Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

न सदश्वः कशाघातं सिंहो न गजगर्जितम् / वीरो वा परनिर्दिष्टं न सहेद्भीमनिः स्वनम्

Transliteration

na sadaśvaḥ kaśāghātaṃ siṃho na gajagarjitam / vīro vā paranirdiṣṭaṃ na sahedbhīmaniḥ svanam

Translation

良き血統の馬は鞭打ちに耐えず、獅子は象の咆哮を許さない。同じく真の勇者は「他人のもの」と指さされることに耐えられず、恐ろしくも辱めの叫び声にも耐えられない。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध

• सत्: good
• सत्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (अश्वः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; 'good')

• अश्वः: horse
• अश्वः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• कशा: whip
• कशा: Sambandha (Genitive relation within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (stem in compound; 'whip')

• आघातम्: blow/strike
• आघातम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन

• कशाघातम्: a whip-blow
• कशाघातम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कशा + आघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; कशाया आघातः (whip-strike)

• सिंहः: lion
• सिंहः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध

• गज: elephant
• गज: Sambandha (Genitive relation within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (stem in compound; 'elephant')

• गर्जितम्: roaring
• गर्जितम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्जित (कृदन्त; गर्ज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (sound/roar as noun)

• गजगर्जितम्: elephant-roaring
• गजगर्जितम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + गर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; गजस्य गर्जितम् (elephant-roar)

• वीरः: hero/brave man
• वीरः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• पर: other
• पर: Sambandha (Genitive relation within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (stem in compound; 'other')

• निर्दिष्टम्: indicated/uttered
• निर्दिष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्दिष्ट (कृदन्त; नि+दिश् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (स्वनम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; 'pointed out/mentioned')

• परनिर्दिष्टम्: spoken by another
• परनिर्दिष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + निर्दिष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; परेण निर्दिष्टम् (indicated by another)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध

• सहेत्: should endure/tolerate
• सहेत्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भीम: terrible
• भीम: Sambandha (Genitive relation within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (stem in compound; 'terrible')

• निःस्वनम्: sound
• निःस्वनम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निःस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (sound)

• भीमनिःस्वनम्: a dreadful sound
• भीमनिःस्वनम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम + निःस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; भीमः निःस्वनः (a terrible sound)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Noble beings resist degrading treatment; a 'vira' preserves autonomy and honor, refusing humiliating labels and intimidation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as alignment with one’s svadharma and inner dignity; managing rajas (valor) without falling into adharma.

Application: Set boundaries against humiliation and coercion; protect personal integrity; avoid environments that normalize degradation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110 (niti on avoiding the wicked, preserving dignity, steadfastness)

FAQs

What is the importance of personal honor (vīratva) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames honor as a dharmic quality: the ‘vīra’ is portrayed as one who cannot tolerate humiliation or being treated as another’s possession, emphasizing inner dignity and steadfastness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it teaches the mindset of courage and self-command valued in dharma; such virtues support right conduct, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly links to one’s post-death outcomes through karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate self-respect without cruelty: avoid degrading dependence, stand firm against intimidation, and choose dharmic actions that preserve dignity—for yourself and others.