Shloka 30
Nīti-Upadeśa: Discernment, Proper Use of Resources, and Social Strategy
न सर्ववित्कश्चिदिहास्ति लोके नात्यन्तमूर्खो भुवि चापि कश्चित् / ज्ञानेन नीचोत्तममध्यमेन यो ऽयं विजानाति स तेन विद्वान्
na sarvavitkaścidihāsti loke nātyantamūrkho bhuvi cāpi kaścit / jñānena nīcottamamadhyamena yo 'yaṃ vijānāti sa tena vidvān
اس دنیا میں کوئی بھی کامل طور پر ہمہ دان نہیں، اور زمین پر کوئی بھی سراسر احمق بھی نہیں۔ جو یہ سمجھ لے کہ علم ادنیٰ، اوسط اور اعلیٰ درجوں میں ہوتا ہے، وہ اسی فہم کے سبب حقیقی دانا ہے۔
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Wisdom is recognizing gradations of knowledge and avoiding absolutist self/other judgments.
Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) and amanitva (humility) as supports for right knowledge.
Application: Cultivate intellectual humility; evaluate claims by degrees of certainty; learn from those above, teach those below, and refine one’s own middle ground.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma/Acara sections): recurring emphasis on viveka, madhyama-marga in conduct and counsel
FAQs
This verse teaches that no human is perfectly all-knowing or completely ignorant; recognizing gradations of knowledge cultivates humility and is itself a mark of real wisdom.
By rejecting extremes (claiming omniscience or dismissing others as fools), the verse supports dharmic conduct—measured judgment, respectful learning, and discernment in counsel.
Approach learning with openness: avoid absolutist certainty, learn from those with greater insight, and do not demean those with less—wisdom grows through recognizing different levels of understanding.