Shloka 17

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

यस्यार्थास्तस्य मित्राणि यस्यार्थास्तस्य बान्धवाः / यस्यार्थाः स मुमांल्लाके यस्यार्थाः स च पण्डितः

Transliteration

yasyārthāstasya mitrāṇi yasyārthāstasya bāndhavāḥ / yasyārthāḥ sa mumāṃllāke yasyārthāḥ sa ca paṇḍitaḥ

Translation

Ai có của cải thì có bạn; ai có của cải thì có bà con. Trong mắt thế gian, người có của được xem là bậc đáng trọng, và người có của cũng bị coi là kẻ học rộng.

Word by Word

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अर्थाः: wealth, resources
• अर्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मित्राणि: friends
• मित्राणि: Karta (Predicate-nominative/कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अर्थाः: wealth
• अर्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• बान्धवाः: relatives
• बान्धवाः: Karta (Predicate-nominative/कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अर्थाः: wealth
• अर्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुमान्: (unclear word; possibly ‘honoured/important man’)
• मुमान्: Karta (Predicate-nominative/कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुमान् (प्रातिपदिक; पाठान्तर/दुर्लभ-शब्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अर्थः संदिग्धः (पाठदोष/भ्रंश-सम्भावना)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अर्थाः: wealth
• अर्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• पण्डितः: a learned man
• पण्डितः: Karta (Predicate-nominative/कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly esteem is often contingent on wealth; social labels (friend, relative, learned) can be transactional, so one should cultivate discernment and non-delusion.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) regarding anitya (impermanent) social status; warning against māyā of external markers.

Application: Choose companions by character and dharma rather than utility; avoid equating prosperity with virtue or wisdom; practice humility in success and steadiness in lack.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: social sphere/marketplace of reputation

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.111.18 (wealth as ‘relative’; abandonment of the poor)

FAQs

What is the importance of wealth (artha) in the Garuda Purana’s ethical teachings?

This verse highlights how worldly society often measures friendship, kinship, and even ‘learning’ by wealth—prompting the reader toward discernment and non-attachment in dharmic life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By exposing the instability of worldly bonds rooted in wealth, it indirectly urges reliance on dharma and inner merit—qualities that accompany the soul beyond death, unlike social status.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose relationships and self-worth based on character and dharma, not financial power; use wealth responsibly without letting it define your identity or judgment of others.