Shloka 27

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

प्रियं गानमकुण्ठस्य नीचस्योच्चासनं प्रियम् / प्रियं दानं दरिद्रस्य भूनश्चतरुणी प्रिया

Transliteration

priyaṃ gānamakuṇṭhasya nīcasyoccāsanaṃ priyam / priyaṃ dānaṃ daridrasya bhūnaścataruṇī priyā

Translation

ผู้เสียงแหบย่อมชอบการขับร้อง; คนต่ำย่อมชอบที่นั่งสูง คนยากจนย่อมชอบการให้ทาน; และคนชราย่อมชอบหญิงสาว

Word by Word

• प्रियम्: dear; pleasing
• प्रियम्: Kriya-puraka (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-रूपे

• गानम्: singing
• गानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान (प्रातिपदिक; √गै + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अकुण्ठस्य: of the unhesitating/bold one
• अकुण्ठस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + कुण्ठ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• नीचस्य: of a low person
• नीचस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• उच्चासनम्: a high seat
• उच्चासनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्च (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (उच्चं च तत् आसनम्)

• प्रियम्: dear; pleasing
• प्रियम्: Kriya-puraka (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-रूपे

• प्रियम्: dear; pleasing
• प्रियम्: Kriya-puraka (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-रूपे

• दानम्: giving; charity
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक; √दा + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दरिद्रस्य: of a poor man
• दरिद्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दरिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• भूनः: of a king/wealthy man (lit. of the great one)
• भूनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक; ‘भूमन्/भूमान्’ इत्यस्य रूपम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; (पाठभेदे ‘भूमान्/भूमानः’ इति)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• तरुणी: a young woman
• तरुणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरुणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रिया: dear; pleasing
• प्रिया: Kriya-puraka (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-रूपे

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: People cherish what compensates for their lack or inflates identity: the hoarse loves singing, the lowly loves high seats, the poor loves giving, the old loves the young woman.

Vedantic Theme: Ahamkara and vasana: preferences often arise from insecurity, craving, or compensatory identity-making; cultivate self-awareness.

Application: Notice motivations behind likes/dislikes; practice humility; channel desire into wholesome outlets (e.g., generosity without vanity).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.26 (young woman as ‘poison’ for the old—paired observation)

FAQs

What is the importance of understanding desire in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights how people cling to what flatters their weakness or lack—status, validation, wealth, or sensuality—pointing to desire as a driver of attachment that dharma seeks to restrain.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By showing how cravings arise from deficiency and ego, the verse implies that unchecked desire fuels karma and binds the jīva; reducing such attachments supports a cleaner karmic trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Notice impulses for status, praise, or sensual gratification, and choose restraint and right conduct (dharma) over indulgence—especially when the desire is compensating for insecurity.