Shloka 2

Dharma-sāra: Dāna-mahātmyam, Karma-vāda, and the Conquest of Grief and Greed

श्रुतं धर्मं बलं धैर्यं सुखमुत्साहमेव च / शोको हरति वै नॄणां तस्माच्छोकं परित्यजेत्

śrutaṃ dharmaṃ balaṃ dhairyaṃ sukhamutsāhameva ca / śoko harati vai nṝṇāṃ tasmācchokaṃ parityajet

A tristeza, de fato, rouba dos homens o aprendizado, o dharma, a força, a firmeza, a felicidade e até o entusiasmo; por isso deve-se abandonar o pesar.

श्रुतम्learning; what is heard (scriptural learning)
श्रुतम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootश्रुत (कृदन्त; √श्रु धातु)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) — ‘heard/learnt’
धर्मम्dharma; righteousness
धर्मम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन
बलम्strength
बलम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootबल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन
धैर्यम्steadfastness; courage
धैर्यम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootधैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन
सुखम्happiness
सुखम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootसुख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन
उत्साहम्enthusiasm; energy
उत्साहम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootउत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन
एवindeed; just
एव:
Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle) — emphasis
and
:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)
शोकःgrief
शोकः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
हरतिtakes away; removes
हरति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√हृ (धातु)
Formलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
वैindeed
वै:
Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle) — assertion
नॄणाम्of men; of people
नॄणाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootनृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन
तस्मात्therefore
तस्मात्:
Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formतस्मात् इति अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; हेतौ/तस्मात् (therefore/from that reason)
शोकम्grief
शोकम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन
परित्यजेत्should abandon
परित्यजेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootपरि+√त्यज् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Concept: Śoka (grief) erodes inner resources—learning, dharma, strength, courage, happiness, and zeal—so it should be abandoned.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi: stabilizing the mind to preserve dharma and discernment; cultivating equanimity amid dualities.

Application: Practice grief-regulation through remembrance of impermanence, supportive rites, and daily discipline; redirect energy to svadharma and constructive action.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: consolatory passages urging steadiness and dharma after death (general thematic parallel)

FAQs

This verse states that grief destroys key human supports—knowledge, dharma, strength, patience, happiness, and motivation—so abandoning śoka is essential to preserve righteous living and clarity.

By warning that grief undermines dharma and resolve, it indirectly supports the Purana’s emphasis on maintaining steadiness to perform necessary duties—especially disciplined conduct and prescribed rites—without being incapacitated by sorrow.

When facing loss or anxiety, recognize grief’s draining effects and choose steady action—seek counsel, keep daily discipline, and uphold ethical duties—so sorrow does not erode your strength and judgment.