Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

मुखभङ्गः स्वरो दीनो गात्रस्वेदो महद्भयम् / मरणे यानि चिह्नानि तानि चिह्नानि याचके

Transliteration

mukhabhaṅgaḥ svaro dīno gātrasvedo mahadbhayam / maraṇe yāni cihnāni tāni cihnāni yācake

Translation

چہرے کی بگڑی ہوئی حالت، کمزور آواز، اعضا کا پسینہ اور شدید خوف—موت کے وقت جو نشان ہوتے ہیں، وہی نشان سائل میں بھی دکھائی دیتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• मुखभङ्गः: distortion of the face
• मुखभङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख + भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुखस्य भङ्गः)

• स्वरः: voice, tone
• स्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दीनः: feeble, depressed
• दीनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गात्रस्वेदः: sweating of the limbs
• गात्रस्वेदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र + स्वेद (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गात्रस्य स्वेदः)

• महद्भयम्: great fear
• महद्भयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् भयम्)

• मरणे: at death, in dying
• मरणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• यानि: which (things)
• यानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• चिह्नानि: signs, marks
• चिह्नानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; निर्देशक (demonstrative)

• चिह्नानि: signs
• चिह्नानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• याचके: in a beggar, in one who begs
• याचके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Extreme poverty mimics the terror and bodily collapse of dying; recognize suffering and respond with compassion and support.

Vedantic Theme: Duhkha-darshana leading to karuna and dharmic action; awareness of anitya (impermanence) and shared vulnerability.

Application: Offer food, shelter, and dignity to the destitute; cultivate humility by remembering mortality and the thin line between security and collapse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (dana and compassion motifs): aiding the distressed as dharma; reflections on death signs appear elsewhere in the text’s death/afterlife discussions

FAQs

What is the importance of death-signs (maraṇa-cihnāni) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights a set of recognizable physical-mental symptoms associated with dying, using them to underscore the extremity of suffering and fear when life-supporting dignity and stability collapse.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by stressing fear and bodily distress associated with mortality, it prepares the listener for the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that one should live dharmically and prepare spiritually, since death brings unavoidable vulnerability.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate compassion and charitable giving rather than contempt for the destitute, and live with awareness of impermanence—using health, wealth, and voice responsibly in dharma while they last.