Shloka 56

Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā

Devanagari script

तत्र मुक्तादरस्नेहो विलुप्तं यत्र सौहृदम् / तदेव केवलं श्लघ्यं यस्यात्मा क्रियते स्तुतौ

Transliteration

tatra muktādarasneho viluptaṃ yatra sauhṛdam / tadeva kevalaṃ ślaghyaṃ yasyātmā kriyate stutau

Translation

جہاں احترام اور محبت اٹھا لی گئی ہو اور جہاں دوستی مٹ چکی ہو—حقیقت میں قابلِ ستائش صرف وہی ہے جس میں تعریف کے وقت اپنی ذات کو موضوعِ مدح نہ بنایا جائے۔

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb: 'there')

• mukta: freed, released
• mukta: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √muc (धातु) + mukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ādara: respect
• ādara: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• snehaḥ: affection
• snehaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• viluptam: lost, destroyed
• viluptam: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √lup (धातु) + vilupta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-अव्यय (relative adverb: 'where')

• sauhṛdam: friendship, goodwill
• sauhṛdam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sauhṛda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshya (Correlative/अन्वय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• kevalam: mere, only
• kevalam: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ślaghyam: praiseworthy
• ślaghyam: Karta (Predicate-adjective/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ślagh (धातु) + ślaghya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/योग्यतार्थक कृदन्त (यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; 'praiseworthy'

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• ātmā: self
• ātmā: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• kriyate: is made, is placed
• kriyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• stutau: in praise
• stutau: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When respect/affection and friendship vanish, genuine worth lies in actions where the self is not set up for praise—humility and self-effacement.

Vedantic Theme: Ahamkara-tyaga; karma done without self-glorification (nishkama tendency).

Application: Do good quietly; avoid self-promotion; repair relationships by restoring respect and warmth; practice gratitude and credit-sharing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana niti: warnings against pride and hollow social bonds

FAQs

What is the importance of humility in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that what is truly commendable is conduct free from self-praise—especially where respect and friendship have declined—highlighting humility as a core dharmic virtue.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it points to inner purification: reducing ego and self-glorification strengthens dharmic character, which supports better karmic outcomes and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid boasting and seeking validation; choose actions that remain worthy even without applause, and protect relationships through respect and genuine goodwill.