Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

नद्यश्च नार्यश्च समस्वभावाः स्वतन्त्रभावे गमनादिकेच / तोयैश्च दोषैश्च निपातयन्ति नद्यो हि कूलानि कुला नि नार्यः

Transliteration

nadyaśca nāryaśca samasvabhāvāḥ svatantrabhāve gamanādikeca / toyaiśca doṣaiśca nipātayanti nadyo hi kūlāni kulā ni nāryaḥ

Translation

แม่น้ำและสตรีกล่าวกันว่ามีสภาวะคล้ายกัน; เมื่อเป็นอิสระในการไปและการเคลื่อนไหวต่าง ๆ ย่อมนำความเสื่อม—แม่น้ำทำลายตลิ่งด้วยน้ำและโทษภัยของตน ส่วนสตรีทำให้ตระกูลและวงศ์สกุลตกต่ำ

Word by Word

• नद्यः: rivers
• नद्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

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

• नार्यः: women
• नार्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

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

• समस्वभावाः: of similar nature
• समस्वभावाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (समः स्वभावः येषाम्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (नद्यः/नार्यः विशेषण)

• स्वतन्त्रभावे: in the state of independence
• स्वतन्त्रभावे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वतन्त्र + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (स्वतन्त्रस्य भावः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• गमनादिके: in going and the like (activities)
• गमनादिके: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (गमनम् आदि यस्मिन्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

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

• तोयैः: with waters
• तोयैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

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

• दोषैः: with faults
• दोषैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

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

• निपातयन्ति: cause to fall/ruin
• निपातयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) + उपसर्ग: नि-

• नद्यः: rivers
• नद्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन (पुनरुक्ति/उपमा-भाग)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• कूलानि: banks/shores
• कूलानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• कुलानि: families/lineages
• कुलानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• नार्यः: women
• नार्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Unregulated autonomy and unchecked movement can cause harm; the verse frames social order as requiring boundaries (kūla) and restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Metaphor of ‘banks’ as niyama; when rajas overflows, it erodes stability; need for dharma as containment of impulses.

Application: Create ethical ‘banks’: vows, accountability, clear roles, and mutual respect; treat powerful forces (nature and desire) with foresight and safeguards.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: natural feature

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti material on kula-dharma, strī-saṅga, and causes of family decline (general thematic parallels)

FAQs

What is the importance of this teaching in the Garuda Purana?

It functions as a dharma-oriented warning: uncontrolled, independent motion without restraint is portrayed as socially destructive, using rivers (erosion/flooding) as an analogy for human conduct.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader afterlife narrative?

In the Preta Kanda’s moral framework, ethical discipline is repeatedly linked to one’s fate after death; such admonitions support the text’s larger aim of steering behavior to avoid sin and suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a call for self-restraint and responsibility in relationships and social life—act with accountability so that one’s choices do not harm households, communities, or dependents.