Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

न विश्वसेदविश्वस्तं विश्वस्तं विश्वस्तं नातिविश्वसेत् / विश्वासाद्भयमुत्पन्नं मूलादपि निकृन्तति

Transliteration

na viśvasedaviśvastaṃ viśvastaṃ viśvastaṃ nātiviśvaset / viśvāsādbhayamutpannaṃ mūlādapi nikṛntati

Translation

అవిశ్వసనీయుడిని నమ్మకూడదు; నమ్మదగినవాడినీ అతిగా నమ్మకూడదు. ఎందుకంటే తప్పు విశ్వాసం నుంచి పుట్టిన భయం మూలంతోనే నరికివేస్తుంది।

Word by Word

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

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• विश्वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• अविश्वस्तम्: an untrustworthy person
• अविश्वस्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + विश्वस्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘(तम्)’ इति कर्मपदम् (अविश्वस्तं जनम्)

• विश्वस्तम्: a trusted person
• विश्वस्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वस्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपदम् (विश्वस्तं जनम्)

• विश्वस्तम्: (even) a trusted one
• विश्वस्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वस्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphasis)

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

• अति: too much
• अति: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (prefix/adverb) ‘excessively’

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• विश्वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• विश्वासात्: from trust
• विश्वासात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उत्पन्नम्: arisen
• उत्पन्नम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘भयम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• मूलात्: from the root
• मूलात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘even/also’)

• निकृन्तति: cuts off
• निकृन्तति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + कृन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ati-viśvāsa (excessive trust) is dangerous; fear and harm arise from misplaced reliance and can destroy one’s foundation.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāda and avidyā-driven projection cause suffering; cultivate viveka (discrimination) and aparigraha-like caution in attachments.

Application: Verify before relying; set boundaries; avoid over-sharing; maintain contingency plans; in spiritual life, avoid complacency about one’s own steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: general social sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114 (sequence of trust/caution verses 46–48)

FAQs

What is the importance of caution and discernment in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes dharmic discernment: trust should be guided by wisdom, because careless reliance can become the very cause of danger and downfall.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it supports the Purana’s broader ethic that one should live with vigilance and right judgment, reducing actions that lead to fear, suffering, and adverse karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid blind faith—verify intentions, set boundaries, and practice measured trust so that personal, financial, and spiritual life are not harmed by deception or overconfidence.