Shloka 4

Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma

Devanagari script

चलत्येकेन पादेन तिष्ठत्येकेन बुद्धिमान् / न परीक्ष्य परं स्थानं पूर्वमायतनं त्यजेत्

Transliteration

calatyekena pādena tiṣṭhatyekena buddhimān / na parīkṣya paraṃ sthānaṃ pūrvamāyatanaṃ tyajet

Translation

બુદ્ધિમાન એક પગથી આગળ વધે છે અને બીજા પગને દૃઢ રાખે છે. ઉત્તમ સ્થાનની તપાસ કર્યા વિના પૂર્વ આશ્રયસ્થાન ત્યજવું નહીં.

Word by Word

• चलति: moves, proceeds
• चलति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• पादेन: with (a) foot
• पादेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• तिष्ठति: stands
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• बुद्धिमान्: the wise man
• बुद्धिमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि + मत् (प्रातिपदिक; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• परीक्ष्य: having examined
• परीक्ष्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया

• परम्: higher, further
• परम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• स्थानम्: place, position
• स्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: former, previous
• पूर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• आयतनम्: abode, dwelling
• आयतनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Do not abandon a secure foundation without examining the superior alternative; proceed with balanced caution.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) and vairāgya guided by buddhi; avoiding rash attachment/aversion.

Application: Before changing job, residence, alliances, or practices, verify the new option’s stability and ethics; keep a fallback until certainty is gained.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (nīti/ācāra-style counsel cluster)

FAQs

What is the importance of prudence (parīkṣā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that dharmic living requires verification and discernment—one should not renounce a stable foundation until the better alternative is clearly established.

How does this verse guide a person on the right path (dharma-mārga)?

It advises balanced progress: move forward toward a higher goal while remaining anchored in tested principles, avoiding rash abandonment of what is already sound.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before major changes—spiritual commitments, vows, career shifts, or rituals—evaluate outcomes and stability; adopt improvements gradually without discarding proven supports prematurely.