Shloka 8

The Eight Nidhis: Guna-Based Types of Wealth, Giving, Hoarding, and Public Benefit

Devanagari script

निधानमुर्व्यां कुरुते निधिः सोप्येकपूरुषः / राजसेनमुकुन्देन लक्षिता राज्यसंग्रही

Transliteration

nidhānamurvyāṃ kurute nidhiḥ sopyekapūruṣaḥ / rājasenamukundena lakṣitā rājyasaṃgrahī

Translation

นidhi ฝังขุมทรัพย์ไว้ในแผ่นดิน แต่ท้ายที่สุดก็เป็นประโยชน์แก่คนเพียงผู้เดียว เมื่อถูกทำเครื่องหมายโดยกองทัพหลวงและผู้แทนพระราชาแล้ว ก็ถูกยึดเป็นทรัพย์ของแผ่นดิน

Word by Word

• निधानम्: a deposit/treasure-hoard
• निधानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• उर्व्याम्: in the earth
• उर्व्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उर्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• कुरुते: makes/places
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• निधिः: the treasure (nidhi)
• निधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• एकपूरुषः: a single person
• एकपूरुषः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘एकः पुरुषः’

• राजसेनमुकुन्देन: by Rājasena and Mukunda
• राजसेनमुकुन्देन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसेन + मुकुन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (two names)

• लक्षिता: marked/identified
• लक्षिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्षित (कृदन्त; लक्ष् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) स्त्रीरूप; वाक्ये ‘निधिः’ (पुं) इत्यनेन सह लिङ्ग-असंगतिः—अर्थतः ‘लक्षितः’ अपेक्षितः (पाठभेद)

• राज्यसंग्रही: collector/holder of kingdom (royal power)
• राज्यसंग्रही: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज्य + संग्रही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘राज्यस्य संग्रही’ = one who collects/holds dominion

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hoarded treasure buried in the earth benefits at most one person and is vulnerable to confiscation; attachment to hidden wealth is unstable and often futile.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya (impermanence) of possessions; vairāgya through seeing the fragility of ownership; artha without dharma is insecure.

Application: Prefer transparent, dharmic use of wealth (charity, family duty, community good) over secret hoarding; diversify security ethically; accept limits of control.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: burial site/ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.53.4-7: contrast between dāna/sattva and tamasic hoarding; nidhi behavior culminating in loss (context)

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment from wealth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that hoarded or hidden wealth is unstable and can be taken away; therefore one should not cling to possessions but use wealth righteously (dharma) rather than for mere accumulation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By highlighting that buried treasure ends up serving others (even being seized by the state), the verse supports the Garuda Purana theme that material possessions do not accompany the jīva; only karma and dharmic conduct shape the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid hoarding and secrecy-driven accumulation; earn and spend ethically, give in charity, support rites and duties, and treat wealth as a tool for dharma rather than as permanent security.