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
あるべき所にあるものは尊ばれ、人もまた正しい位に立つとき尊ばれる。だが本来の所を外れれば尊ばれない――髪・歯・爪のように、そして正しい行いから堕ちた人もまた同じである。
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.