Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणो ऽपि मनुष्याणामादित्यश्चैव तेजसाम् / शिरो ऽपि सर्वगात्राणां व्रतानां सत्यमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

brāhmaṇo 'pi manuṣyāṇāmādityaścaiva tejasām / śiro 'pi sarvagātrāṇāṃ vratānāṃ satyamuttamam

Translation

മനുഷ്യരിൽ ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ ശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ; തേജസ്സുകളിൽ ആദിത്യൻ ശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ. എല്ലാ അവയവങ്ങളിലും ശിരസ്സ് എത്ര ഉന്നതമോ, അതുപോലെ എല്ലാ വ്രതങ്ങളിലും സത്യം ഉത്തമം.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणः: a brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि=also/even

• मनुष्याणाम्: among/of humans
• मनुष्याणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• आदित्यः: the Sun
• आदित्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed, certainly
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• तेजसाम्: among/of luminous things
• तेजसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि=also

• सर्वगात्राणाम्: of all limbs/bodies
• सर्वगात्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वाणि गात्राणि)

• व्रतानाम्: among/of vows
• व्रतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: the highest, supreme
• उत्तमम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (सत्यम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Satya is the highest vow; the brāhmaṇa (as custodian of Veda/dharma) is foremost among humans, like the sun among lights and the head among limbs.

Vedantic Theme: Satya as foundational to dharma and as a pointer to Brahman (satyam jñānam anantam); inner truthfulness aligns speech-mind with reality.

Application: Adopt truthfulness as a daily vrata: truthful speech, accurate reporting, honoring promises; cultivate learning and ethical guidance in community.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.115.52 (truth as condition for dharma); Garuda Purana 1.115.49 (purity preserved by right association)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Aditya (Sun)

FAQs

What is the importance of truth (satya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse ranks satya as the सर्वोत्तम (uttama) vrata—just as the head governs the body—indicating that truthfulness is foundational to all dharmic observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By presenting satya as the highest vow, it implies that the soul’s favorable post-death trajectory is supported by core ethical discipline, with truthfulness functioning as a central pillar of dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat truthfulness as the non-negotiable core of conduct—align speech, intention, and action—so that other vows, rituals, and duties remain spiritually effective and ethically sound.