Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

अदृष्टपूर्वा बहवः सहायाः सर्वे पदस्थस्य भवन्ति मित्राः / अर्थैर्विहीनस्य पदच्युतस्य भवत्यकाले स्वजनो ऽपि शत्रुः

Transliteration

adṛṣṭapūrvā bahavaḥ sahāyāḥ sarve padasthasya bhavanti mitrāḥ / arthairvihīnasya padacyutasya bhavatyakāle svajano 'pi śatruḥ

Translation

Banyak penolong yang belum pernah terlihat sebelumnya pun bermunculan; bagi orang yang berada di kedudukan, semua menjadi sahabat. Namun ketika ia kehilangan harta dan jatuh dari martabat, pada saat yang buruk bahkan kerabat sendiri menjadi musuh.

Word by Word

• अदृष्टपूर्वाः: previously unseen
• अदृष्टपूर्वाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदृष्ट + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—अदृष्ट-पूर्व (not seen before)

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• सहायाः: helpers, companions
• सहायाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• पदस्थस्य: of one in position
• पदस्थस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः—पद-स्थ (standing in position/power)

• भवन्ति: become, are
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मित्राः: friends
• मित्राः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अर्थैः: with wealth; by means of wealth
• अर्थैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• विहीनस्य: of one deprived
• विहीनस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + हीन (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त/निष्ठान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• पदच्युतस्य: of one fallen from office
• पदच्युतस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद + च्युत (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—पद-च्युत (fallen from position)

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अकाले: at an untimely time; in adversity
• अकाले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे—'समये न'

• स्वजनः: one’s own people/kinsman
• स्वजनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• शत्रुः: an enemy
• शत्रुः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly friendship often follows wealth and position; when fortune declines, support evaporates and hostility can arise.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) of saṃsāric relations; reliance on the Self/Īśvara rather than fickle social approval.

Application: Build resilience beyond status; cultivate a few tested relationships; avoid arrogance in success and prepare for reversals.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (nīti on friends, wealth, and adversity)

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment from wealth and status in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that social support often follows power and money; recognizing this helps cultivate vairagya (dispassion) and steadiness in dharma rather than dependence on fickle relationships.

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

It highlights impermanence in worldly bonds—an idea repeatedly used in Garuda Purana discussions to turn the mind away from external supports and toward dharma, punya, and spiritual preparation beyond social standing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Build character and dharmic conduct over reputation; choose relationships rooted in integrity, and plan life decisions assuming wealth/status can change quickly.