Shloka 47

Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma

Devanagari script

शाश्वतं देवपूजादि विप्रदानं च शाश्वतम् / शाश्वतं सगुणा विद्या सुहृन्मित्रं च शाश्वतम्

Transliteration

śāśvataṃ devapūjādi vipradānaṃ ca śāśvatam / śāśvataṃ saguṇā vidyā suhṛnmitraṃ ca śāśvatam

Translation

ദേവപൂജ മുതലായ കർമ്മങ്ങൾ ശാശ്വതം; വിപ്രദാനം കൂടി ശാശ്വതം; ഗുണസമ്പന്നമായ വിദ്യ ശാശ്വതം; സത്യസുഹൃത്ത്-മിത്രവും ശാശ്വതം।

Word by Word

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• देव-पूजा-आदि: worship of gods and the like
• देव-पूजा-आदि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययार्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• विप्र-दानम्: gift to a Brahmin
• विप्र-दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

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

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• स-गुणा: endowed with virtues
• स-गुणा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (प्रातिपदिक; सहार्थ) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• विद्या: knowledge
• विद्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• सुहृत्-मित्रम्: a friend and well-wisher
• सुहृत्-मित्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

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

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa, Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain supports of life are ‘everlasting’ in worth: worship, gifts to worthy recipients, virtue-qualified learning, and genuine friendship.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-guṇa elevation through worship, dāna, and vidyā; saṅga (company) as a decisive factor in inner refinement.

Application: Maintain regular worship/thankfulness, practice discerning generosity, pursue ethical learning, and cultivate loyal friendships.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of dāna and worship as merit-producing and purifying (general)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Vipras (Brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What is the importance of deva-pūjā and dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse declares worship of the Devas and gifting (especially to brāhmaṇas) as “śāśvata”—enduring in value—highlighting them as foundational dharmic acts whose merit is considered lasting.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing enduring supports—worship, charity, virtuous knowledge, and noble friendship—the verse points to the kind of dharmic capital and inner refinement that the Garuda Purana repeatedly presents as helpful for one’s spiritual trajectory beyond this life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular worship or reverent practice, give thoughtfully to worthy recipients, pursue knowledge together with character, and cultivate friendships rooted in goodwill and dharma.