Shloka 22

Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā

Devanagari script

अधीरः कर्कशः स्तब्धः कुचेलः स्वयमागतः / पञ्च विप्रा न पूज्यन्ते बृहस्पतिसमा अपि

Transliteration

adhīraḥ karkaśaḥ stabdhaḥ kucelaḥ svayamāgataḥ / pañca viprā na pūjyante bṛhaspatisamā api

Translation

బృహస్పతి సమాన పాండిత్యం ఉన్నా ఐదు రకాల బ్రాహ్మణులు పూజ్యులు కారు—అధీరుడు, కర్కశభాషి, స్థబ్ధుడు/అహంకారి, మలినుడు/కుచేలుడు, మరియు పిలవకుండానే తానే వచ్చేవాడు।

Word by Word

• अधीरः: impatient, not steady
• अधीरः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-धीर (प्रातिपदिक; अ(नञ्)+धीर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष

• कर्कशः: harsh
• कर्कशः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्कश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• स्तब्धः: stiff, arrogant, stunned
• स्तब्धः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तभ् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → स्तब्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• कुचेलः: ill-clad, poorly dressed
• कुचेलः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कु-चेल (प्रातिपदिक; कु(दुष्)+चेल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; उपपद/नञ्-सदृश ‘कु-’ (bad)

• स्वयम्: by oneself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; reflexive ‘oneself’)

• आगतः: having come (uninvited)
• आगतः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; अत्र पुंलिङ्ग-प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे (विशेषण)

• विप्राः: brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

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

• पूज्यन्ते: are honored
• पूज्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपदम्

• बृहस्पतिसमाः: equal to Brihaspati
• बृहस्पतिसमाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहस्पति-सम (प्रातिपदिक; बृहस्पति+सम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; ‘बृहस्पतिना समाः’ (instrumental-tatpurusha)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Honor is grounded in character and propriety, not merely scholarship; certain behaviors negate social reverence even for the learned.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of sattvic conduct over mere intellectual attainment; ethical purification as support for true knowledge.

Application: Cultivate patience, gentle speech, humility, cleanliness, and proper etiquette (do not impose oneself uninvited).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.115 (criteria for honor, conduct, and social ethics)

Characters & Entities

• Brihaspati
• Vipras (Brahmanas)

FAQs

What is the importance of worthy recipients in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse stresses that ritual honor and offerings should go to those with proper conduct; learning alone is not sufficient if behavior is impatient, harsh, arrogant, unclean, or opportunistically uninvited.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana guidance on the soul’s journey after death?

In the Garuda Purana’s broader dharma framework, correct ritual practice (including choosing proper recipients) supports orderly rites like śrāddha and dāna, which are taught as beneficial for the departed’s post-death welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Value character with learning: practice self-control, gentle speech, humility, cleanliness, and respectful boundaries—especially when participating in religious functions or receiving honor/charity.