematic link); Garuda Purana: Vishnu symbols (shankha) as auspicious in devotional contexts (general thematic link)

FAQs

What is the importance of creating mango groves (āmrārāma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents planting orchards and similar public-benefit works as meritorious acts that generate ongoing positive results, associated with prosperity and sustained benefit.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s view of karma and results?

It frames certain endowments—like establishing resources (nidhi) and orchards—as actions that continue to ‘yield’ results, reflecting the idea that karma can generate enduring outcomes beyond the moment of the deed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support long-term, public-benefit projects—planting trees, maintaining community resources, or sponsoring sustainable charities—so that the benefit continues and the merit is ongoing.