Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

शुष्कं मांसं स्त्रियो वृद्धा बालार्कस्तरुणं दधि / प्रभाते मैथुनं निद्रा सद्यः प्राणहराणि षट्

Transliteration

śuṣkaṃ māṃsaṃ striyo vṛddhā bālārkastaruṇaṃ dadhi / prabhāte maithunaṃ nidrā sadyaḥ prāṇaharāṇi ṣaṭ

Translation

خشک گوشت، بوڑھی عورت سے مباشرت، صبح کے نوخیز سورج کی دھوپ کا زیادہ لینا، تازہ دہی، سحر کے وقت جماع، اور سحر کے وقت سونا—یہ چھ چیزیں فوراً جان لے لینے والی کہی گئی ہیں۔

Word by Word

• शुष्कम्: dry
• शुष्कम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘मांसम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वृद्धाः: old/aged
• वृद्धाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘स्त्रियः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (अर्थतः स्त्रीलिङ्गे वृद्धाः=वृद्धाः/वृद्धाः स्त्रियः)

• बालार्कः: morning sun
• बालार्कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल+अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—बालः अर्कः (कर्मधारय)

• तरुणम्: fresh/young
• तरुणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘दधि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दधि: curd/yogurt
• दधि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रभाते: in the morning
• प्रभाते: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालाधिकरणम्

• मैथुनम्: sexual intercourse
• मैथुनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• निद्रा: sleep
• निद्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• प्राणहराणि: life-taking
• प्राणहराणि: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण+हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—प्राणान् हरन्ति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘प्राणहराणि’ इत्यस्य संख्या

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āhāra-vihāra niyama: certain foods, timings, and sexual conduct are declared immediately harmful to prāṇa in susceptible states.

Vedantic Theme: Right conduct sustains the body as a vehicle for dharma; tamasic/rajasic excess undermines steadiness (sattva).

Application: Avoid heavy/unsuitable foods and sex at improper times (dawn); maintain circadian discipline; choose diet according to strength, season, and digestion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.29 (life-shortening causes); Garuda Purana 1.114.31-33 (additional prāṇahara/bala teachings)

FAQs

What is the importance of dawn discipline (prabhāta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats dawn as a sensitive time for vitality (prāṇa), warning that certain actions—especially sleep and sex—are harmful when done at daybreak.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing conduct (ācāra) that preserves prāṇa and supports dharmic living, it frames bodily discipline as foundational for spiritual steadiness rather than describing after-death travel.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a clean morning routine: avoid oversleeping into dawn, avoid sex at daybreak, and be mindful of diet and exposure—treat early morning as a time for hygiene, prayer, and calm activity.