Shloka 13

Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma

Devanagari script

यस्ययस्य हि यो भावस्तस्यतस्य हितं वदन् / अनुप्रविश्य मेधावी क्षिप्रमात्मवशं नयेत्

Transliteration

yasyayasya hi yo bhāvastasyatasya hitaṃ vadan / anupraviśya medhāvī kṣipramātmavaśaṃ nayet

Translation

Apa pun tabiat seseorang, orang bijaksana—dengan menyelami fikiran orang itu dan berkata yang bermanfaat baginya—akan segera membawanya berada di bawah pengaruhnya.

Word by Word

• yasya yasya: of each (person)
• yasya yasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (each one’s)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed)

• yaḥ: which / whatever
• yaḥ: Karta/Predicate nominal
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• bhāvaḥ: disposition / nature
• bhāvaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tasya tasya: of that (respective one)
• tasya tasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (of that respective person)

• hitam: benefit / what is pleasing
• hitam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √dhā धा with hi-; lexical)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (object of vadan)

• vadan: speaking
• vadan: Kriya (Concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (वद्)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (while speaking)

• anupraviśya: having entered / having approached
• anupraviśya: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu- (उपसर्ग) + pra- (उपसर्ग) + √viś (विश्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) अव्यय; ‘having entered/approached’

• medhāvī: a wise person
• medhāvī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medhāvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kṣipram: quickly
• kṣipram: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipra (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• ātma-vaśam: under one’s control
• ātma-vaśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः वशः)

• nayet: should lead/bring
• nayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nī (नी)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda, per common dialogue framework of the Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The wise influence others by understanding their inner disposition and speaking what truly benefits them.

Vedantic Theme: Skill in upāya guided by dharma; vāṅ-maya tapas (discipline of speech) and hita-vākya (beneficial truth) as sāttvika power.

Application: Practice active listening; mirror the other’s frame without losing integrity; offer counsel framed as their welfare; lead through understanding rather than coercion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti: emphasis on wise speech (hita) and discernment in conduct (general thematic parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of speaking 'hita' (beneficial words) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that wisdom is shown by tailoring wholesome, beneficial speech to the listener’s disposition, so guidance is accepted rather than resisted.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it teaches ethical communication—an aspect of dharma that supports right conduct, which in turn shapes karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Understand the other person’s mindset first, then offer advice in a way they can receive—truthful, timely, and aimed at their genuine good.