Shloka 12

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

पराधीना निद्रा परदृदयकृत्यानुसरणं सदा हेला हास्यं नियतमपि शोकेन रहितम् / पणे न्यस्तः कायो विटजनखुरैर्दारितगलो बहूत्कण्ठवृतिर्जगति गणिक्राया बहुमतः

parādhīnā nidrā paradṛdayakṛtyānusaraṇaṃ sadā helā hāsyaṃ niyatamapi śokena rahitam / paṇe nyastaḥ kāyo viṭajanakhurairdāritagalo bahūtkaṇṭhavṛtirjagati gaṇikrāyā bahumataḥ

Tidurnya bergantung pada orang lain; dia sentiasa dipaksa menuruti kehendak hati orang lain. Tawa yang lalai dan keriangan yang dipaksa sentiasa ada, namun tanpa dukacita yang sejati. Tubuhnya dipertaruhkan dalam perjudian; tekaknya dikoyak oleh kuku dan tapak lelaki yang dikuasai nafsu. Hidup dengan banyak “kerongkong” (ramai penaung), namun di dunia ini pelacur istana tetap dianggap “bernilai tinggi”.

पराधीनाdependent on others
पराधीना:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपर + अधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (परस्य अधीना = dependent on others)
निद्राsleep
निद्रा:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनिद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
परदृदयकृत्यानुसरणम्following others’ heart’s tasks/wishes
परदृदयकृत्यानुसरणम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपर + हृदय + कृत्य + अनुसरण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (परस्य हृदयस्य कृत्यानाम् अनुसरणम् = following others' wishes/acts)
सदाalways
सदा:
Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)
हेलाdisdain/indifference
हेला:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootहेला (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
हास्यम्laughter/mockery
हास्यम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootहास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
नियतम्constant/regular
नियतम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootनियत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (as predicate adjective: constant)
अपिeven/also
अपि:
Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअप्यर्थक निपात (even/also)
शोकेनwith sorrow
शोकेन:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन
रहितम्devoid of
रहितम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootरहित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया-सम्बन्ध (शोकेन रहितम् = devoid of sorrow)
पणेin a wager/for a stake
पणे:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootपण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
न्यस्तःplaced/laid down
न्यस्तः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootनि√अस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle: placed)
कायःbody
कायः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकाय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
विटजनखुरैःby the hooves/feet of vile men
विटजनखुरैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootविट + जन + खुर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (विटजनानां खुराः = hooves/feet of debauched men)
दारितगलःwith a torn throat/neck
दारितगलः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदारित + गल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दारितः गलः यस्य = having a torn throat/neck); दारित = √दृ (धातु) + क्त (PPP)
बहूत्कण्ठवृतिःa livelihood of much yearning
बहूत्कण्ठवृतिः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootबहु + उत्कण्ठा + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बह्वी उत्कण्ठा यस्याः वृत्तिः = livelihood with much longing)
जगतिin the world
जगति:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootजगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
गणिक्रायाःof a courtesan
गणिक्रायाः:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootगणिका (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
बहुमतःmuch esteemed
बहुमतः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootबहुमत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि-भावे (well-regarded)

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

Concept: Worldly society commodifies bodies and masks suffering with performative mirth; apparent honor can coexist with deep harm.

Vedantic Theme: Māyā of social prestige (loka-yaśas) and the bondage of kāma/artha; duḥkha arising from identification with body and transactional relations.

Application: Cultivate compassion and social responsibility; oppose exploitation; recognize performative happiness as possible trauma; practice ethical sexuality and non-harm.

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.13 (catalog of swift dangers; social hazards)

FAQs

This verse functions as a dharmic warning: it exposes how a life driven by others’ desires and vice (kāma, gambling, exploitation) leads to bondage, humiliation, and hidden suffering even when society calls it “valuable.”

By highlighting dependence, compulsive compliance, and bodily/mental injury caused by vice, the verse indicates how desire-based livelihoods intensify karmic entanglement, which the Garuda Purana later connects to painful post-death consequences.

Avoid livelihoods and habits that commodify the body or exploit desire; cultivate self-restraint and compassion, and choose ethical means of living that reduce harm and karmic bondage.