Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

अप्रार्थितानि दुः खानि यथैवायान्ति यान्ति च / मार्जार इव लुम्पेत तथा प्रार्थयितार नरः

Transliteration

aprārthitāni duḥ khāni yathaivāyānti yānti ca / mārjāra iva lumpeta tathā prārthayitāra naraḥ

Translation

Nỗi khổ không cầu cũng tự đến rồi tự đi. Nhưng kẻ đi khắp nơi cầu xin lợi lộc thì bị vơ vét, như con mèo bị cướp mất phần.

Word by Word

• अप्रार्थितानि: unasked, unsolicited
• अप्रार्थितानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + prārthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘प्रार्थित’, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; नञ्-समासभाव (negated: unasked)

• दुःखानि: sorrows, troubles
• दुःखानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparative/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as, just as)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• आयान्ति: come
• आयान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + yā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• यान्ति: go away
• यान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

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

• मार्जारः: a cat
• मार्जारः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārjāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता/उपमान), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (like, as)

• लुम्पेत: should snatch/plunder
• लुम्पेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lump (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आज्ञा/विध्यर्थ (should snatch/plunder)

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तद्वत्/एवमेव (so, in the same way)

• प्रार्थयितारम्: the supplicant/beggar
• प्रार्थयितारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prārthayitṛ (प्रातिपदिक; तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun: one who begs/requests)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sufferings arise unbidden and pass; but habitual solicitation/begging for gains makes one vulnerable to being ‘plundered’—loss of dignity and exploitation.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and impermanence (duḥkha’s coming/going) with vairāgya; self-reliance aligned with dharmic livelihood.

Application: Avoid manipulative dependency; earn through rightful means; accept unavoidable hardship without panic; reduce craving-driven requests that compromise integrity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.53 (noble vs ignoble conduct and prosperity)

FAQs

What is the importance of self-reliance in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that suffering can arise without invitation, but lowering oneself to constant solicitation invites exploitation; dharmic living emphasizes dignity, restraint, and inner steadiness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By discouraging grasping and dependency, it points toward reducing attachment and karmic entanglements—qualities that support a steadier mind and a cleaner trajectory in the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Accept unavoidable hardships with patience, avoid manipulative asking or dependency for gain, and build livelihood and relationships on dignity, effort, and ethical boundaries.