Shloka 51
Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma
तर्के ऽप्रतिष्ठा श्रुतयो विभिन्नाः नासावृषिर्यस्य मतं न भिन्नम् / धर्मस्य तत्त्वं निहितं गुहायां महाजनो येन गतः स पन्थाः
tarke 'pratiṣṭhā śrutayo vibhinnāḥ nāsāvṛṣiryasya mataṃ na bhinnam / dharmasya tattvaṃ nihitaṃ guhāyāṃ mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ
തർക്കത്തിന് അന്തിമ പ്രതിഷ്ഠയില്ല; ശ്രുതികളും വ്യത്യസ്തമാണ്. ഭിന്നമായ അഭിപ്രായമില്ലാത്തവൻ ഋഷിയല്ല. ധർമ്മത്തിന്റെ തത്ത്വം ഗുഹയിൽ നിഹിതമാണ്; അതിനാൽ മഹാജനങ്ങൾ നടന്ന പാതയേ പാത.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)
Concept: Pure reasoning is inconclusive and texts vary; dharma is subtle—therefore rely on the path trodden by the great (mahājanas) and realized tradition.
Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa-vicāra: śabda-pramāṇa and sadācāra of āptas; dharma-sūkṣmatā; guru/paramparā as guide when tarka conflicts.
Application: When ethical dilemmas are complex, consult trustworthy exemplars/teachers, lived traditions, and community-tested norms; cultivate humility about one’s arguments; prioritize integrity over novelty.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: inner realm (hṛdaya-guhā)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (nīti on dharma and discernment)
FAQs
This verse teaches that when logic and scriptures appear conflicting, dharma is best understood by following the lived example of recognized great authorities (mahājanas) who embody the tradition.
Indirectly, it frames spiritual progress as requiring reliable guidance: the soul’s welfare depends on dharma, and dharma is discerned not by argument alone but by the proven path upheld by realized exemplars.
When unsure about right action, prioritize sincere practice grounded in authentic lineage/teachers and time-tested dharmic conduct rather than endless debate or purely personal opinion.