Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अपि कल्पानिलस्यैव तुरगस्य महोदधेः / शक्यते प्रसरो बोद्धुं न ह्यरक्तस्ये चतसः

Transliteration

api kalpānilasyaiva turagasya mahodadheḥ / śakyate prasaro boddhuṃ na hyaraktasye catasaḥ

Translation

อาจหยั่งรู้ความกว้างไกลของลมยาวนานดุจกัลป์ ความเร็วของม้า หรือความเวิ้งว้างแห่งมหาสมุทรได้ แต่ความประพฤติของผู้ไร้ภักติ (ไม่ผูกใจในศรัทธา) ยากแท้จะหยั่งถึง

Word by Word

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावनार्थक/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (even/also)

• कल्प-अनिलस्य: of the aeon-wind (mighty wind)
• कल्प-अनिलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + anila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (kalpaḥ anilaḥ = world-age wind)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• तुरगस्य: of a horse
• तुरगस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: turaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महोदधेः: of the great ocean
• महोदधेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + udadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (mahān udadhiḥ = great ocean)

• शक्यते: is possible
• शक्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive); आत्मनेपद

• प्रसरः: extent, range
• प्रसरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बोद्धुम्: to know, to understand
• बोद्धुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive/तुमन्त), परस्मैपद-धातु

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

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• अरक्तस्य: of one who is not attached/unloving
• अरक्तस्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: araktá (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of implied person)

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

• तसः: of his inner disposition/heart
• तसः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दुर्लभ-प्रातिपदिक (context: ‘mind/heart’ or ‘intent’—textual variant possible)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The conduct/trajectory of the अरक्त (unattached/without devotion—contextually ‘without loving attachment/faith’) is difficult to comprehend; devotion/steadfast attachment makes one intelligible and reliable.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva vs rajas/tamas: steadiness born of śraddhā/bhakti; the unstable mind is hard to ‘measure’ like an ocean.

Application: Value consistency rooted in faith and principles; cultivate śraddhā and disciplined practice to become steady; be cautious in relying on those lacking commitment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic/natural expanse (ocean, wind, swift horse as metaphors)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.4 (trust and reliability); Garuda Purana 1.114.5-6 (faults and senses undermining steadiness)

FAQs

What is the importance of devotion (rakti/bhakti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that without inner devotion/commitment to dharma, a person’s motives and actions become difficult to grasp and unreliable—highlighting devotion as a stabilizing force for righteous conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it points to the inner orientation that shapes one’s karmic trajectory: a devoted, dharmic mind is intelligible and aligned, whereas an undevoted mind tends toward confused action, affecting one’s post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady commitment to dharma—through sincerity in worship, ethical habits, and self-restraint—so actions become consistent, trustworthy, and karmically beneficial.