Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

छलेन मित्रं कलुषेण धर्मं परोपतापेन समृद्धिभावनम् / सुखेन विद्यां पुरुषेण नारीं वाञ्छन्ति वै ये न च पण्डितास्ते

Transliteration

chalena mitraṃ kaluṣeṇa dharmaṃ paropatāpena samṛddhibhāvanam / sukhena vidyāṃ puruṣeṇa nārīṃ vāñchanti vai ye na ca paṇḍitāste

Translation

Kẻ tìm bạn bằng mưu trá, tìm chánh pháp bằng ô uế, cầu phú quý bằng cách làm khổ người khác, cầu học vấn bằng sự an nhàn, và cầu nữ nhân chỉ bằng cái danh đàn ông—những kẻ ấy tuyệt chẳng phải bậc trí.

Word by Word

• छलेन: by deceit
• छलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

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

• कलुषेण: by impurity
• कलुषेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• परोपतापेन: by tormenting others
• परोपतापेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परोपताप (प्रातिपदिक: पर-उपताप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (परस्य उपतापः)

• समृद्धिभावनम्: the means of prosperity
• समृद्धिभावनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समृद्धि-भावन (प्रातिपदिक: समृद्धि + भावन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (समृद्धेः भावनम्)

• सुखेन: by ease/comfort
• सुखेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• विद्याम्: knowledge
• विद्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• पुरुषेण: by/through a man
• पुरुषेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• नारीम्: a woman
• नारीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• वाञ्छन्ति: desire
• वाञ्छन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वाञ्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative 3rd plural

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

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; Relative pronoun nominative plural

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पण्डिताः: wise (men)
• पण्डिताः: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; Demonstrative pronoun nominative plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ends do not justify impure means; deceit, harm, and indulgence cannot yield true friendship, dharma, prosperity, learning, or worthy relationships.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva as the basis for right knowledge and right action; adharma born of rajas/tamas leads to avidya and bondage.

Application: Choose means aligned with integrity: cultivate friendships through honesty, prosperity through non-harm, learning through discipline, and relationships through character rather than mere power.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (dharma-niti sections): warnings against deceit (chala), himsa, and tamasic pursuits; general sadachara passages in Purva-khanda.

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma in this Garuda Purana verse?

It teaches that dharma cannot be attained through impure means; righteousness must be pursued with inner and outer purity, not hypocrisy or corruption.

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

By warning against harmful and deceitful actions, it indirectly points to karmic consequences that shape one’s post-death journey; unethical means lead to negative karmic results described elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose honest relationships, earn wealth without harming others, learn through discipline rather than comfort-seeking, and treat relationships with responsibility and character—not entitlement.