Shloka 14

Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma

Devanagari script

नदीनां च नखीनां च शृङ्गिणां शस्त्रपाणिनाम् / विश्वासो नैव गन्तव्यः स्त्रिषु राजकुलेषु च

Transliteration

nadīnāṃ ca nakhīnāṃ ca śṛṅgiṇāṃ śastrapāṇinām / viśvāso naiva gantavyaḥ striṣu rājakuleṣu ca

Translation

不可轻信江河、利爪之兽、有角之畜与执兵之人；同样，也不可轻信妇人，亦不可轻信王族宫廷。

Word by Word

• नदीनाम्: of rivers
• नदीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नखीनाम्: of clawed (creatures)
• नखीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शृङ्गिणाम्: of horned (creatures)
• शृङ्गिणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शस्त्रपाणिनाम्: of those with weapons in hand
• शस्त्रपाणिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (शस्त्रं पाणौ येषाम्)

• विश्वासः: trust
• विश्वासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• गन्तव्यः: should be placed/should be done (i.e., should be put)
• गन्तव्यः: Vidhi (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भावे/कर्तरि प्रयोगः—‘गन्तव्यः’ = ‘should be gone/should be done’

• स्त्रिषु: in/among women
• स्त्रिषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• राजकुलेषु: in royal families/courts
• राजकुलेषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः कुलम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prudence and discernment (viveka) in whom/what to trust; recognition of instability in worldly relations and forces.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) and saṃsāra-bhaya as a spur to discrimination; indirect encouragement toward vairāgya.

Application: Avoid naïve trust in volatile situations; verify, set boundaries, and practice situational awareness in travel, conflict, and power dynamics.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (nīti/dharma-śikṣā context)

FAQs

What is the importance of nīti (practical ethics) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows the text also teaches worldly discernment as part of dharma—warning against naïve trust in inherently unpredictable or dangerous situations.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it supports dharmic living through caution and discernment, which the Purana treats as foundational to right conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Exercise prudent judgment around unpredictable forces (nature, dangerous animals, weapons, and power structures), and avoid blind trust—verify, assess risk, and act with care.