Shloka 35

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

कुचेलिन दन्तमलोपधारिणं बह्वाशिनं निष्ठुरवाक्यभाषिणम् / सूर्योदये ह्यस्तमये ऽपि शायिनं विमुञ्चति श्रीरपि चक्रपाणिनम्

Transliteration

kucelina dantamalopadhāriṇaṃ bahvāśinaṃ niṣṭhuravākyabhāṣiṇam / sūryodaye hyastamaye 'pi śāyinaṃ vimuñcati śrīrapi cakrapāṇinam

Translation

Incluso Śrī—la prosperidad y la fortuna—abandona a un hombre, sí, aun si es devoto del Señor portador del Disco, cuando viste con desaliño, mantiene suciedad en los dientes, come en exceso, habla con dureza y se acuesta a dormir al amanecer y también al atardecer.

Word by Word

• kucelinam: wearing dirty clothes
• kucelinam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kucela (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc sg, adjective)

• danta-mala-upadhāriṇam: having dirt on the teeth
• danta-mala-upadhāriṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक) + mala (प्रातिपदिक) + upadhārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्राय); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc sg)

• bahu-āśinam: eating much
• bahu-āśinam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + āśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc sg)

• niṣṭhura-vākya-bhāṣiṇam: speaking harsh words
• niṣṭhura-vākya-bhāṣiṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣṭhura (प्रातिपदिक) + vākya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc sg)

• sūryodaye: at sunrise
• sūryodaye: Adhikaraṇa (Location/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūryodaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सूर्यस्य उदयः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (locative singular)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (indeed/for)

• astamaye: at sunset
• astamaye: Adhikaraṇa (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astamaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (locative singular)

• api: also/even
• api: Nipāta (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि (also/even)

• śāyinam: lying down/sleeping
• śāyinam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc sg)

• vimuñcati: abandons/lets go
• vimuñcati: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-muc (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (present, 3rd sg)

• śrīḥ: Fortune/Prosperity (Lakṣmī)
• śrīḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (nominative singular)

• api: even
• api: Nipāta (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि (even)

• cakrapāṇinam: the one with a discus in hand (Viṣṇu)
• cakrapāṇinam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास (यस्य पाणौ चक्रं सः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (accusative singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrī (prosperity) departs from one who neglects cleanliness, moderation, gentle speech, and proper daily rhythm—even if he is a Viṣṇu-bhakta.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti with śauca and sattva: inner devotion must be supported by outer discipline; tamas (sleeping at improper times) erodes auspiciousness.

Application: Maintain personal hygiene, moderate diet, kind speech, and a healthy circadian routine; treat devotion as a whole-life practice, not mere identity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: household/bedchamber and daily routine spaces

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.36 (expanded list of Lakṣmī-destroying habits); Garuda Purana 1.114.37 (Lakṣmī-restoring practices)

Characters & Entities

• Shri (Lakshmi)
• Chakrapani (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of personal discipline in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links prosperity (Śrī) with basic discipline—cleanliness, moderation in eating, gentle speech, and proper daily routine—showing that spiritual devotion alone is undermined by negligent conduct.

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

While not a preta-journey verse, it establishes the karmic foundation: habits like harsh speech, gluttony, and tamasic routine degrade one’s merit and stability, shaping future circumstances and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness, eat moderately, avoid harsh speech, and keep a disciplined schedule (avoid sleeping at inappropriate times); these support both material stability and steadiness in sādhana.