Shloka 21
Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma
सधनो हि तपस्वी च दूरतो वै कृतश्रमः / मद्यप स्त्री सतीत्येवं विप्र न श्रद्दधाम्यहम्
sadhano hi tapasvī ca dūrato vai kṛtaśramaḥ / madyapa strī satītyevaṃ vipra na śraddadhāmyaham
Hỡi Bà-la-môn, ta không tin những lời ấy: rằng kẻ tu khổ hạnh thật sự giàu có, rằng nhọc nhằn có thể xóa bỏ từ nơi xa, hay rằng người nữ uống rượu lại được gọi là ‘trinh chánh’ (satī).
Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda; the line itself addresses a brāhmaṇa as ‘vipra’ within the teaching)
Concept: Do not accept inverted claims that contradict dharma and lived reality; discernment (viveka) is required in judging character and statements.
Vedantic Theme: Viveka against viparyaya (inverted cognition); sattvic discrimination guards against delusion.
Application: Verify claims; do not romanticize contradictions (e.g., ‘wealthy ascetic’ as a blanket claim, ‘effort undone at distance’, ‘intoxication compatible with chastity’)—judge by conduct and consistency.
Primary Rasa: hasya
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sadachara and character-evaluation passages; warnings about intoxication and moral decline (general thematic link).
FAQs
This verse stresses that not every claim deserves acceptance; dharmic life requires discriminating between true virtue and misleading labels.
It reinforces that outward titles (like ‘ascetic’ or ‘chaste’) are not sufficient; conduct and truth determine spiritual credibility.
Evaluate character by consistent behavior, not by reputation or convenient redefinitions of virtue; avoid normalizing harmful habits as ‘acceptable’.