Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

तस्करस्य वधो दण्डः कुमित्रस्याल्पभाषणम् / पृथक् शय्या तु नारीणां ब्राह्मणस्यानिमन्त्रणम्

Transliteration

taskarasya vadho daṇḍaḥ kumitrasyālpabhāṣaṇam / pṛthak śayyā tu nārīṇāṃ brāhmaṇasyānimantraṇam

Translation

สำหรับโจร โทษคือประหารชีวิต; กับมิตรชั่วควรพูดแต่น้อย; สตรีควรนอนแยกที่นอน; และพราหมณ์ไม่ควรถูกละเลยโดยไม่เชิญตามพิธีที่ควรเชิญ

Word by Word

• तस्करस्य: of a thief
• तस्करस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तस्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• वधः: killing/death
• वधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दण्डः: punishment
• दण्डः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कुमित्रस्य: of a bad friend
• कुमित्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कु (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कु-मित्रः = दुष्टः मित्रः)

• अल्पभाषणम्: speaking little
• अल्पभाषणम्: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + भाषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अल्पं भाषणम्)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Visheshana (Adverbial qualifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शय्या: bed
• शय्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—पुनः/विरोधे (but/indeed)

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• ब्राह्मणस्य: of a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अनिमन्त्रणम्: not inviting (failure to invite)
• अनिमन्त्रणम्: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्-प्रत्यय) + निमन्त्रण (प्रातिपदिक; from √मन्त्र् (धातु) with नि- prefix)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (negation)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Social order is maintained by proportionate punishment, prudent association, regulated household conduct, and honoring the worthy (especially brāhmaṇas) through proper invitation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as loka-saṅgraha (maintenance of social harmony) through niyama (regulation) and saṅga-viveka (discernment in company).

Application: Uphold lawful consequences for theft; limit intimacy and disclosure with harmful companions; maintain household boundaries; ensure due invitations/offerings to brāhmaṇas in rites and hospitality contexts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (niti/dharma counsel cluster)

FAQs

What is the importance of punishment and restraint in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dharma as both social order (punishing theft) and self-discipline (restrained speech and careful association), showing that ethical living prevents harm to society and oneself.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing dharmic conduct—avoiding theft, bad company, and neglect of duties—it implies that one’s choices shape karmic outcomes, which later influence post-death experiences described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid dishonest gain, limit engagement with harmful influences, maintain clear personal boundaries, and practice respectful hospitality toward learned and deserving guests.