Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

जानीयात्प्रेषणे भृत्यान्बान्धवान्व्यसनागमे / मित्रमापदि काले च भार्याञ्च विभवक्षये

Transliteration

jānīyātpreṣaṇe bhṛtyānbāndhavānvyasanāgame / mitramāpadi kāle ca bhāryāñca vibhavakṣaye

Translation

Hãy nhận rõ người hầu khi sai đi làm việc; nhận rõ bà con khi tai ương kéo đến; nhận rõ bạn bè trong lúc hiểm nguy; và nhận rõ người vợ khi của cải suy giảm.

Word by Word

• जानीयात्: should know/recognize
• जानीयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रेषणे: in sending/at the time of dispatch
• प्रेषणे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेषण (प्रातिपदिक; from √इष्/√प्रेष् (धातु) ‘to send’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• भृत्यान्: servants
• भृत्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• बान्धवान्: relatives
• बान्धवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• व्यसनागमे: when misfortune arrives
• व्यसनागमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक) + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (व्यसनस्य आगमे)

• मित्रम्: a friend
• मित्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आपदि: in calamity
• आपदि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

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

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• विभवक्षये: when wealth declines
• विभवक्षये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभव (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (विभवस्य क्षये)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True character is known through situations: service in commission, kinship in calamity, friendship in danger, and marital fidelity in poverty.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) through experiential verification; impermanence of wealth as a revealer of attachment and dharma.

Application: Evaluate trust by observing conduct in responsibility, crisis, and scarcity; cultivate reliability yourself in others’ adversity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (niti/dharma counsel cluster)

FAQs

What is the importance of adversity as a test in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that hardship reveals authenticity—service, kinship, friendship, and marital support become clear only when circumstances are difficult.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it gives dharmic guidance for worldly life, emphasizing discernment and right relationships—foundational virtues that support righteous living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Evaluate trust by conduct under pressure: rely on those who remain helpful in crisis, and cultivate relationships grounded in duty and integrity rather than convenience.