Shloka 27

Nīti-Upadeśa: Discernment, Proper Use of Resources, and Social Strategy

Devanagari script

लोकयात्रा भयं लज्जा दाक्षिण्यं दानशीलता / पञ्च यत्र न विद्यन्ते न तत्र दिवसं वसेत्

Transliteration

lokayātrā bhayaṃ lajjā dākṣiṇyaṃ dānaśīlatā / pañca yatra na vidyante na tatra divasaṃ vaset

Translation

Tata krama dunia, takut pada dharma, rasa malu, kesantunan, dan sifat dermawan—di tempat yang tidak memiliki lima ini, jangan tinggal walau sehari.

Word by Word

• लोकयात्रा: worldly conduct/social practice
• लोकयात्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—लोकस्य यात्रा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• लज्जा: shame/modesty
• लज्जा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• दाक्षिण्यम्: courtesy/gentleness
• दाक्षिण्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाक्षिण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• दानशीलता: habit of generosity
• दानशीलता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + शीलता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—दानं शीलं यस्याः/दानशीलस्य भावः (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयाधारित)

• पञ्च: five (qualities)
• पञ्च: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचनार्थे (five—collective)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (relative adverb 'where')

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• विद्यन्ते: exist/are found
• विद्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु) (सत्तायाम्)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb 'there')

• दिवसम्: for a day
• दिवसम्: Kala (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कालपरिमाणे (accusative of duration)

• वसेत्: should dwell/stay
• वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoid places lacking loka-yātrā (social propriety), bhaya (moral fear of wrongdoing), lajjā (modesty), dākṣiṇya (courtesy), and dāna-śīlatā (charitable nature).

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-saṅga: association shapes mind; choose environments that cultivate sattva and restrain rajas/tamas.

Application: Assess a workplace/neighborhood by norms: honesty, accountability, modesty, civility, and generosity; if absent, minimize exposure or relocate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: settlement/community

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110.26, 1.110.28 (residence criteria via pañcaka lists)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of these five virtues in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents five social-moral pillars—decorum, restraint from wrongdoing, modesty, courtesy, and charity—as markers of a healthy dharmic community; their absence signals a place unfit for spiritual and ethical living.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader dharma teaching?

Even when the text discusses death, karma, and afterlife, it repeatedly grounds liberation in day-to-day dharma; this verse emphasizes that one’s environment should support virtue, otherwise it erodes conduct and karmic clarity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose communities and workplaces that value integrity, respect, kindness, and generosity; if an environment normalizes shameless wrongdoing and lack of compassion, minimize association and relocate when possible.