Shloka 6

The Eight Nidhis: Guna-Based Types of Wealth, Giving, Hoarding, and Public Benefit

Devanagari script

दद्याच्छ्रुताय मैत्रीं च याति नित्यं च राजभिः / द्रव्यार्थं शत्रुणा नाशं संग्रामे चापि संव्रजेत्

Transliteration

dadyācchrutāya maitrīṃ ca yāti nityaṃ ca rājabhiḥ / dravyārthaṃ śatruṇā nāśaṃ saṃgrāme cāpi saṃvrajet

Translation

Nên bố thí cho bậc học giả và vun bồi tình bằng hữu; lại nên thường xuyên giao kết với các bậc vương quyền (người nắm quyền). Vì của cải, người ta có thể bị kẻ thù làm cho suy vong, và cũng có thể bị lôi kéo vào chiến trận.

Word by Word

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• श्रुताय: to the learned/renowned one
• श्रुताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत (कृदन्त; श्रु धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘श्रुत’ = learned/renowned

• मैत्रीम्: friendship
• मैत्रीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• राजभिः: with kings
• राजभिः: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• द्रव्यार्थम्: for the sake of wealth
• द्रव्यार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the sake of wealth)

• शत्रुणा: by an enemy
• शत्रुणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• नाशम्: destruction
• नाशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• संग्रामे: in battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अप्यर्थ/समुच्चय/अवधारण

• संव्रजेत्: should go forth/enter
• संव्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly pursuit of wealth and power requires alliances (learned, friends, kings) but carries karmic and practical risk—enmity and warfare can destroy one.

Vedantic Theme: Rajas-driven action and its instability; warning against attachment to artha that drags one into saṃsāric conflict; need for viveka in engagement.

Application: Support learning and build trustworthy relationships; engage institutions/authority ethically; assess risk before pursuing wealth; avoid actions that provoke hostility or violence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.53.4-8: nidhi/wealth behavior and consequences (contextual flow)

Characters & Entities

• rājāḥ (kings/rulers)
• śatru (enemy)

FAQs

What is the importance of giving to the learned (śrutāya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights dāna directed toward the truly learned as a key dharmic act—supporting sacred knowledge and cultivating merit through right charity.

How does this verse explain the dangers of pursuing wealth?

It warns that wealth-seeking (dravyārtham) can push a person into hostile entanglements—ruin by enemies and even participation in war—showing how desire can drag one into adharma and suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional charity to genuine educators/scholars, choose alliances carefully (including with power structures), and avoid letting greed escalate into conflict or risky choices.