Shloka 38

Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā

Devanagari script

सु(स्व) पूरा वै कापुरुषाः सु(स्व) पूरो मूषिकाञ्जलिः / असन्तुष्टः कापुरुषः स्वल्पकेनापि तुष्यति

Transliteration

su(sva) pūrā vai kāpuruṣāḥ su(sva) pūro mūṣikāñjaliḥ / asantuṣṭaḥ kāpuruṣaḥ svalpakenāpi tuṣyati

Translation

നീചൻ എലിയുടെ ഒരു കൈപ്പിടി മാത്രത്താൽ പോലും ‘പൂർണ്ണ തൃപ്തൻ’ ആയതുപോലെ തോന്നും; എന്നാൽ അസന്തുഷ്ടനായ ക്ഷുദ്രൻ ചെറിയ ലാഭം കൊണ്ടും തൃപ്തനാകില്ല।

Word by Word

• स्वपूराः: self-content
• स्वपूराः: Visheshana (Qualifier of कापुरुषाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; स्वस्य पूरः/पूराः (self-satisfied/full in oneself)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/खलु-अर्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कापुरुषाः: mean/cowardly men
• कापुरुषाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāpuruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (nominative plural)

• स्वपूरः: (is) self-content
• स्वपूरः: Karta/Pratijna (Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्वस्य पूरः (self-content/full)

• मूषिकाञ्जलिः: a mouse’s handful
• मूषिकाञ्जलिः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūṣika (प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मूषिकस्य अञ्जलिः (a mouse’s handful)

• असन्तुष्टः: unsatisfied
• असन्तुष्टः: Visheshana (Qualifier of कापुरुषः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + santuṣṭa (कृदन्त; सम्+तुष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (not satisfied)

• कापुरुषः: a mean/cowardly man
• कापुरुषः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāpuruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वल्पकेन: with a little
• स्वल्पकेन: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svalpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कार (particle: even)

• तुष्यति: is satisfied
• तुष्यति: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Petty character is marked by distorted satisfaction—either complacent with triviality or chronically discontent; true contentment requires discernment and inner maturity.

Vedantic Theme: Santoṣa as sattvic quality; craving (tṛṣṇā) and small-mindedness as obstacles to higher aims.

Application: Cultivate healthy contentment (gratitude + aspiration); avoid comparing gains; practice moderation and clarity about what is ‘enough’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.115.36 (aimless days); Garuda Purana 1.115.34 (critique of despair and low comparison)

FAQs

What is the importance of contentment (santoṣa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that petty-mindedness and dissatisfaction distort one’s sense of “enough,” implying that cultivating contentment is a core ethical discipline supporting dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it teaches that inner dispositions like greed and chronic dissatisfaction shape one’s conduct (karma), which in Garuda Purana ethics becomes the basis for future consequences after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice deliberate contentment: set clear limits for acquisition, avoid comparing with others, and measure success by right conduct rather than endless accumulation.