Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

लवणजलान्ता नद्यः स्त्रीभेदान्तं च मैथुनम् / षैशुन्यं जनवार्तान्तं वित्तं दुः खत्रयान्तकम्

Transliteration

lavaṇajalāntā nadyaḥ strībhedāntaṃ ca maithunam / ṣaiśunyaṃ janavārtāntaṃ vittaṃ duḥ khatrayāntakam

Translation

નદીઓ લવણજળ (સમુદ્ર)માં અંત પામે છે; અને મૈથુન સ્ત્રી-પુરુષના ભેદમાં પર્યવસાન પામે છે. ચુગલી-ક્ષુદ્ર વાત જનવાર્તા (લોકગપસપ)માં સમાપ્ત થાય છે; અને ધન અંતે ત્રિવિધ દુઃખનું કારણ બને છે.

Word by Word

• lavaṇa: salt
• lavaṇa: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lavaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• jala: water
• jala: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• antāḥ: ending in
• antāḥ: Karta (Predicate-adjective/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; 'ending in' (as predicate adjective)

• nadyaḥ: rivers
• nadyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• strī: woman
• strī: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• bheda: difference, division
• bheda: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• antam: ending in
• antam: Karta (Predicate-adjective/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासान्त-पद

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• maithunam: sexual union
• maithunam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• ṣaiśunyam: childishness, folly
• ṣaiśunyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaiśunya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• jana: people
• jana: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• vārttā: talk, gossip, news
• vārttā: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārttā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• antam: ending in
• antam: Karta (Predicate-adjective/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासान्त-पद

• vittam: wealth
• vittam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• duḥkha: sorrow
• duḥkha: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• traya: threefold
• traya: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); संख्यावाचक

• antakam: ending in (bringing) an end
• antakam: Karta (Predicate-adjective/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासान्त-पद; 'ending in/destructive end'

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All pursuits have predictable endpoints: rivers to the salty sea; sexual union to differentiation/discord of sexes; petty talk to public gossip; wealth to threefold misery—therefore cultivate discernment and detachment.

Vedantic Theme: Parinama-duhkha and tritapa (adhyatmika/adhibhautika/adhidaivika) as grounds for vairagya; seeing samsara’s inherent dissatisfaction.

Application: Moderate desire and speech; avoid gossip cycles; treat wealth as instrument not identity; cultivate contentment and spiritual priorities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-geographic feature

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent emphasis on tritapa and the futility of worldly attachments in niti and moksha-oriented passages

FAQs

What is the importance of duḥkha-traya (threefold suffering) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames wealth and worldly fixation as ultimately terminating in duḥkha-traya—inner distress, suffering caused by other beings, and suffering from divine/natural forces—encouraging vairāgya (detachment) and dharmic living.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

By highlighting how sense-pleasures and possessions end in suffering, it supports the broader Purāṇic aim of turning the mind from transient pursuits toward dharma, purification, and liberation-oriented conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat wealth and pleasure as tools, not identity: curb gossip, reduce compulsive indulgence, and prioritize charity, self-discipline, and spiritual practice to lessen avoidable suffering.