Shloka 26

Nīti-Upadeśa: Discernment, Proper Use of Resources, and Social Strategy

Devanagari script

धनिनः श्रोत्रियो राजा नदी वैद्यस्तु पञ्चमः / पञ्च यत्र न विद्यन्ते न कुर्यात्तत्रत्र संस्थितिम्

Transliteration

dhaninaḥ śrotriyo rājā nadī vaidyastu pañcamaḥ / pañca yatra na vidyante na kuryāttatratra saṃsthitim

Translation

ధనవంతుడైన ఆశ్రయదాత, వేదవిదుడైన శ్రోత్రియ బ్రాహ్మణుడు, రాజు, నది, మరియు ఐదవది వైద్యుడు—ఇవి ఐదు లేని చోట నివాసం చేయకూడదు।

Word by Word

• धनिनः: wealthy men
• धनिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• श्रोत्रियः: a learned Vedic scholar
• श्रोत्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• नदी: a river
• नदी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वैद्यः: a physician
• वैद्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक (particle 'indeed/but')

• पञ्चमः: the fifth
• पञ्चमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• पञ्च: five (things/persons)
• पञ्च: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचनार्थे (five—collective)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (relative adverb 'where')

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• विद्यन्ते: are found/exist
• विद्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु) (विद्-लभे/सत्तायाम्)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• कुर्यात्: should do/make
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb 'there')

• संस्थितिम्: residence/staying
• संस्थितिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Choose residence where the five supports of life and dharma exist: wealth/patronage, Vedic learning, just rule, water source, and medical care.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as the stabilizing field (kṣetra) for sādhana; external order supports inner order.

Application: When relocating, evaluate governance, education/values, water access, healthcare, and economic opportunity; avoid places lacking these essentials.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: village/town/kingdom region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110.27-28 (parallel pañcaka lists for residence-worthiness)

FAQs

What is the importance of these five factors in the Garuda Purana?

The verse treats them as essential supports for dharmic life: resources (wealth/patronage), sacred learning (śrotriya), protection and order (king), water and sustenance (river), and health (physician).

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

Alongside afterlife teachings, the Garuda Purana also gives practical dharma for daily life; here it advises choosing a place that supports spiritual practice, social stability, and basic wellbeing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose a community with reliable livelihood options, access to authentic learning/mentors, effective governance and safety, clean water, and dependable healthcare.