Shloka 18

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

स पण्डितो यो ह्यनुञ्जयेद्वै मिष्टेन बालं विनियेन शिष्टम् / अर्थेन नारीं तपसा हि देवान्सर्वांश्च लोकांश्च सुसंग्रहेण

Transliteration

sa paṇḍito yo hyanuñjayedvai miṣṭena bālaṃ viniyena śiṣṭam / arthena nārīṃ tapasā hi devānsarvāṃśca lokāṃśca susaṃgraheṇa

Translation

Bậc trí thật sự là người chinh phục trẻ thơ bằng đồ ngọt, chinh phục học trò có kỷ luật bằng sự chỉ dạy đúng mực, chinh phục người nữ bằng sự chu cấp vật chất, chinh phục chư thiên bằng khổ hạnh (tapas), và chinh phục mọi người cùng mọi cõi bằng sự quản trị khéo léo và hòa hợp trong hạnh kiểm.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• paṇḍitaḥ: a wise man
• paṇḍitaḥ: Predicate nominal (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; predicate nominative

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• anuñjayet: should please
• anuñjayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-ñj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; √ञ्ज् (to please/propitiate) with anu- = "to gratify"

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• miṣṭena: with sweets
• miṣṭena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: miṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental of means

• bālam: a child
• bālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• viniyena: with humility/discipline
• viniyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vinaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• śiṣṭam: well-trained, cultured
• śiṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiṣṭa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; here "well-bred/educated" qualifying bālam

• arthena: with wealth
• arthena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• nārīm: a woman
• nārīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; adjective qualifying lokān (and/or devān by sense)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• lokān: worlds/people
• lokān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• susaṃgraheṇa: by good management/conciliatory conduct
• susaṃgraheṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग) + saṃgraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (su-saṃgrahaḥ = good management/keeping together)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Wisdom is context-sensitive conduct: appropriate means for different recipients; loka-saṅgraha through good management and harmony.

Vedantic Theme: Gītā-like loka-saṅgraha (holding the world together) through right action; yajña/tapas as link to devas; disciplined guidance as dharma.

Application: Use age-appropriate incentives for children, mentorship for students, responsible provision in relationships, disciplined practice for spiritual aims, and fair administration for society.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti: emphasis on saṅgraha (good management), appropriate conduct, and sustaining social order (general)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of disciplined conduct (viniyena) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents discipline and proper guidance as the means to shape and win over the śiṣṭa (well-trained person/student), highlighting dharma as practical training, not merely belief.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it frames tapas (austerity) and saṁgraha (harmonious conduct) as dharmic forces that align one with higher realms; such virtues are repeatedly treated in the Purana as supports for auspicious post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use appropriate means for each context—kindness for children, principled guidance for students, responsible provision in relationships, spiritual discipline for inner growth, and fair management to maintain harmony in society.