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Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

ये बालभावे न पठन्ति विद्यां कामातुरा यौवननष्टवित्ताः / ते वृद्धबावे परिभूयमानाः संदह्यमानाः शिशिरे यथाब्जम्

Transliteration

ye bālabhāve na paṭhanti vidyāṃ kāmāturā yauvananaṣṭavittāḥ / te vṛddhabāve paribhūyamānāḥ saṃdahyamānāḥ śiśire yathābjam

Translation

幼时不勤学求知，少壮为欲火所逼而耗散财物者，至老年必遭轻蔑与压迫，悔恨灼心，如寒冬之莲，凋零枯萎。

Word by Word
येthose who
ये:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)
बालभावेin childhood
बालभावे:
Adhikarana (Locative)
TypeNoun
Rootबाल (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बालस्य भावः)
नnot
न:
Modifier (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय
पठन्तिstudy/read
पठन्ति:
Kriya (Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootपठ् (धातु)
Formलट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन
विद्याम्knowledge, learning
विद्याम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म
कामातुराःafflicted by desire
कामातुराः:
Karta (Subject-Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootकाम (प्रातिपदिक) + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तृतीया/हेतु-तत्पुरुष (कामेन आतुराः)
यौवननष्टवित्ताःwhose wealth is ruined in youth
यौवननष्टवित्ताः:
Karta (Subject-Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootयौवन (प्रातिपदिक) + नष्ट (कृदन्त, √नश्) + वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (यौवने नष्टं वित्तं येषाम्)
तेthey
ते:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संकेत (correlative pronoun)
वृद्धभावेin old age
वृद्धभावे:
Adhikarana (Locative)
TypeNoun
Rootवृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वृद्धस्य भावः)
परिभूयमानाःbeing oppressed/insulted
परिभूयमानाः:
Karta (Subject-Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootपरि + भू (धातु)
Formवर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शानच्-प्रत्यय (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
संदह्यमानाःbeing burned/tormented
संदह्यमानाः:
Karta (Subject-Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootसम् + दह् (धातु)
Formवर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच् (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
शिशिरेin winter/cold season
शिशिरे:
Adhikarana (Locative)
TypeNoun
Rootशिशिर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण
यथाlike, as
यथा:
Modifier (Comparison)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा (अव्यय)
Formउपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle: as/like)
अब्जम्a lotus
अब्जम्:
Upamana (Standard of comparison)
TypeNoun
Rootअब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)
Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect of study and surrender to kāma in youth produces later suffering—social, mental, and existential.

Vedantic Theme: Durlabha-mānuṣa-janma and kāma as a binding force; need for puruṣārtha alignment (dharma/artha/kāma under dharma, leading toward mokṣa).

Application: Invest early in education and character; set boundaries for desire; practice financial restraint; cultivate long-term thinking to avoid late-life remorse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (nīti on education, desire, and consequences)

FAQs

This verse frames learning as a protective foundation laid in childhood; neglecting it leads to dependence, humiliation, and inner burning regret in old age.

It presents a cause-and-effect chain: failure to cultivate knowledge and restraint leads to desire-driven choices and loss of resources, which ripen as social and psychological suffering in old age.

Invest early in study and character, practice restraint over compulsive desires, and manage wealth responsibly to avoid preventable hardship and regret later in life.

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