Shloka 13

Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā

Devanagari script

अधमा धनमिच्छन्ति धनमानौ हि मध्यमाः / उत्तमा मानमिच्छन्ति मानो हि महतां धनम्

Transliteration

adhamā dhanamicchanti dhanamānau hi madhyamāḥ / uttamā mānamicchanti māno hi mahatāṃ dhanam

Translation

卑しき者は財を望み、中ほどの者は財と名誉の両方を望む。高貴なる者は名誉のみを望む—名誉こそ偉大なる者の真の財である。

Word by Word

• अधमाः: the lowest (people)
• अधमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• इच्छन्ति: desire
• इच्छन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• धनमानौ: wealth and honour
• धनमानौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन-मान (प्रातिपदिक; धन + मान)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (wealth and honour)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतुबोधक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मध्यमाः: the middling (people)
• मध्यमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता (अर्थतः)

• उत्तमाः: the best (people)
• उत्तमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता

• मानम्: honour
• मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• इच्छन्ति: desire
• इच्छन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मानः: honour
• मानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतुबोधक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• महताम्: of the great
• महताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• धनम्: wealth/treasure
• धनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True greatness prioritizes māna over mere artha; mixed aims mark the middling; fixation on wealth marks the low.

Vedantic Theme: Ordering of puruṣārthas: dharma (and inner worth) governs artha; sattvic aspiration refines desire.

Application: Audit personal goals: shift from accumulation to integrity; measure success by trust, character, and principled living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti cluster on māna as ‘dhana’ of the great

FAQs

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

This verse teaches that inner dignity and earned respect are superior to money; for the truly noble, honor itself becomes the highest form of wealth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By prioritizing dharmic virtues over greed, it implies that one’s ethical character and reputation shape one’s spiritual trajectory more than mere accumulation of wealth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose integrity over profit, seek respect through right conduct, and treat reputation as a moral responsibility rather than a status symbol.