Shloka 59

Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā

Devanagari script

राज्यश्रीर्ब्रह्मशापान्ता पापान्तं ब्रह्मवर्चसम् / आचान्तं घोषवासान्तं कुलस्यान्तं स्त्रिया प्रभो (भुः)

Transliteration

rājyaśrīrbrahmaśāpāntā pāpāntaṃ brahmavarcasam / ācāntaṃ ghoṣavāsāntaṃ kulasyāntaṃ striyā prabho (bhuḥ)

Translation

ข้าแต่พระผู้เป็นเจ้า ความรุ่งเรืองแห่งราชสมบัติย่อมสิ้นลงด้วยคำสาปของพราหมณ์; รัศมีแห่งพรหมวิทยา (พรหมวรรจัส) ย่อมดับด้วยบาป. ความบริสุทธิ์สิ้นเพราะละเลยการอาจมนะ; การอยู่ในชุมชนเลี้ยงโคย่อมเสื่อมเพราะพำนักอยู่เนืองนิตย์; และวงศ์ตระกูลย่อมถึงกาลสิ้นสุดเพราะสตรีคนหนึ่ง.

Word by Word

• राज्यश्रीः: royal prosperity
• राज्यश्रीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्यस्य श्रीः)

• ब्रह्मशापान्ता: ending in Brahmin’s curse
• ब्रह्मशापान्ता: Visheshana (Adjectival to राज्यश्रीः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + शाप (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः शापस्य अन्तः यस्याः सा)

• पापान्तम्: ending in sin
• पापान्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival to ब्रह्मवर्चसम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पापस्य अन्तः)

• ब्रह्मवर्चसम्: Brahminical splendor
• ब्रह्मवर्चसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः वर्चः)

• आचान्तम्: having sipped (water)
• आचान्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival to implied noun)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग) + चम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/भूतकर्मणि-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘आचामितम्/आचान्तम्’ = having sipped (water)

• घोषवासान्तम्: ending in dwelling in a settlement/hamlet
• घोषवासान्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival to implied noun)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोष (प्रातिपदिक) + वास (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (घोषवासस्य अन्तः)

• कुलस्य: of the family
• कुलस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अन्तम्: end
• अन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• स्त्रिया: by a woman
• स्त्रिया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• भुः: be (it so)
• भुः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly prosperity and spiritual radiance are contingent and can be destroyed by adharma, ritual neglect, and social disorder.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya (impermanence) of laukika-sampat; karma and dharma as causal regulators of fortune and tejas.

Application: Avoid offending brahmanas; avoid papa; maintain daily acamana and purity; protect family continuity through dharmic conduct and prudent household governance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Dharma sections): recurring emphasis on papa destroying punya and on acamana/śauca as daily dharma; Garuda Purana: teachings on brahmana-śāpa and its social-karmic consequences

Characters & Entities

• Brahmin (brāhmaṇa)
• Pāpa (sin)
• Kula (lineage)

FAQs

What is the importance of brahmaśāpa (a brāhmaṇa’s curse) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats brahmaśāpa as a powerful dharmic consequence that can terminate royal prosperity, highlighting the karmic weight of harming or disrespecting the spiritually disciplined.

How does this verse explain the link between purity and spiritual power?

It states that brahmavarcas (spiritual radiance) is destroyed by pāpa, and that basic ritual purity (ācamana) safeguards one’s sanctity—neglect leads to decline.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid actions that generate pāpa, honor ethical and spiritual authority, maintain daily cleanliness/ritual discipline (like ācamana or mindful purification), and protect family harmony through dharmic conduct.