Shloka 53

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

पूर्वं पश्चाच्चरन्त्यार्ये सदैव बहुसम्पदः / विपरीतमनार्ये च यथेच्छसि तथा चर

Transliteration

pūrvaṃ paścāccarantyārye sadaiva bahusampadaḥ / viparītamanārye ca yathecchasi tathā cara

Translation

Bagi insan mulia, kelimpahan selalu mengikuti—di depan dan di belakang. Bagi yang tak mulia, keadaannya berlawanan. Maka hiduplah sebagaimana engkau memilih—pilihlah jalan mulia.

Word by Word

• पूर्वम्: first, beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Sambandha (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: first/before)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Sambandha (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (afterwards)

• चरन्ति: move, come, occur
• चरन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• आर्ये: in the noble (person)
• आर्ये: Adhikarana (Location/Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in/for the noble person)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• बहुसम्पदः: many prosperities
• बहुसम्पदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + sampad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बहु + सम्पद् = many prosperities), स्त्रीलिङ्ग ‘सम्पद्’, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• विपरीतम्: conversely, the opposite
• विपरीतम्: Sambandha (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (neuter accusative used adverbially: conversely/otherwise)

• अनार्ये: in the ignoble (person)
• अनार्ये: Adhikarana (Location/Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

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

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as, in whatever way)

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• तथा: so
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तद्वत् (so, accordingly)

• चर: act, conduct yourself
• चर: Kriya (Command/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prosperity tends to accompany the noble (ārya) and elude the ignoble (anārya); choose conduct that aligns with nobility and virtue.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala in social life; sattvic character as a magnet for auspicious outcomes; agency in choosing śreyas-oriented living.

Application: Adopt integrity, generosity, restraint, and reliability; avoid deceit and cruelty; build habits that attract trust and stable prosperity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.49-52 (sequence of nīti teachings culminating in choice of noble conduct)

FAQs

What is the importance of noble conduct (ārya-dharma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that prosperity and well-being naturally accompany the noble, implying that dharmic conduct shapes favorable outcomes in life.

How does this verse explain karma in simple terms?

It contrasts two patterns: righteous character attracts supportive results, while ignoble behavior brings the opposite—highlighting karma as a moral cause-and-effect.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose consistent ethical conduct—truthfulness, restraint, and fairness—because the text frames prosperity as something that follows the noble way of living.