Shloka 69
Haristuti-saṅgraha: Devatā–Ṛṣi Praṇāma, Nāma-māhātmya, and Vairāgya from Deha-āsakti
वैश्यादिकेषु धनिकेषु परा च शक्तिः सद्ब्राह्मणेष्वपि न शक्तिरहो मुरारे
vaiśyādikeṣu dhanikeṣu parā ca śaktiḥ sadbrāhmaṇeṣvapi na śaktiraho murāre
Dalam kalangan orang kaya seperti Vaiśya, memang ada kekuatan dan pengaruh yang besar; namun bahkan dalam kalangan Brāhmaṇa yang saleh pun tiada kekuatan sedemikian—aduhai, wahai Murāri (Viṣṇu)!
Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu (Murari)
Concept: Worldly power tends to follow wealth rather than virtue; the devotee laments the eclipse of spiritual authority and seeks divine redress.
Vedantic Theme: Artha-kāma dominance as a symptom of kali-like inversion; need to re-center dharma and sattva.
Application: Honor and support genuine learning and virtue; practice dana to dharmic causes; resist equating status with righteousness.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: critiques of kali-dharma where wealth overrides virtue; exhortations to honor brāhmaṇas and dharma
FAQs
The verse contrasts worldly influence that often follows wealth with the lack of comparable social power even among virtuous Brāhmaṇas, highlighting a tension between material strength and spiritual merit.
By lamenting unequal “śakti” (capacity/influence), it frames a dharmic concern: society may reward wealth more than righteousness, prompting inquiry into what truly sustains dharma—virtue, charity, and divine order.
Do not equate money with moral authority; cultivate integrity and support dharmic learning and service through fair giving, while using resources responsibly rather than as a measure of worth.