Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

परान्नं च परस्वं च परशय्याः परस्त्रियः / परवेश्मनि वासश्च शक्रादपि हरेच्छ्रियम्

Transliteration

parānnaṃ ca parasvaṃ ca paraśayyāḥ parastriyaḥ / paraveśmani vāsaśca śakrādapi harecchriyam

Translation

പരന്റെ അന്നം, പരന്റെ ധനം, പരന്റെ ശയ്യ, പരസ്ത്രീ, പരന്റെ വീട്ടിൽ വാസം—ഇവ ഇന്ദ്രനുടെയുമെല്ലാം ശ്രീസമ്പത്ത് ഹരിക്കും।

Word by Word

• परान्नम्: another's food
• परान्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 'परान्न' इति तत्पुरुष-समास (परस्य अन्नम्)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• परस्वम्: another's property
• परस्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 'परस्व' इति तत्पुरुष-समास (परस्य स्वम्)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• परशय्याः: another's bed(s)
• परशय्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; 'परशय्या' इति तत्पुरुष-समास (परस्य शय्या)

• परस्त्रियः: other men's women
• परस्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; 'परस्त्री' इति तत्पुरुष-समास (परस्य स्त्री)

• परवेश्मनि: in another's house
• परवेश्मनि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; 'परवेश्मन्' इति तत्पुरुष-समास (परस्य वेश्मनि)

• वासः: dwelling, residence
• वासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शक्रात्: from Indra
• शक्रात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• हरेत्: would take away
• हरेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• श्रियम्: prosperity, fortune
• श्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Parabhoga (living off others’ resources) and parastrī-gamana (sexual transgression) erode śrī; prosperity is sustained by self-reliance, fidelity, and respect for others’ property.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and guṇa: attachment and appropriation bind and degrade; śrī is not merely material but a moral radiance that departs with adharma.

Application: Avoid habitual dependence, theft/appropriation, adultery, and exploitative living arrangements; cultivate honest livelihood and contentment (santoṣa).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti passages on paradravya and parastrī as causes of downfall; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: sexual and theft-related sins leading to specific punishments

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding ‘para-annam’ and ‘para-svam’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats dependence on or appropriation of what belongs to others—food and wealth—as adharma that directly erodes śrī (prosperity), even for the most powerful.

How does this verse explain karmic decline in daily life?

It links moral transgressions—especially theft and sexual misconduct—to immediate worldly fallout: loss of fortune, stability, and auspiciousness (śrī), not merely future punishment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Earn and consume through rightful means, respect others’ property and relationships, and maintain independent, ethical living to preserve prosperity and social trust.