Shloka 12

Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma

Devanagari script

उत्तमं प्रणिपातेन शठं भेदेन योजयेत् / नीचं स्वल्पप्रदानेन समं तुल्यपराक्रमैः

Transliteration

uttamaṃ praṇipātena śaṭhaṃ bhedena yojayet / nīcaṃ svalpapradānena samaṃ tulyaparākramaiḥ

Translation

จงชนะผู้ประเสริฐด้วยการกราบนอบน้อม; จัดการผู้คดด้วยกลยุทธ์แห่งการแยก (ภेदะ). คุมคนต่ำด้วยของให้เล็กน้อย; และคบผู้เสมอด้วยผู้มีเดชกล้าเท่าเทียมกัน.

Word by Word

• uttamam: a noble person
• uttamam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (object of yojayet)

• praṇipātena: by prostration / respectful bowing
• praṇipātena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇipāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śaṭham: a deceitful person
• śaṭham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bhedena: by creating division / by strategy
• bhedena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• yojayet: one should deal/engage
• yojayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (युज्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• nīcam: a low person
• nīcam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• svalpa-pradānena: by small gifts
• svalpa-pradānena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + pradāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वल्पं प्रदानम्)

• samam: an equal (peer)
• samam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tulya-parākramaiḥ: with those of equal prowess
• tulya-parākramaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक) + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (तुल्यः पराक्रमः येषां ते)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Appropriate upāya (means) depends on the person’s character: honor, strategy, small inducements, or equal-strength engagement.

Vedantic Theme: Practical dharma guided by discernment (viveka) and situational appropriateness; managing rajas/tamas through skillful means.

Application: Show respect to the truly noble; do not naively trust the deceitful—use safeguards; use modest incentives for unreliable people; negotiate with peers on equal footing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti passages: counsel on dealing with different types of people (general thematic parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of practical dharma (ācāra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows ācāra as actionable wisdom—choosing appropriate, ethical means (respect, strategy, measured giving, equal effort) based on a person’s nature, to preserve order and avoid harm.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing right conduct and discernment in worldly dealings, it supports dharmic living, which the Garuda Purana treats as foundational for favorable karmic outcomes after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Honor genuinely virtuous people, don’t naïvely trust manipulators (use safeguards), avoid over-investing in the incorrigibly unethical, and meet peers through fair competition and equal accountability.