Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

शौर्ये तपसि दाने च यस्य न प्रथितं यशः / विद्यायामर्थलाभे वा मातुरुच्चार एव सः

Transliteration

śaurye tapasi dāne ca yasya na prathitaṃ yaśaḥ / vidyāyāmarthalābhe vā māturuccāra eva saḥ

Translation

ಶೌರ್ಯ, ತಪಸ್ಸು, ದಾನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರ ಯಶಸ್ಸು ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಲ್ಲವೋ, ವಿದ್ಯೆ ಅಥವಾ ಧನಲಾಭದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಖ್ಯಾತಿಯಿಲ್ಲವೋ—ಅವನು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ತಾಯಿಯ ಉಚ್ಚಾರಣೆಯಾದ ಹೆಸರಷ್ಟೇ.

Word by Word

• शौर्ये: in valor
• शौर्ये: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in respect of)

• तपसि: in austerity
• तपसि: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• दाने: in giving/charity
• दाने: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (relative pronoun: ‘whose’)

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

• प्रथितम्: renowned
• प्रथितम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + थि (धातु) → प्रथित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘renowned/celebrated’ (predicate with यशः)

• यशः: fame
• यशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विद्यायाम्: in learning/knowledge
• विद्यायाम्: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अर्थलाभे: in acquisition of wealth
• अर्थलाभे: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः: अर्थस्य लाभः (gain of wealth)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• मातुः: of the mother
• मातुः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of the mother)

• उच्चारः: utterance (mere calling)
• उच्चारः: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद् + चर् (धातु) → उच्चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• एव: only, merely
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (only/indeed)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संकेत (demonstrative pronoun)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A human life gains substance through recognized virtues—valor, austerity, charity, learning, and rightful prosperity; otherwise one is only a spoken name.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-karma over mere nāma-rūpa; excellence as purification of antaḥkaraṇa when aligned with dharma.

Application: Cultivate at least one pillar—discipline (tapas), generosity (dāna), learning (vidyā), courageous duty (śaurya)—and let reputation follow conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana exhortations to dāna, tapas, and dharmic living as meaningful use of human birth

FAQs

What is the importance of valor, tapas, and charity in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats śaurya (courage), tapas (self-discipline), and dāna (charity) as core markers of a life that becomes truly “known” through dharmic merit rather than mere existence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing the after-death journey directly, it frames the causes that shape one’s legacy and merit—virtue, knowledge, and right livelihood—which in Garuda Purana ethics support auspicious outcomes and reduce negative karmic consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate at least one pillar of dharmic excellence—service/charity, disciplined practice, learning, or honest prosperity—so life is defined by contribution and character, not merely by having been born.