Shloka 57

Sat-saṅga, Dharma-Nīti, Karma-Phala, Śauca, and Vairāgya

Overcoming Grief

Devanagari script

नीचः सर्षपमात्राणि परच्छिद्राणि पश्यति / आत्मनो बलिवमात्राणि पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति

Transliteration

nīcaḥ sarṣapamātrāṇi paracchidrāṇi paśyati / ātmano balivamātrāṇi paśyannapi na paśyati

Translation

నీచబుద్ధిగలవాడు ఇతరులలో ఆవగింజంత చిన్న దోషాలనూ చూస్తాడు; కాని తనలో బిల్వఫలంత పెద్ద దోషాలను చూస్తూనే చూడడు।

Word by Word

• नीचः: a low-minded person
• नीचः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्षप: mustard-seed
• सर्षप: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-पूर्वपद (as first member), अव्ययवत् समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• मात्राणि: measures; amounts
• मात्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्षपमात्राणि: (faults) of mustard-seed size
• सर्षपमात्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative: 'of a mustard-seed measure'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• पर: of others
• पर: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member), अव्ययवत्

• छिद्राणि: faults; holes; defects
• छिद्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• परच्छिद्राणि: others' faults
• परच्छिद्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative: 'faults of others'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• पश्यति: sees
• पश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• बलिव: (one's) own blemish/wart-like fault
• बलिव: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-पूर्वपद (as first member), अव्ययवत् समासाङ्ग

• मात्राणि: measures; amounts
• मात्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• बलिवमात्राणि: (faults) of wart-size (i.e., big)
• बलिवमात्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलिव (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative: 'of blemish-measure'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• पश्यन्: seeing
• पश्यन्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: even; although
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थः 'even/although'

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• पश्यति: sees
• पश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Paradoxes of judgment: seeing minute faults in others while ignoring one’s own major defects; cultivate self-examination.

Vedantic Theme: Antarmukhatva (turning inward) and viveka as prerequisites for inner purification.

Application: Practice daily self-audit before criticizing others; adopt ‘same standard for self and others’ in speech and social media conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.113.58-61 (continuation on raga-dvesha, nirvriti, sukha-duhkha)

FAQs

What is the importance of self-examination in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that true dharma begins with seeing and correcting one’s own major faults rather than obsessing over minor defects in others.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By urging inner reform and humility, it supports the broader Purāṇic view that ethical conduct and self-purification shape one’s karmic trajectory and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint in criticism, prioritize self-improvement, and use the same standards you apply to others to honestly assess your own behavior.