Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

देवद्रव्यविनाशेन ब्रह्मस्वहरणेन च / कुलान्यकुलतां यान्ति ब्राह्मणातिक्रमेण च

Transliteration

devadravyavināśena brahmasvaharaṇena ca / kulānyakulatāṃ yānti brāhmaṇātikrameṇa ca

Translation

Dengan merusak harta persembahan bagi para Deva, dengan mencuri milik kaum Brahmana, dan dengan melanggar serta menghina Brahmana—bahkan keluarga mulia pun jatuh ke dalam kehinaan.

Word by Word

• देवद्रव्यविनाशेन: by destruction of divine property
• देवद्रव्यविनाशेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः (देवस्य द्रव्यस्य विनाशः) (instrumental singular: by destruction of temple/god's property)

• ब्रह्मस्वहरणेन: by stealing brahmin property
• ब्रह्मस्वहरणेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मस्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मस्वस्य हरणम् = stealing Brahmin property) (instrumental singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• कुलानि: families/lineages
• कुलानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (neuter nominative plural)

• अकुलताम्: to a state of being without lineage/disgrace
• अकुलताम्: Karma (Object/goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकुलता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (feminine accusative singular)

• यान्ति: go (become)
• यान्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person plural present: go/come to)

• ब्राह्मणातिक्रमेण: by offending/transgressing against a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणातिक्रमेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + अतिक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्राह्मणस्य अतिक्रमः = transgression against a Brahmin) (instrumental singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Desecration of deva property, theft of brahmin property, and offense against brahmins cause kula-nāśa: families lose status and fall into disgrace.

Vedantic Theme: Violation of dharma destabilizes both visible social order and invisible karmic order; sacred trust (ārādhana/arcana resources) must be protected.

Application: Protect religious endowments and community assets; avoid exploitation of clergy/teachers; treat sacred funds with fiduciary care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114 (prohibitions regarding deva-dravya and brahma-sva; consequences)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahmins (Brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What is the importance of protecting deva-dravya (temple or deity-dedicated wealth) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats deva-dravya as sacred; destroying or wasting it is a serious adharma that produces tangible karmic decline, including loss of family honor and status.

How does this verse explain karmic consequences beyond the individual?

It states that certain grave acts—like harming deity-dedicated property, stealing brahmasva, or offending Brahmins—can bring collective repercussions, causing an entire lineage to fall into disgrace.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Handle religious donations, temple resources, and charitable endowments with transparency and respect; avoid misuse of sacred funds, and cultivate humility and non-violence in conduct toward teachers, priests, and learned communities.