Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

न स्वप्नेन जयेन्निद्रां न कामेन स्त्रियं जयेत् / न चेन्धनैर्जयेद्वह्निं न मद्येन तृषां जयेत्

Transliteration

na svapnena jayennidrāṃ na kāmena striyaṃ jayet / na cendhanairjayedvahniṃ na madyena tṛṣāṃ jayet

Translation

ไม่ควรเอาชนะความง่วงด้วยความฝัน และไม่ควรชนะหญิงด้วยตัณหา ไม่ควรดับไฟด้วยการเติมเชื้อเพลิง และไม่ควรดับกระหายด้วยสุราเมรัย

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• स्वप्नेन: by/with a dream
• स्वप्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• जयेत्: should conquer
• जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• निद्राम्: sleep
• निद्राम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

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

• कामेन: by/with desire
• कामेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• स्त्रियम्: a woman
• स्त्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• जयेत्: should conquer
• जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• इन्धनैः: with fuel
• इन्धनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• जयेत्: should conquer
• जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वह्निम्: fire
• वह्निम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

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

• मद्येन: with wine/liquor
• मद्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• तृषाम्: thirst
• तृषाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• जयेत्: should conquer
• जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Do not feed the very cause of bondage while trying to remove its effect; sense-objects intensify craving.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya and indriya-nigraha; recognizing vāsanā as self-reinforcing (tṛṣṇā-vṛddhi).

Application: Use opposite, wholesome means: regulate sleep with discipline, curb lust with restraint and right company, extinguish agitation by removing fuel (stimuli), and treat thirst with water/temperance rather than intoxicants.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (dharma/nīti sections): teachings on indriya-nigraha, madya-doṣa, kāma-doṣa (general thematic parallels)

FAQs

What is the importance of self-control in Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that using the very cause of a weakness (lust for lust, fuel for fire, alcohol for thirst) only strengthens it; restraint and right means are essential for dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By discouraging indulgence in lust and intoxication, it points to disciplined living that reduces karmic bondage—supporting a cleaner inner life that aids spiritual progress rather than reinforcing craving-based habits.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Don’t treat addictions with indulgence: reduce triggers, choose sattvic alternatives, and apply steady discipline—especially regarding sleep hygiene, sexual ethics, and avoiding alcohol as a coping tool.