Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

आकारैरिङ्गितैर्गत्या चेष्टया भाषितेन च / नेत्रवक्रविकाराभ्यां लक्ष्यते ऽन्तर्गतं मनः

Transliteration

ākārairiṅgitairgatyā ceṣṭayā bhāṣitena ca / netravakravikārābhyāṃ lakṣyate 'ntargataṃ manaḥ

Translation

Melalui rupa lahir, isyarat, gaya berjalan, perbuatan dan tutur kata—serta lenggok dan perubahan pada mata—terbaca minda yang tersembunyi di dalam.

Word by Word

• आकारैः: by forms/appearances
• आकारैः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण

• इङ्गितैः: by gestures/signs
• इङ्गितैः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इङ्गित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण

• गत्या: by movement/gait
• गत्या: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण

• चेष्टया: by actions
• चेष्टया: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण

• भाषितेन: by speech/what is spoken
• भाषितेन: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाषित (कृदन्त, √भाष्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP used as noun), करण

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

• नेत्रवक्रविकाराभ्याम्: by the distortions (movements) of the eyes
• नेत्रवक्रविकाराभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (नेत्रस्य वक्रविकारौ)

• लक्ष्यते: is perceived/recognized
• लक्ष्यते: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (passive sense)

• अन्तर्गतम्: hidden within, internal
• अन्तर्गतम्: Karta (Subject-Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर् (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + गत (कृदन्त, √गम्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; मनः इति विशेषण

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता (of passive: that which is perceived)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The hidden mind is inferred from appearance, gestures, gait, actions, speech, and eye-movements—lakṣaṇa-based knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-vṛtti expressed through indriya and vāk; pratyakṣa + anumāna in reading character; sattva/rajas/tamas hinted via behavior.

Application: Develop emotional intelligence: attend to nonverbal cues; align speech and conduct with inner values; practice self-audit—your mind is visible through habits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (nīti on discerning character)

FAQs

What is the importance of reading inner intention (manaḥ) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that inner intention is not truly hidden—one can infer it from consistent external signs like conduct, speech, and eye-expressions, which supports discerning dharmic vs. adharmic tendencies.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing intention revealed through actions and speech, it points to the moral causality behind one’s destiny—karma is shaped by the mind, and the mind becomes evident through behavior.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate truthful speech and disciplined conduct, and evaluate people (and yourself) by consistent behavior patterns rather than claims—because inner motives surface through everyday actions.