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Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

वृक्षं क्षीणफलं त्यजन्ति विहगाः शुष्कं सरः सारसानिर्द्रव्यं पुरुषं त्यजन्ति गणिका भ्रष्टं नृपं मन्त्रिणः / पुष्पं पर्युषितं त्यजन्ति मधुपाः दर्ग्ध वनान्तं मृगाः सर्वः कार्यवशाज्जनो हि रमते कस्यास्ति को वल्लभः

Transliteration

vṛkṣaṃ kṣīṇaphalaṃ tyajanti vihagāḥ śuṣkaṃ saraḥ sārasānirdravyaṃ puruṣaṃ tyajanti gaṇikā bhraṣṭaṃ nṛpaṃ mantriṇaḥ / puṣpaṃ paryuṣitaṃ tyajanti madhupāḥ dargdha vanāntaṃ mṛgāḥ sarvaḥ kāryavaśājjano hi ramate kasyāsti ko vallabhaḥ

Translation

実が尽きれば鳥は木を捨て、池が干上がれば鶴は去る。財なき男を遊女は離れ、権勢を失った王を大臣は見捨てる。花が萎れれば蜂は寄らず、森が焼ければ鹿は逃げる。人は用がある間だけ結びつく——いったい誰が誰の真の「愛しき者」なのか。

Word by Word
vṛkṣamtree
vṛkṣam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन
kṣīṇa-phalamwith withered fruit / fruitless
kṣīṇa-phalam:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkṣīṇa (कृदन्त, √kṣi क्षि) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वृक्षम्)
tyajantiabandon
tyajanti:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√tyaj (त्यज्)
Formलट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद
vihagāḥbirds
vihagāḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvihaga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
śuṣkamdry
śuṣkam:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśuṣka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (saraḥ)
saraḥlake
saraḥ:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (छन्दसि/प्रयोगे रूपसाम्यं)
sārasāḥcranes (sārasas)
sārasāḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsārasa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
nirdravyamwithout wealth
nirdravyam:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootnir- (उपसर्ग) + dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (puruṣam)
puruṣamman
puruṣam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
tyajantiabandon
tyajanti:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√tyaj (त्यज्)
Formलट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद
gaṇikāḥcourtesans
gaṇikāḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgaṇikā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
bhraṣṭamfallen / ruined
bhraṣṭam:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhraṣṭa (कृदन्त, √bhraṃś भ्रंश्/भ्रश्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण (nṛpam)
nṛpamking
nṛpam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootnṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
mantriṇaḥministers
mantriṇaḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
puṣpamflower
puṣpam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpuṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
paryuṣitamstale / withered (kept too long)
paryuṣitam:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpari- (उपसर्ग) + uṣita (कृदन्त, √vas वस्/√uṣ उष्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण (puṣpam)
tyajantiabandon
tyajanti:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√tyaj (त्यज्)
Formलट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद
madhupāḥbees
madhupāḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmadhupa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
dagdhamburnt
dagdham:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdagdha (कृदन्त, √dah दह्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण (vanāntam)
vanāntamforest-region / forest interior
vanāntam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvana (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वनस्य अन्तः)
mṛgāḥdeer/animals
mṛgāḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
sarvaḥeveryone
sarvaḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
kārya-vaśātdue to necessity / under compulsion of work
kārya-vaśāt:
Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Reason)
TypeNoun
Rootkārya (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (कार्यस्य वशः)
janaḥperson
janaḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootjana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; sarvaḥ इत्यस्य विशेष्य
hiindeed
hi:
Sambandha/Particle
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (emphatic/indeed)
ramatedelights / attaches
ramate:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ram (रम्)
Formलट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद
kasyaof whom
kasya:
Sambandha (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक
astiis
asti:
Kriya (Existence/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√as (अस्)
Formलट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
kaḥwho
kaḥ:
Karta/Predicate nominal
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक
vallabhaḥbeloved
vallabhaḥ:
Predicate (Pradhāna-nāma)
TypeNoun
Rootvallabha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly relationships often persist due to utility; therefore one should not mistake convenience for enduring love or belonging.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatva (impermanence) and asakti (non-attachment) as supports for viveka; loosening aham-mama (I/mine) clinging.

Application: Cultivate discernment in friendships and alliances; invest in dharma and inner steadiness rather than expecting permanence from external supports.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma-niti sections): teachings on vairagya, friendship, and the unreliability of worldly ties (general parallel themes)

FAQs

This verse emphasizes that most worldly attachments are conditional and utility-driven, encouraging vairāgya so one anchors life in dharma rather than unstable social ties.

By highlighting the unreliability of worldly support, it implicitly directs the listener toward spiritual preparation—merit (puṇya), right conduct, and remembrance of the Divine—since companions and status do not accompany the soul.

Build relationships on integrity and duty, not transaction; cultivate savings and service without arrogance; and practice daily remembrance/discipline so your stability doesn’t depend on wealth, power, or praise.

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