Shloka 35

Sat-saṅga, Dharma-Nīti, Karma-Phala, Śauca, and Vairāgya

Overcoming Grief

Devanagari script

येर्ऽथा धर्मेण ते सत्या ये ऽधर्मेण गताः श्रियः / धर्मार्थो च महांल्लोके तत्स्मृत्वा ह्यर्थकारणात्

Transliteration

yer'thā dharmeṇa te satyā ye 'dharmeṇa gatāḥ śriyaḥ / dharmārtho ca mahāṃlloke tatsmṛtvā hyarthakāraṇāt

Translation

Harta yang diperoleh melalui dharma benar-benar terjamin; tetapi kemakmuran yang datang melalui adharma akan lenyap. Di dunia ini, dharma sendiri ialah sumber kebajikan yang agung—mengingatinya, carilah harta hanya demi tujuan yang benar.

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• अर्थाः: wealths/means
• अर्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• धर्मेण: by righteousness
• धर्मेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative)

• सत्याः: true/legitimate
• सत्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (true/legitimate)

• ये: those which
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• अधर्मेण: by unrighteousness
• अधर्मेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• गताः: obtained
• गताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘obtained/come’

• श्रयः: prosperities/fortunes
• श्रयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• धर्मार्थः: dharma and artha
• धर्मार्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (धर्मश्च अर्थश्च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘that’ (object of स्मृत्वा)

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा/absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having remembered’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (for/indeed)

• अर्थकारणात्: from the cause of wealth
• अर्थकारणात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अर्थस्य कारणम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Artha gained through dharma is secure; adharma-born prosperity is unstable and perishes; dharma itself is the true welfare.

Vedantic Theme: Alignment with dharmic order as the basis for lasting śreyas; artha as subordinate to dharma and ultimately mokṣa.

Application: Choose ethical livelihoods, transparent dealings, and long-term trust over short-term gains; treat wealth as instrument for righteous ends.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ethical counsel on artha under dharma and consequences of adharma

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma-based wealth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that wealth gained through dharma is stable and ‘true,’ while prosperity gained through adharma ultimately disappears, so dharma must govern one’s pursuit of artha.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing that adharma-driven gains do not endure, it points to the karmic principle underlying the soul’s post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana: ethical causes shape future results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Earn and use resources through honest, non-harmful means, and treat wealth as a tool for righteous duties—charity, family responsibilities, and spiritual practice—rather than as a justification for unethical actions.