Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

पर्वतारोहणे तोये गोकुले दुष्टनिग्रहे / पतितस्य समुत्थाने शस्ताः पञ्च (ह्येते) गुणाः स्मृताः

Transliteration

parvatārohaṇe toye gokule duṣṭanigrahe / patitasya samutthāne śastāḥ pañca (hyete) guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

山に登るとき、水を渡るとき、牛の群れを守るとき、悪しき者を抑えるとき、そして倒れた者を起こし立てるとき——この五つの徳は、称賛すべきものとして記憶される。

Word by Word

• पर्वतारोहणे: in mountain-climbing
• पर्वतारोहणे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + आरोहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘पर्वतस्य आरोहणे’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• तोये: in water
• तोये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• गोकुले: in a cowherd-settlement
• गोकुले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दुष्टनिग्रहे: in restraining the wicked
• दुष्टनिग्रहे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘दुष्टस्य निग्रहे’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• पतितस्य: of a fallen person
• पतितस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त; √पत् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘fallen’

• समुत्थाने: in raising up (restoration)
• समुत्थाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुत्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• शस्ताः: commended
• शस्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शस्त (कृदन्त; √शंस् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘praised/commended’

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत्/अविकारी; ‘five’ (गुणान् विशेषयति)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे ‘indeed/for’

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• गुणाः: qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are remembered/said
• स्मृताः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृत (कृदन्त; √स्मृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) कर्मणि/भावे—‘are remembered/are said’ (लट्-समकक्षः प्रयोगः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pañca guṇāḥ—commendable virtues shown in crisis: endurance in ascent, skill in crossing waters, protection of dependents, restraint of the wicked, and raising the fallen.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: right action (dharma) performed for loka-saṅgraha; cultivation of sattva through protective, non-cruel strength.

Application: Train reliability under pressure: help in emergencies, protect vulnerable beings, set boundaries against harmful conduct, and actively support those who have failed or fallen.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: wilderness and pastoral landscape; river/ford; village outskirts

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma/Acara sections): praise of sadācāra, go-rakṣa, and helping the distressed (anukampā)

FAQs

What is the importance of these five qualities in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights five contexts where dharmic character is tested—endurance, courage, protection, moral restraint, and compassion—presenting them as exemplary virtues to cultivate.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing dharmic conduct—helping the fallen and restraining wrongdoing—it indirectly points to the kind of merit and character that support a wholesome post-death journey described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice steadiness in hardship, help others recover from setbacks, protect those under your care, and oppose harmful behavior without cruelty—these are concrete, daily forms of dharma.