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Shloka 14

Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma

Devanagari script

नदीनां च नखीनां च शृङ्गिणां शस्त्रपाणिनाम् / विश्वासो नैव गन्तव्यः स्त्रिषु राजकुलेषु च

Transliteration

nadīnāṃ ca nakhīnāṃ ca śṛṅgiṇāṃ śastrapāṇinām / viśvāso naiva gantavyaḥ striṣu rājakuleṣu ca

Translation

Chớ đặt lòng tin nơi sông nước, loài có móng vuốt, loài có sừng, hay kẻ cầm binh khí; cũng vậy, chớ đặt lòng tin nơi phụ nữ và trong chốn vương gia.

Word by Word
नदीनाम्of rivers
नदीनाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootनदी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
नखीनाम्of clawed (creatures)
नखीनाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootनखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
शृङ्गिणाम्of horned (creatures)
शृङ्गिणाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootशृङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)
शस्त्रपाणिनाम्of those with weapons in hand
शस्त्रपाणिनाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootशस्त्र + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (शस्त्रं पाणौ येषाम्)
विश्वासःtrust
विश्वासः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
नnot
न:
Pratiṣedha (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)
एवindeed/at all
एव:
Avadhāraṇa (Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)
गन्तव्यःshould be placed/should be done (i.e., should be put)
गन्तव्यः:
Vidhi (Obligation/विधेय)
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्)
Formकृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भावे/कर्तरि प्रयोगः—‘गन्तव्यः’ = ‘should be gone/should be done’
स्त्रिषुin/among women
स्त्रिषु:
Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)
राजकुलेषुin royal families/courts
राजकुलेषु:
Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootराज + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः कुलम्)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prudence and discernment (viveka) in whom/what to trust; recognition of instability in worldly relations and forces.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) and saṃsāra-bhaya as a spur to discrimination; indirect encouragement toward vairāgya.

Application: Avoid naïve trust in volatile situations; verify, set boundaries, and practice situational awareness in travel, conflict, and power dynamics.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (nīti/dharma-śikṣā context)

FAQs

This verse shows the text also teaches worldly discernment as part of dharma—warning against naïve trust in inherently unpredictable or dangerous situations.

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it supports dharmic living through caution and discernment, which the Purana treats as foundational to right conduct.

Exercise prudent judgment around unpredictable forces (nature, dangerous animals, weapons, and power structures), and avoid blind trust—verify, assess risk, and act with care.

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