Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

षट्कर्णो भिद्यते मन्त्रश्चतुः कर्णश्चधार्यते / द्विकर्णस्य तु मन्त्रस्य ब्रह्माप्यन्त न बुध्यते

Transliteration

ṣaṭkarṇo bhidyate mantraścatuḥ karṇaścadhāryate / dvikarṇasya tu mantrasya brahmāpyanta na budhyate

Translation

چھ کانوں میں پڑنے سے منتر ٹوٹ جاتا ہے؛ اسے چار کانوں کے اندر ہی راز میں محفوظ رکھنا چاہیے۔ مگر جو منتر صرف دو کانوں تک محدود رہے، اس کی قوت کی حد کو برہما بھی نہیں جان پاتے۔

Word by Word

• षट्कर्णः: (a matter) with six ears; heard by six (persons)
• षट्कर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षट् कर्णानि यस्य/षट्कर्णः)

• भिद्यते: is broken/opened/divulged
• भिद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

• मन्त्रः: a mantra/secret counsel
• मन्त्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चतुःकर्णः: (a matter) with four ears; heard by four
• चतुःकर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चत्वारि कर्णानि यस्य/चतुःकर्णः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• धार्यते: is held/kept (secret)
• धार्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

• द्विकर्णस्य: of the two-eared (heard by two)
• द्विकर्णस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वे कर्णे यस्य/द्विकर्णः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• मन्त्रस्य: of the mantra/secret
• मन्त्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• अन्तम्: the end/limit
• अन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation)

• बुध्यते: is understood/known
• बुध्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is understood)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-śakti depends on disciplined secrecy and proper transmission; indiscriminate sharing ‘breaks’ efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra (fitness) and niyama (discipline) as supports for upāsanā; śabda as potent when held with śraddhā and saṃyama.

Application: Keep initiated mantras confidential; recite with purity and regularity; avoid casual disclosure; follow one’s guru’s rules of japa and teaching.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa context broadly): emphasis on dharma, restraint, and efficacy of rites/mantras; nearby didactic verses on conduct and lineage (1.114.55–58).

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra secrecy in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that the potency and integrity of a mantra depend on disciplined transmission; spreading it widely ‘breaks’ it, while guarded keeping preserves and deepens its power.

How does this verse relate to ritual practice in the Garuda Purana context?

Garuda Purana frequently frames rites as effective only when performed with proper rules (vidhi) and restraint; here, correct handling of mantras is presented as essential to their efficacy in sacred rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat spiritual practices with confidentiality and reverence: learn mantras from a competent teacher, avoid casual public repetition or sharing, and focus on steady, disciplined japa rather than display.