Shloka 23

Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma

Devanagari script

सञ्चितं निहितं द्रव्यं परामृश्यं मुहुर्मुहुः / आखोरिव कदर्यस्य धनं दुः खाय केवलम्

Transliteration

sañcitaṃ nihitaṃ dravyaṃ parāmṛśyaṃ muhurmuhuḥ / ākhoriva kadaryasya dhanaṃ duḥ khāya kevalam

Translation

جمع کرکے چھپایا ہوا مال، جسے بار بار چھو کر گنا جاتا ہے—کنجوس کے چوہے کی طرح—وہ دولت محض غم کا سبب بنتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• सञ्चितम्: accumulated
• सञ्चितम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सञ्चित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम् + √चि (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त = 'accumulated' (qualifies द्रव्यम्)

• निहितम्: stored/hidden
• निहितम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि + √धा (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'stored/hidden'

• द्रव्यम्: wealth/property
• द्रव्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परामृश्यम्: to be handled
• परामृश्यम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परामृश्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; परा + √मृश् (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive) = 'to be handled/touched'

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: repeatedly)

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-अव्यय (reduplication for emphasis)

• आखोः: of a rat
• आखोः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आखु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; 'of a rat/mouse'

• इव: like
• इव: Comparison (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (like/as)

• कदर्यस्य: of a miser
• कदर्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; 'of a miser'

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दुःखाय: for sorrow
• दुःखाय: Sampradana (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (for sorrow)

• केवलम्: only/merely
• केवलम्: Adverbial/Qualifier (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (only/merely)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hoarded, hidden wealth repeatedly handled and counted becomes only sorrow—attachment converts possession into suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Aparigraha and vairāgya; suffering born of upādhi (identification) and clinging; wealth without dharmic flow (dāna) stagnates into duḥkha.

Application: Practice generosity and purposeful spending; simplify possessions; set giving goals; reduce compulsive checking/stockpiling behaviors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household/treasury (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109.21-22 (true wealth vs heirs and sin)

FAQs

What is the importance of non-hoarding in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that wealth kept only for possession—repeatedly guarded and obsessed over—yields sorrow rather than benefit, implying that dharmic use (support, charity, duty) is superior to mere accumulation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By condemning miserly attachment, it points to a core obstacle for the jīva: clinging to possessions intensifies anxiety and bondage, whereas detachment and dharmic giving support a lighter, more virtuous trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Earn and save responsibly, but avoid obsessive hoarding; allocate wealth toward duties, family support, and regular dāna—so money becomes a tool for dharma rather than a source of constant fear.