Shloka 73
Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā
स्थानस्थितानि पूज्यन्ते पूज्यन्ते च पदे स्थिताः / स्थानभ्रष्टा न पूज्यन्ते केशा दन्ता नखा नराः
sthānasthitāni pūjyante pūjyante ca pade sthitāḥ / sthānabhraṣṭā na pūjyante keśā dantā nakhā narāḥ
Segala yang berada pada tempatnya dihormati; manusia pun dihormati bila teguh pada kedudukannya yang benar. Namun bila tersingkir dari tempatnya, ia tak lagi dihormati—seperti rambut, gigi, kuku, bahkan manusia (bila jatuh dari dharma).
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Honor adheres to things/persons when they remain in proper place and conduct; displacement (physical or ethical) leads to loss of respect.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as sustaining order; loss of inner alignment manifests outwardly as loss of esteem—worldly honor is contingent, but inner rectitude is the true ‘place’.
Application: Maintain ācāra and role-responsibilities; avoid actions that ‘dislodge’ one from integrity; practice humility and self-governance to preserve dignity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): aphoristic dharma teachings on ācāra, fall from conduct, and social consequences
FAQs
This verse teaches that honor naturally follows when a person or thing remains aligned with its rightful place—meaning appropriate conduct, duty, and context; when that alignment is lost, respect diminishes.
Indirectly, it emphasizes dharma as the foundation of dignity and spiritual steadiness; falling from right conduct (sthānabhraṣṭa) is portrayed as a loss of worth, which aligns with the Purana’s broader view that moral order shapes one’s fate.
Maintain integrity and role-appropriate behavior—at home, work, and in society—because respect is sustained by right conduct and context, not merely by status or appearance.