Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

न विश्वसेदविश्वस्ते मित्रस्यापि न विश्वसेत् / कदाचित्कुपितं मित्रं सर्वं गुह्यं प्रकाशयेत्

Transliteration

na viśvasedaviśvaste mitrasyāpi na viśvaset / kadācitkupitaṃ mitraṃ sarvaṃ guhyaṃ prakāśayet

Translation

جو قابلِ اعتماد نہ ہو اس پر بھروسا نہ کرو؛ دوست پر بھی مکمل بھروسا نہ کرو، کیونکہ کبھی غصے میں دوست ہر راز ظاہر کر دیتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• विश्वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्-वास् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative 3rd singular

• अविश्वस्ते: in one who is untrusted
• अविश्वस्ते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-विश्वस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular; ‘in/with an untrusted (person)’

• मित्रस्य: of a friend
• मित्रस्य: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Emphasis/Concession (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive/also)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• विश्वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्-वास् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative 3rd singular

• कदाचित्: at some time
• कदाचित्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कुपितम्: angered
• कुपितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुपित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from कुप् (धातु)

• मित्रम्: friend
• मित्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• गुह्यम्: secret
• गुह्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• प्रकाशयेत्: might reveal
• प्रकाशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-काश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative 3rd singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Trust must be proportionate to reliability; even friends can become adversarial under anger and expose secrets.

Vedantic Theme: Mind’s volatility (rajas) can overturn relationships; viveka and dama protect one’s inner life.

Application: Practice calibrated trust: share sensitive matters selectively; build safeguards; cultivate emotional regulation to avoid becoming the ‘angered friend’ oneself.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: niti/dharma counsel on speech control (vāg-niyama), secrecy, and association (saṅga) (general thematic link).

FAQs

What is the importance of secrecy and discretion in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that revealing confidential matters can become a weapon in moments of anger; therefore, discretion is a key part of dharmic conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports dharma by promoting self-control and wise relationships—qualities that reduce harmful actions that create negative karma affecting the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Share sensitive information only on a need-to-know basis, avoid over-disclosure even with close friends, and prioritize calm communication to prevent anger-driven breaches of trust.