Shloka 6
The Eight Nidhis: Guna-Based Types of Wealth, Giving, Hoarding, and Public Benefit
दद्याच्छ्रुताय मैत्रीं च याति नित्यं च राजभिः / द्रव्यार्थं शत्रुणा नाशं संग्रामे चापि संव्रजेत्
dadyācchrutāya maitrīṃ ca yāti nityaṃ ca rājabhiḥ / dravyārthaṃ śatruṇā nāśaṃ saṃgrāme cāpi saṃvrajet
శ్రుతిమంతులకు దానం చేసి మైత్రీని పెంపొందించాలి; రాజులతో (అధికారులతో) నిత్యం సాంగత్యం కలిగి ఉండాలి. ధనార్థం శత్రువిచేత నాశనానికి కూడా దారి తీసి, యుద్ధంలోనూ చిక్కవచ్చు.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Worldly pursuit of wealth and power requires alliances (learned, friends, kings) but carries karmic and practical risk—enmity and warfare can destroy one.
Vedantic Theme: Rajas-driven action and its instability; warning against attachment to artha that drags one into saṃsāric conflict; need for viveka in engagement.
Application: Support learning and build trustworthy relationships; engage institutions/authority ethically; assess risk before pursuing wealth; avoid actions that provoke hostility or violence.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.53.4-8: nidhi/wealth behavior and consequences (contextual flow)
FAQs
This verse highlights dāna directed toward the truly learned as a key dharmic act—supporting sacred knowledge and cultivating merit through right charity.
It warns that wealth-seeking (dravyārtham) can push a person into hostile entanglements—ruin by enemies and even participation in war—showing how desire can drag one into adharma and suffering.
Practice intentional charity to genuine educators/scholars, choose alliances carefully (including with power structures), and avoid letting greed escalate into conflict or risky choices.