Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

लवणजलान्ता नद्यः स्त्रीभेदान्तं च मैथुनम् / षैशुन्यं जनवार्तान्तं वित्तं दुः खत्रयान्तकम्

Transliteration

lavaṇajalāntā nadyaḥ strībhedāntaṃ ca maithunam / ṣaiśunyaṃ janavārtāntaṃ vittaṃ duḥ khatrayāntakam

Translation

Các dòng sông đều kết thúc nơi biển mặn. Sự giao hợp rốt cuộc hiển lộ sự sai biệt nam và nữ. Lời nói vụn vặt rốt cuộc thành chuyện đồn đãi nơi công chúng. Và của cải rốt cuộc dẫn đến ba nỗi khổ.

Word by Word

• lavaṇa: salt
• lavaṇa: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lavaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• jala: water
• jala: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• antāḥ: ending in
• antāḥ: Karta (Predicate-adjective/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; 'ending in' (as predicate adjective)

• nadyaḥ: rivers
• nadyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• strī: woman
• strī: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• bheda: difference, division
• bheda: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• antam: ending in
• antam: Karta (Predicate-adjective/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासान्त-पद

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

• maithunam: sexual union
• maithunam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• ṣaiśunyam: childishness, folly
• ṣaiśunyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaiśunya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• jana: people
• jana: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• vārttā: talk, gossip, news
• vārttā: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārttā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• antam: ending in
• antam: Karta (Predicate-adjective/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासान्त-पद

• vittam: wealth
• vittam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• duḥkha: sorrow
• duḥkha: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• traya: threefold
• traya: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); संख्यावाचक

• antakam: ending in (bringing) an end
• antakam: Karta (Predicate-adjective/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासान्त-पद; 'ending in/destructive end'

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All pursuits have predictable endpoints: rivers to the salty sea; sexual union to differentiation/discord of sexes; petty talk to public gossip; wealth to threefold misery—therefore cultivate discernment and detachment.

Vedantic Theme: Parinama-duhkha and tritapa (adhyatmika/adhibhautika/adhidaivika) as grounds for vairagya; seeing samsara’s inherent dissatisfaction.

Application: Moderate desire and speech; avoid gossip cycles; treat wealth as instrument not identity; cultivate contentment and spiritual priorities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-geographic feature

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent emphasis on tritapa and the futility of worldly attachments in niti and moksha-oriented passages

FAQs

What is the importance of duḥkha-traya (threefold suffering) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames wealth and worldly fixation as ultimately terminating in duḥkha-traya—inner distress, suffering caused by other beings, and suffering from divine/natural forces—encouraging vairāgya (detachment) and dharmic living.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

By highlighting how sense-pleasures and possessions end in suffering, it supports the broader Purāṇic aim of turning the mind from transient pursuits toward dharma, purification, and liberation-oriented conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat wealth and pleasure as tools, not identity: curb gossip, reduce compulsive indulgence, and prioritize charity, self-discipline, and spiritual practice to lessen avoidable suffering.