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Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठः पितृसमो भ्राता मृते पितरि शौनक / सर्वेषां स पिता हि स्यात्सर्वेषामनुपालकः

Transliteration

jyeṣṭhaḥ pitṛsamo bhrātā mṛte pitari śaunaka / sarveṣāṃ sa pitā hi syātsarveṣāmanupālakaḥ

Translation

ਹੇ ਸ਼ੌਨਕ! ਜਦ ਪਿਤਾ ਦੇਹਾਂਤ ਕਰ ਜਾਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਜੇਠਾ ਭਰਾ ਪਿਤਾ ਸਮਾਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਉਹੀ ਸਭ ਦਾ ਪਿਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਸਭ ਦੀ ਪਾਲਣਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਰੱਖਿਅਕ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word
ज्येष्ठःthe eldest
ज्येष्ठः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (masculine, nominative singular; adjective)
पितृसमःequal to a father
पितृसमः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पितुः समः = like a father) (masculine nominative singular)
भ्राताbrother
भ्राता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)
मृतेwhen (he) has died
मृते:
Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
Formसप्तमी, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (locative singular; past passive participle: 'when (he) is dead')
पितरिin/when the father (is gone)
पितरि:
Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (masculine locative singular)
शौनकO Śaunaka
शौनक:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootशौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन (masculine vocative singular)
सर्वेषाम्of all
सर्वेषाम्:
Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन (genitive plural)
सःhe
सः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (pronoun; masculine nominative singular)
पिताfather
पिता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)
स्यात्should be
स्यात्:
Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (may/should be; 3rd person singular optative)
सर्वेषाम्of all
सर्वेषाम्:
Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (genitive plural)
अनुपालकःprotector/guardian
अनुपालकः:
Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootअनु + पाल (धातु) + ण्वुल्/अक (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि कृदन्त (agent noun: protector) (masculine nominative singular)
Speaker

Narrator/Teacher addressing Śaunaka (instructional discourse within Garuḍa Purāṇa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Jyeṣṭha-bhrātṛ as pitṛ-samāna: the eldest brother must protect and maintain the family when the father is deceased.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as loka-saṅgraha (upholding social order) and niṣkāma responsibility within relationships.

Application: In inheritance/guardianship situations, the eldest should act as caretaker, ensuring welfare, education, and fair provision for all dependents.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114 (family governance and sadācāra context)

Characters & Entities
Ś
Śaunaka
P
Pitṛ (father)

FAQs

This verse establishes that after the father’s death, the eldest brother assumes a father-like dharmic duty—protecting, maintaining, and guiding the entire family.

It frames bereavement not only as a ritual period but also as a transfer of responsibility: the household must remain protected and supported, with the eldest taking leadership for dependents.

In a family crisis, the eldest (or primary responsible member) should ensure financial stability, emotional support, and fair care for all dependents, acting as a guardian rather than prioritizing personal gain.

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