Shloka 25

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

वृद्धाः स्त्रियो नवं मद्यं शुष्कं मांसं त्रिमूलकम् / रात्रौ दधि दिवा स्वप्नं विद्वान्षट् परिवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

vṛddhāḥ striyo navaṃ madyaṃ śuṣkaṃ māṃsaṃ trimūlakam / rātrau dadhi divā svapnaṃ vidvānṣaṭ parivarjayet

Translation

വിദ്വാന്‍ ഈ ആറെണ്ണം ഒഴിവാക്കണം—വൃദ്ധസ്ത്രീകളുടെ സാന്നിധ്യം, പുതുമദ്യം, ഉണക്കമാംസം, ത്രിമൂലക ഔഷധം, രാത്രിയില്‍ തൈര്, പകലില്‍ നിദ്ര.

Word by Word

• वृद्धाः: old people
• वृद्धाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• नवम्: new; fresh
• नवम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to मद्यम्)

• मद्यम्: liquor; alcohol
• मद्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शुष्कम्: dry
• शुष्कम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to मांसम्)

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• त्रिमूलकम्: the ‘three-root’ preparation (trimūlaka)
• त्रिमूलकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मूलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि मूलानि यस्य)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (वैकल्पिक-रूप: रात्रौ)

• दधि: curd; yogurt
• दधि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दिवा: by day; in daytime
• दिवा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• स्वप्नम्: sleep
• स्वप्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विद्वान्: a wise person
• विद्वान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक; √विद् + वस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• षट्: six (things)
• षट्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सामान्यतः) प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनार्थे; संख्या-शब्दः (numeral)

• परिवर्जयेत्: should avoid
• परिवर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि√वृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A wise person avoids specific associations and consumptions that disturb health, judgment, and ethical steadiness.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-protection: guarding the mind through regulated diet, sleep, and company to support higher aims.

Application: Avoid intoxicants and improper timing/combination of foods; regulate sleep; be discerning about company that destabilizes vows or focus.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.28 (day-sleep and night-wakefulness as disease-causes); Garuda Purana 1.114.26 (food in indigestion as poison)

FAQs

What is the importance of self-restraint in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse frames dharmic living as practical restraint—avoiding specific foods, intoxicants, and habits that disturb clarity, health, and disciplined conduct.

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

Indirectly: by prescribing disciplined living, it supports sattvic habits believed to strengthen virtue (puṇya) and reduce actions that lead to suffering in post-death states described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid intoxicants and disruptive routines, keep moderation in diet, and maintain consistent sleep habits—using restraint as a foundation for ethical and spiritual practice.