Shloka 12

Devanagari script

मातृवत्परदारेषु परद्रव्येषु लोष्टवत् / आत्मवत् सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्यति स पण्डितः

Transliteration

mātṛvatparadāreṣu paradravyeṣu loṣṭavat / ātmavat sarvabhūteṣu yaḥ paśyati sa paṇḍitaḥ

Translation

പരസ്ത്രീയെ മാതാവുപോലെ, പരധനത്തെ മണ്ണുകട്ടപോലെ, എല്ലാ ജീവികളെയും തനിക്കുപോലെ കാണുന്നവൻ—അവനാണ് യഥാർത്ഥ പണ്ഡിതൻ.

Word by Word

• मातृवत्: as (one's) mother
• मातृवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (adverbial: like a mother)

• परदारेषु: in others' wives
• परदारेषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परस्य दाराः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• परद्रव्येषु: in others' property
• परद्रव्येषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परस्य द्रव्यम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• लोष्टवत्: like a lump of clay
• लोष्टवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: लोष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (adverbial: like a clod)

• आत्मवत्: as oneself
• आत्मवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (adverbial: as oneself)

• सर्वभूतेषु: in all beings
• सर्वभूतेषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे (सर्वाणि भूतानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• पश्यति: sees, regards
• पश्यति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Correlative subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पण्डितः: a wise person
• पण्डितः: Pradhāna (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Triad of ethical vision: treat others’ spouses with maternal reverence, others’ wealth as worthless, and all beings as oneself—this is paṇḍitatva (true wisdom).

Vedantic Theme: Ātma-aikya/maitrī: seeing oneself in all beings (sarva-bhūta-ātma-bhāva) aligned with non-dual insight and compassion.

Application: Cultivate boundaries and respect in relationships; practice non-covetousness (asteya/aparigraha); develop empathy through perspective-taking and service.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma-nīti passages emphasizing sadācāra and compassion (general parallel motifs)

FAQs

What is the importance of dharmic conduct (ācāra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines true wisdom as disciplined perception—respecting others’ relationships, renouncing greed for others’ wealth, and practicing empathy toward all beings—making ācāra the foundation of dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

While not describing afterlife mechanics directly, it establishes the ethical restraint and compassion that reduce sinful karma—central to avoiding suffering and progressing toward a higher spiritual outcome in Garuda Purana’s moral framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat others’ partners with reverence, refuse unethical gain, and practice empathy in speech and action—these three habits summarize the verse’s guidance for ethical living.