Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

न विश्वसेदविश्वस्ते मित्रस्यापि न विश्वसेत् / कदाचित्कुपितं मित्रं सर्वं गुह्यं प्रकाशयेत्

Transliteration

na viśvasedaviśvaste mitrasyāpi na viśvaset / kadācitkupitaṃ mitraṃ sarvaṃ guhyaṃ prakāśayet

Translation

Chớ đặt lòng tin nơi kẻ không đáng tin; ngay cả với bạn hữu cũng chớ tin trọn vẹn. Vì có lúc, người bạn khi nổi giận có thể phơi bày mọi điều bí mật.

Word by Word

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

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• विश्वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्-वास् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative 3rd singular

• अविश्वस्ते: in one who is untrusted
• अविश्वस्ते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-विश्वस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular; ‘in/with an untrusted (person)’

• मित्रस्य: of a friend
• मित्रस्य: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Emphasis/Concession (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive/also)

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

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• विश्वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्-वास् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative 3rd singular

• कदाचित्: at some time
• कदाचित्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कुपितम्: angered
• कुपितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुपित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from कुप् (धातु)

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

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• गुह्यम्: secret
• गुह्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• प्रकाशयेत्: might reveal
• प्रकाशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-काश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative 3rd singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Trust must be proportionate to reliability; even friends can become adversarial under anger and expose secrets.

Vedantic Theme: Mind’s volatility (rajas) can overturn relationships; viveka and dama protect one’s inner life.

Application: Practice calibrated trust: share sensitive matters selectively; build safeguards; cultivate emotional regulation to avoid becoming the ‘angered friend’ oneself.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: niti/dharma counsel on speech control (vāg-niyama), secrecy, and association (saṅga) (general thematic link).

FAQs

What is the importance of secrecy and discretion in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that revealing confidential matters can become a weapon in moments of anger; therefore, discretion is a key part of dharmic conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports dharma by promoting self-control and wise relationships—qualities that reduce harmful actions that create negative karma affecting the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Share sensitive information only on a need-to-know basis, avoid over-disclosure even with close friends, and prioritize calm communication to prevent anger-driven breaches of trust.