Shloka 16

Devanagari script

कदर्थितस्यापि हि धैर्यवृत्तेर्न शक्यते सर्वगुणप्रमाथः / अधः खलेनापि कृतस्य वह्नेर्नाधः शिखा याति कदाचिदेव

Transliteration

kadarthitasyāpi hi dhairyavṛtterna śakyate sarvaguṇapramāthaḥ / adhaḥ khalenāpi kṛtasya vahnernādhaḥ śikhā yāti kadācideva

Translation

แม้ผู้มั่นคงถูกเหยียดหยาม ความกล้าหาญก็ไม่อาจถูกทำลายสิ้นได้; ดุจเปลวไฟที่ถูกแรงชั่วกดลง เปลวก็ไม่เคยหันลุกลงต่ำเลย

Word by Word

• कदर्थितस्य: of one who is insulted/abused
• कदर्थितस्य: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कदर्थित (कृदन्त; कदर्थय् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (सम्बन्धे)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive: 'even/though')

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal)

• धैर्यवृत्तेः: of the steadfast/courageous disposition
• धैर्यवृत्तेः: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन; धैर्यस्य वृत्तिः इति (quality/behavior of courage)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation)

• शक्यते: is possible
• शक्यते: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (is possible)

• सर्वगुणप्रमाथः: the destroyer of all virtues
• सर्वगुणप्रमाथः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + गुण + प्रमाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; सर्वेषां गुणानां प्रमाथः (destroyer of all virtues)

• अधः: downwards
• अधः: Adhikarana (Locative sense/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place: 'downwards')

• खलेन: by a wicked person
• खलेन: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचन (करण)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive)

• कृतस्य: of (fire) that has been made/placed
• कृतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; कृ धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (वह्नेः विशेषणम्)

• वह्नेः: of fire
• वह्नेः: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध

• अधः: downwards
• अधः: Adhikarana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• शिखा: flame
• शिखा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कदाचित्: ever
• कदाचित्: Kala (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time: 'ever/at any time')

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (restrictive/emphatic)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dhairya (fortitude) rooted in character cannot be annihilated by external insult; inner tejas naturally rises like flame despite downward pressure.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-bala and sattva-sthairya: the inner disposition remains steady amid dvandvas (honor/dishonor).

Application: Cultivate resilience; respond to insult without losing integrity; keep one’s purpose steady under social pressure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110 (series of niti verses on self-respect, avoiding the wicked, steadfastness)

FAQs

What is the importance of dhairya (steadfastness) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents dhairya as a virtue that cannot be fully extinguished by external humiliation; it is a core dharmic strength that preserves one’s goodness under pressure.

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

Indirectly, it emphasizes inner character as the stable support for dharma; such steadiness is portrayed as an enduring quality that helps one remain righteous regardless of hostile circumstances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When insulted or pressured by unethical people, do not abandon good conduct—like a flame that naturally rises, keep your values oriented upward through calm endurance and disciplined action.