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Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

बहूनामल्पसाराणां समवायो हि दारुणः / तृणैरावेष्टिता रज्जुस्तया नागो ऽपि बध्यते

Transliteration

bahūnāmalpasārāṇāṃ samavāyo hi dāruṇaḥ / tṛṇairāveṣṭitā rajjustayā nāgo 'pi badhyate

Translation

Gabungan kekuatan ramai orang, walaupun tiap-tiapnya lemah, tetaplah dahsyat; seperti tali yang dililit dengan helaian rumput, dengan itu juga seekor ular pun dapat terikat.

Word by Word
बहूनाम्of many
बहूनाम्:
Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootबहु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (genitive plural: of many)
अल्पसाराणाम्of the weak/insubstantial
अल्पसाराणाम्:
Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
TypeAdjective
Rootअल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः (अल्पः सारः येषाम्/अल्पसाराः = of little strength/essence) (genitive plural)
समवायःcombination/union
समवायः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसमवाय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle; indeed)
दारुणःterrible/strong
दारुणः:
Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (masculine nominative singular)
तृणैःwith grasses/straws
तृणैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootतृण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (neuter instrumental plural)
आवेष्टिताwrapped
आवेष्टिता:
Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootआ + वेष्ट् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (feminine nominative singular; wrapped)
रज्जुःrope
रज्जुः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootरज्जु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (feminine nominative singular)
तयाby that (rope)
तया:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (pronoun; feminine instrumental singular: by that)
नागःelephant
नागः:
Karma (Object in passive/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootनाग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)
अपिeven
अपि:
Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle; even/also)
बध्यतेis bound
बध्यते:
Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootबन्ध् (धातु)
Formलट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense: is bound)
Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṅgha/saṃghāta-bala: coordinated unity of many small forces becomes formidable; even the strong can be restrained by combined weak elements.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence in prakṛti and society; dharma as cooperative order rather than isolated ego-power.

Application: Build alliances, community support, and coordinated action; in governance or family disputes, prioritize collective agreement and shared responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114 (maxims supporting household and social stability)

Characters & Entities
G
Garuda
V
Vishnu
N
Nāga (serpent)

FAQs

This verse teaches that collective effort multiplies power—many small strengths, when united, become capable of achieving what no individual could do alone.

It supports dharma by emphasizing cooperation, organization, and shared responsibility—qualities necessary for maintaining social order and resisting harmful forces.

Build alliances for good causes: consistent small contributions from many people—time, donations, discipline, or advocacy—can restrain large problems and create real change.

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