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Shloka 81

Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā

Devanagari script

विद्या नाम कुरूपरूपमधिकं विद्यातिगुप्तं धनं विद्या साधुकरी जनप्रियकरी विद्या गुरूणां गुरुः / विद्या बन्धुजनार्तिनाशनकरी विद्या परं दैवतं विद्या राजसु पूजिता हि मनुजो विद्यविहीनः पशुः

Transliteration

vidyā nāma kurūparūpamadhikaṃ vidyātiguptaṃ dhanaṃ vidyā sādhukarī janapriyakarī vidyā gurūṇāṃ guruḥ / vidyā bandhujanārtināśanakarī vidyā paraṃ daivataṃ vidyā rājasu pūjitā hi manujo vidyavihīnaḥ paśuḥ

Translation

La vidyā (connaissance) est un ornement qui surpasse la beauté même chez celui dont l’apparence est ingrate ; la vidyā est une richesse que l’on cache avec la plus sûre discrétion. La vidyā rend noble et chère aux hommes ; la vidyā est le maître des maîtres. La vidyā dissipe la peine des proches ; la vidyā est la divinité suprême. La vidyā est honorée parmi les rois ; l’homme sans vidyā est comme une bête.

Word by Word
विद्याknowledge/learning
विद्या:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
नामindeed/namely
नाम:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनाम (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle: ‘indeed/namely’)
कुरूपरूपम्ugly appearance
कुरूपरूपम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकुरूप + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘कुरूपं रूपम्’)
अधिकम्greater/superior
अधिकम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण
विद्यातिगुप्तम्well-hidden by knowledge
विद्यातिगुप्तम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootविद्या + अतिगुप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विद्यया अतिगुप्तम्)
धनम्wealth
धनम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootधन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
विद्याknowledge
विद्या:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
साधुकरीmaking one virtuous
साधुकरी:
Pradhana-predicative (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसाधु + करिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘साधुं करोति इति’)
जनप्रियकरीmaking one dear to people
जनप्रियकरी:
Pradhana-predicative (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootजन + प्रिय + करिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘जनस्य प्रियं करोति’)
विद्याknowledge
विद्या:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
गुरूणाम्of teachers
गुरूणाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
गुरुःteacher/master
गुरुः:
Pradhana-predicative (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
विद्याknowledge
विद्या:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
बन्धुजनार्तिनाशनकरीremoving the distress of kinsmen
बन्धुजनार्तिनाशनकरी:
Pradhana-predicative (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootबन्धु + जन + आर्ति + नाशन + करिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘बन्धुजनस्य आर्तिं नाशयति’)
विद्याknowledge
विद्या:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
परम्supreme
परम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण
दैवतम्deity/divinity
दैवतम्:
Pradhana-predicative (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootदैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
विद्याknowledge
विद्या:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
राजसुamong kings/in royal courts
राजसु:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootराजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
पूजिताis honored
पूजिता:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootपूज् (धातु)
Formकर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात
मनुजःa man/human
मनुजः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
विद्याविहीनःdevoid of knowledge
विद्याविहीनः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootविद्या + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘विद्यया विहीनः’ = devoid of knowledge)
पशुःbeast/animal
पशुः:
Pradhana-predicative (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootपशु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra) — general didactic praise of vidyā within the discourse

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vidyā as supreme wealth and inner ornament; it grants nobility, social esteem, guidance, and relief from suffering; ignorance dehumanizes.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā as bondage and vidyā as the means toward discernment (viveka); while not explicitly ātma-jñāna, it aligns with the Upaniṣadic valuation of knowledge over externals.

Application: Pursue lifelong learning; use knowledge to serve family/community, cultivate character, and develop discernment; treat education as a protected inner asset.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: court / public sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.115.82 (knowledge cannot be stolen); Garuda Purana didactic/nīti strands praising learning and right conduct

FAQs

This verse presents vidyā as the supreme inner wealth: it refines character, earns social respect, relieves family distress, and functions as one’s highest refuge—more enduring than external beauty or possessions.

While not describing afterlife mechanics directly, it frames the ethical foundation needed for right living: knowledge guides discernment and dharmic conduct, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly treats as decisive for one’s fate after death.

Invest in learning that builds discernment and virtue (not merely information): it protects you in adversity, improves relationships and reputation, and supports responsible action in family and society.

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