Shloka 66

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

बहूनामल्पसाराणां समवायो हि दारुणः / तृणैरावेष्टिता रज्जुस्तया नागो ऽपि बध्यते

Transliteration

bahūnāmalpasārāṇāṃ samavāyo hi dāruṇaḥ / tṛṇairāveṣṭitā rajjustayā nāgo 'pi badhyate

Translation

众人合力，纵各自微弱，亦实为可畏；譬如绳索缠以草叶，凭此竟能缚住蛇。

Word by Word

• बहूनाम्: of many
• बहूनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (genitive plural: of many)

• अल्पसाराणाम्: of the weak/insubstantial
• अल्पसाराणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः (अल्पः सारः येषाम्/अल्पसाराः = of little strength/essence) (genitive plural)

• समवायः: combination/union
• समवायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समवाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; indeed)

• दारुणः: terrible/strong
• दारुणः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (masculine nominative singular)

• तृणैः: with grasses/straws
• तृणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (neuter instrumental plural)

• आवेष्टिता: wrapped
• आवेष्टिता: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + वेष्ट् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (feminine nominative singular; wrapped)

• रज्जुः: rope
• रज्जुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रज्जु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (feminine nominative singular)

• तया: by that (rope)
• तया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (pronoun; feminine instrumental singular: by that)

• नागः: elephant
• नागः: Karma (Object in passive/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; even/also)

• बध्यते: is bound
• बध्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense: is bound)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṅgha/saṃghāta-bala: coordinated unity of many small forces becomes formidable; even the strong can be restrained by combined weak elements.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence in prakṛti and society; dharma as cooperative order rather than isolated ego-power.

Application: Build alliances, community support, and coordinated action; in governance or family disputes, prioritize collective agreement and shared responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114 (maxims supporting household and social stability)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Nāga (serpent)

FAQs

What is the importance of unity in the Garuda Purana according to this verse?

This verse teaches that collective effort multiplies power—many small strengths, when united, become capable of achieving what no individual could do alone.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader dharma teachings?

It supports dharma by emphasizing cooperation, organization, and shared responsibility—qualities necessary for maintaining social order and resisting harmful forces.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Build alliances for good causes: consistent small contributions from many people—time, donations, discipline, or advocacy—can restrain large problems and create real change.