Shloka 34

Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā

Devanagari script

किं जीवितेन धनमानविवर्जितेन मित्रेण किं भवति भीतिसशङ्कितेन / सिंहव्रतं चरत गच्छत मा विषादं काको ऽपि जीवति चिरं च बलिं च भुङ्क्ते

Transliteration

kiṃ jīvitena dhanamānavivarjitena mitreṇa kiṃ bhavati bhītisaśaṅkitena / siṃhavrataṃ carata gacchata mā viṣādaṃ kāko 'pi jīvati ciraṃ ca baliṃ ca bhuṅkte

Translation

Sống để làm gì nếu không có của cải và danh dự? Bạn bè để làm gì nếu chỉ run sợ và nghi ngờ? Hãy giữ chí khí như sư tử—tiến bước, chớ u sầu; ngay cả con quạ cũng sống lâu và vẫn ăn được phần lễ vật (bali) của mình.

Word by Word

• किम्: what? (of what use?)
• किम्: Prayojana/Prashna (Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun, neuter)

• जीवितेन: with life; by living
• जीवितेन: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• धनमानविवर्जितेन: devoid of wealth and honor
• धनमानविवर्जितेन: Visheshana (Qualifier of जीवितेन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + māna (प्रातिपदिक) + vivarjita (कृदन्त; वि+वर्ज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'धन' च 'मान' च ताभ्यां विवर्जितः इति (devoid of wealth and honor)

• मित्रेण: with a friend
• मित्रेण: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• किम्: what? (what use?)
• किम्: Prayojana/Prashna (Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• भवति: is/comes to be
• भवति: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भीतिसशङ्कितेन: with one who is fearful/suspicious
• भीतिसशङ्कितेन: Visheshana (Qualifier of मित्रेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīti (प्रातिपदिक) + saśaṅkita (कृदन्त; शङ्क् धातु, क्त; स-उपसर्ग/सहभाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भीत्या सशङ्कितः (fearful and suspicious)

• सिंहव्रतम्: the lion’s vow (lion-like resolve)
• सिंहव्रतम्: Karma (Object of चरत)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सिंहस्य व्रतम् (lion-like vow/resolve)

• चरत: practice; follow
• चरत: Kriya (Imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• गच्छत: go; proceed
• गच्छत: Kriya (Imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मा: do not
• मा: Nishedha (Prohibition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• विषादम्: despondency; grief
• विषादम्: Karma (Object of implied 'कुरुत/गच्छत' with मा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (accusative singular)

• काकः: a crow
• काकः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (nominative singular)

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: even/also)

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kala-adhikarana (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cira (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• बलिम्: offering; food morsel
• बलिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (accusative singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भुङ्क्ते: eats; enjoys
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra; proverbial teaching tone)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Utsaha (lion-like resolve) and avoidance of despair; life gains meaning through honor, purposeful striving, and fearless action rather than timid survival.

Vedantic Theme: Purushartha-viveka; tamas (vishada) as a binding tendency to be overcome by sattvic courage.

Application: Choose courageous, value-aligned action; avoid fear-driven alliances; cultivate resilience and self-respect in livelihood and duty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.115.36 (trivarga-shunya life as non-life); Garuda Purana 1.115.37 (paradhinata as living death)

FAQs

What is the importance of siṁha-vrata (lion’s resolve) in Garuda Purana?

This verse praises steadfast courage and forward action—urging one to abandon fear-based hesitation and live with confident discipline, which supports dharmic conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the broader Garuda Purana ethic: fear and weakness obstruct right action, while steady resolve helps one live righteously—shaping karma that influences one’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid paralysis from anxiety and negative counsel; cultivate disciplined courage, act ethically, and persist—like a “lion’s vow”—even in adverse circumstances.