Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

यस्य कस्य तु पुष्पस्य पाणाडरस्य विशेषतः / शिरसा धार्यमाणस्य ह्यलक्ष्मीः प्रतिहन्यते

Transliteration

yasya kasya tu puṣpasya pāṇāḍarasya viśeṣataḥ / śirasā dhāryamāṇasya hyalakṣmīḥ pratihanyate

Translation

ఏ పుష్పమైనా—ప్రత్యేకంగా పాణాడర పుష్పాన్ని—శిరస్సుపై ధరించితే అలక్ష్మి (దురదృష్టం) తొలగిపోతుంది.

Word by Word

• yasya: of which/whose
• yasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• kasya: of what/any
• kasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Nipāta (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोध (but/indeed)

• puṣpasya: of a flower
• puṣpasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• pāṇāḍarasya: of pāṇāḍara (a specific flower/plant)
• pāṇāḍarasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇāḍara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• śirasā: with/on the head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• dhāryamāṇasya: of (it) being worn/borne
• dhāryamāṇasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु) + yamāna (शानच्/यमान)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-कृदन्त (passive present participle); पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय (indeed)

• alakṣmīḥ: misfortune
• alakṣmīḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (nominative singular)

• pratihanyate: is repelled/struck back
• pratihanyate: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-han (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ (present, 3rd sg, middle; is repelled)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious adornment (wearing flowers, especially pāṇāḍara) functions as a protective act that repels misfortune.

Vedantic Theme: External symbols can support inner sattva and intention (saṅkalpa), serving as reminders and cultural carriers of auspiciousness.

Application: Use clean, fresh, respectful adornment (flowers) especially during worship or important undertakings; pair the symbol with disciplined conduct from surrounding verses.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/temple threshold or daily adornment context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.35-37 (Lakṣmī/Alakṣmī and conduct)

Characters & Entities

• Alakshmi

FAQs

What is the importance of removing Alakshmi in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a simple āchāra-based remedy: adopting auspicious adornment (wearing a flower on the head) is said to repel alakṣmī—signals of poverty, bad luck, and inauspiciousness—thereby supporting prosperity and wellbeing.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it teaches daily conduct (ācāra) that cultivates auspiciousness and order in life, which the Purana treats as supportive of dharma and favorable karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain auspicious habits and a sattvic environment: for worship or sacred occasions, wear a clean flower as a mark of reverence and positive intention, treating it as a disciplined practice rather than mere superstition.