Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

अध्वा जरा देहवतां पर्वतानां जलं जरा / असंभोगश्च नारीणां वस्त्राणामातपो जरा

Transliteration

adhvā jarā dehavatāṃ parvatānāṃ jalaṃ jarā / asaṃbhogaśca nārīṇāṃ vastrāṇāmātapo jarā

Translation

对有身之众生而言，旅途本身就是一种消耗；对群山而言，水就是其侵蚀。对女子而言，缺少夫妻和合是一种消耗；对衣物而言，日晒就是其损耗。

Word by Word

• अध्वा: travel/journey
• अध्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृसमानाधिकरण

• जरा: (is) old age/decay
• जरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

• देहवताम्: of embodied beings
• देहवताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• पर्वतानाम्: of mountains
• पर्वतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृसमानाधिकरण

• जरा: (is) decay
• जरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• असंभोगः: lack of intercourse
• असंभोगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-सम्भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त; कर्तृसमानाधिकरण

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

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• वस्त्राणाम्: of clothes/garments
• वस्त्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• आतपः: sun/heat
• आतपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृसमानाधिकरण

• जरा: (is) decay
• जरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All conditioned things have their specific agents of ‘jara’ (wearing-out); existence entails decay through contact, time, and deprivation.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) of body and world; prompting vairāgya and discernment.

Application: Recognize predictable stressors (travel fatigue, environmental erosion, relational deprivation, sun damage) and plan moderation, care, and balance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti passages using upamā (similes) to teach anityatā and prudence

FAQs

What is the importance of jarā (decay/aging) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights jarā as a universal principle: every conditioned thing has a specific mode of deterioration, encouraging vairāgya (detachment) and clear seeing of impermanence.

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

By stressing that embodied existence is inherently subject to wear and decline, it frames why the soul should seek dharma and liberation rather than relying on transient bodily or worldly supports.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize what depletes you (overexertion, neglect, harmful exposure), live with moderation, and invest in lasting values—dharma, self-discipline, and spiritual practice—over temporary comforts.