Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठः पितृसमो भ्राता मृते पितरि शौनक / सर्वेषां स पिता हि स्यात्सर्वेषामनुपालकः

Transliteration

jyeṣṭhaḥ pitṛsamo bhrātā mṛte pitari śaunaka / sarveṣāṃ sa pitā hi syātsarveṣāmanupālakaḥ

Translation

ഹേ ശൗനകാ! പിതാവ് മരിച്ചാൽ ജ്യേഷ്ഠ സഹോദരൻ പിതാവിനുതുല്യനാകുന്നു. അവൻ തന്നെയാണ് എല്ലാവർക്കും പിതാവും എല്ലാവരെയും പോഷിപ്പിക്കുന്ന രക്ഷകനും.

Word by Word

• ज्येष्ठः: the eldest
• ज्येष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (masculine, nominative singular; adjective)

• पितृसमः: equal to a father
• पितृसमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पितुः समः = like a father) (masculine nominative singular)

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• मृते: when (he) has died
• मृते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (locative singular; past passive participle: 'when (he) is dead')

• पितरि: in/when the father (is gone)
• पितरि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (masculine locative singular)

• शौनक: O Śaunaka
• शौनक: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन (masculine vocative singular)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (pronoun; masculine nominative singular)

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (may/should be; 3rd person singular optative)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• अनुपालकः: protector/guardian
• अनुपालकः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु + पाल (धातु) + ण्वुल्/अक (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि कृदन्त (agent noun: protector) (masculine nominative singular)

Speaker

Narrator/Teacher addressing Śaunaka (instructional discourse within Garuḍa Purāṇa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Jyeṣṭha-bhrātṛ as pitṛ-samāna: the eldest brother must protect and maintain the family when the father is deceased.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as loka-saṅgraha (upholding social order) and niṣkāma responsibility within relationships.

Application: In inheritance/guardianship situations, the eldest should act as caretaker, ensuring welfare, education, and fair provision for all dependents.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114 (family governance and sadācāra context)

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Pitṛ (father)

FAQs

What is the importance of the eldest brother’s role in the Garuda Purana?

This verse establishes that after the father’s death, the eldest brother assumes a father-like dharmic duty—protecting, maintaining, and guiding the entire family.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on death-related duties?

It frames bereavement not only as a ritual period but also as a transfer of responsibility: the household must remain protected and supported, with the eldest taking leadership for dependents.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In a family crisis, the eldest (or primary responsible member) should ensure financial stability, emotional support, and fair care for all dependents, acting as a guardian rather than prioritizing personal gain.