The Great Essence of Ethics

Verse 1 (garuda.1.109.1)

सूत उवाच । आपदर्थे धनं रक्षेद्दारान्रक्षेद्धनैरपि । आत्मानं सततं रक्षेद्दारैरपि धनैरपि

sūta uvāca āpadarthe dhanaṁ rakṣeddārānrakṣeddhanairapi ātmānaṁ satataṁ rakṣeddārairapi dhanairapi

Suta said: One should preserve wealth for times of calamity; one should protect one's wife even with wealth; one should always protect oneself, even at the cost of wife and wealth.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.109.2)

त्यजेदकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् । ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत्

tyajedakaṁ kulasyārthe grāmasyārthe kulaṁ tyajet grāmaṁ janapadasyārthe ātmārthe pṛthivīṁ tyajet

One should abandon a single person for the family's sake; abandon the family for the village's sake; abandon the village for the country's sake; and abandon the whole earth for one's own self.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.109.3)

वरं हि नरके वासो न तु दुश्चरिते गृहे । नरकात्क्षीयते पाप कुगृहान्न निवर्तते

varaṁ hi narake vāso na tu duścarite gṛhe narakātkṣīyate pāpa kugṛhānna nivartate

Better indeed to dwell in hell than in a house of ill conduct; from hell, sin is eventually exhausted, but from a bad household one never turns back.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.109.4)

चलत्येकेन पादेन तिष्ठत्येकेन बुद्धिमान् । न परीक्ष्य परं स्थानं पूर्वमायतनं त्यजेत्

calatyekena pādena tiṣṭhatyekena buddhimān na parīkṣya paraṁ sthānaṁ pūrvamāyatanaṁ tyajet

The wise man moves with one foot while standing firm with the other; without examining the new place, he does not abandon his former dwelling.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.109.5)

त्यजेद्देशमसद्वृत्तं वासं सोपद्रवं त्यजेत् । त्यजेत्कृपणराजानं मित्रं मायामयं त्यजेत्

tyajeddeśamasadvṛttaṁ vāsaṁ sopadravaṁ tyajet tyajetkṛpaṇarājānaṁ mitraṁ māyāmayaṁ tyajet

One should abandon a land of bad conduct; abandon a dwelling beset with troubles; abandon a miserly king; abandon a deceitful friend.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.109.6)

अर्थेन किं कृपणहस्तगतेन केन ज्ञानेन किं बहुशठाग्रहसंकुलेन । रूपेण किं गुणपराक्रमवर्जितेन मित्रेण किं व्यसनकालपराङ्मुखेन

arthena kiṁ kṛpaṇahastagatena kena jñānena kiṁ bahuśaṭhāgrahasaṁkulena rūpeṇa kiṁ guṇaparākramavarjitena mitreṇa kiṁ vyasanakālaparāṅmukhena

What use is wealth fallen into a miser's hands? What use is knowledge crowded with deceit and stubbornness? What use is beauty devoid of virtue and valor? What use is a friend who turns away in time of misfortune?

Verse 7 (garuda.1.109.7)

अदृष्टपूर्वा बहवः सहायाः सर्वे पदस्थस्य भवन्ति मित्राः । अर्थैर्विहीनस्य पदच्युतस्य भवत्यकाले स्वजनोऽपि शत्रुः

adṛṣṭapūrvā bahavaḥ sahāyāḥ sarve padasthasya bhavanti mitrāḥ arthairvihīnasya padacyutasya bhavatyakāle svajano'pi śatruḥ

Many helpers never seen before become friends to one who holds position; but for one deprived of wealth and fallen from position, even one's own kinsman untimely becomes an enemy.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.109.8)

आपत्सु मित्रं जानी याद्रणे शूरं रहः शुचिम् । मार्या च विभवे क्षीणे दुर्भिक्षे च प्रियातिथिम्

āpatsu mitraṁ jānī yādraṇe śūraṁ rahaḥ śucim māryā ca vibhave kṣīṇe durbhikṣe ca priyātithim

One should know a friend in adversity, a brave man in battle, an honest man in private, a wife when fortune has declined, and a true friend during famine.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.109.9)

वृक्षं क्षीणफलं त्यजन्ति विहगाः शुष्कं सरः सारसानिर्द्रव्यं पुरुषं त्यजन्ति गणिका भ्रष्टं नृपं मन्त्रिणः । पुष्पं पर्युषितं त्यजन्ति मधुपाः दर्ग्ध वनान्तं मृगाः सर्वः कार्यवशाज्जनो हि रमते कस्यास्ति को वल्लभः

vṛkṣaṁ kṣīṇaphalaṁ tyajanti vihagāḥ śuṣkaṁ saraḥ sārasānirdravyaṁ puruṣaṁ tyajanti gaṇikā bhraṣṭaṁ nṛpaṁ mantriṇaḥ puṣpaṁ paryuṣitaṁ tyajanti madhupāḥ dargdha vanāntaṁ mṛgāḥ sarvaḥ kāryavaśājjano hi ramate kasyāsti ko vallabhaḥ

Birds abandon a tree whose fruit is exhausted; cranes abandon a dried-up lake; courtesans abandon a man without wealth; ministers abandon a fallen king; bees abandon a withered flower; deer abandon a burnt forest — everyone associates according to their purpose; who truly belongs to whom?

Verse 10 (garuda.1.109.10)

लुब्धमर्थप्रदानेन श्लाध्यमञ्जलिकर्मणा । मूर्खं छन्दानुवृत्त्या च याथातथ्येन पण्डितम्

lubdhamarthapradānena ślādhyamañjalikarmaṇā mūrkhaṁ chandānuvṛttyā ca yāthātathyena paṇḍitam

A greedy man is won over by the giving of wealth; one deserving of praise, by respectful salutation; a fool, by agreeing with his wishes; and a learned man, by speaking the plain truth.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.109.11)

सद्भावेन हि तुष्यन्ति देवाः सत्पुरुषा द्विजाः । इतरेः खाद्यपानेन मानदानेन पण्डिताः

sadbhāvena hi tuṣyanti devāḥ satpuruṣā dvijāḥ itareḥ khādyapānena mānadānena paṇḍitāḥ

The gods, good men, and brahmins are pleased by sincerity; others, by food and drink; the learned, by being shown respect.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.109.12)

उत्तमं प्रणिपातेन शठं भेदेन योजयेत् । नीचं स्वल्पप्रदानेन समं तुल्यपराक्रमैः

uttamaṁ praṇipātena śaṭhaṁ bhedena yojayet nīcaṁ svalpapradānena samaṁ tulyaparākramaiḥ

One should win over the excellent man through humble reverence; the deceitful, through strategy; the lowly, through a small gift; and an equal, through matching valor.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.109.13)

यस्ययस्य हि यो भावस्तस्यतस्य हितं वदन् । अनुप्रविश्य मेधावी क्षिप्रमात्मवशं नयेत्

yasyayasya hi yo bhāvastasyatasya hitaṁ vadan anupraviśya medhāvī kṣipramātmavaśaṁ nayet

Speaking what benefits each person according to his own disposition, the intelligent man, having thus gained entry into their confidence, swiftly brings them under his own influence.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.109.14)

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

nadīnāṁ ca nakhīnāṁ ca śṛṅgiṇāṁ śastrapāṇinām viśvāso naiva gantavyaḥ striṣu rājakuleṣu ca

One should never place trust in rivers, clawed animals, horned animals, those bearing weapons, women, or royal households.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.109.15)

अर्थनाशं मनस्तापं गृहे दुश्चरितानि च । वञ्चनं चाप मानं च मतिमान्न प्रिकाशयेत्

arthanāśaṁ manastāpaṁ gṛhe duścaritāni ca vañcanaṁ cāpa mānaṁ ca matimānna prikāśayet

A wise man should not reveal the loss of his wealth, his mental anguish, misconduct within his household, having been deceived, or his own disgrace.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.109.16)

हीनदुर्जनसंसर्ग अत्यन्तविरहादरः । स्नेहोऽन्यगेहवासश्च नारीसच्छीलनाशनम्

hīnadurjanasaṁsarga atyantavirahādaraḥ sneho'nyagehavāsaśca nārīsacchīlanāśanam

Association with the lowly and wicked, excessive neglect during separation, misplaced affection, and dwelling in another's house — these destroy a woman's good character.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.109.17)

कस्य दोषः कुले नास्ति व्याधिना को पीडितः । केन न व्यसनं प्राप्तं श्रियः कस्य निरन्तराः

kasya doṣaḥ kule nāsti vyādhinā ko pīḍitaḥ kena na vyasanaṁ prāptaṁ śriyaḥ kasya nirantarāḥ

In whose family is there no fault? Who has never been afflicted by illness? Who has never encountered misfortune? Whose prosperity has remained unbroken?

Verse 18 (garuda.1.109.18)

कोर्ऽथं प्राप्य न गर्वितो भुवि नरः कस्यापदोनागताः स्त्रीभिः कस्य न खण्डितं भुवि मनः को नाम राज्ञां प्रियः । कः कालस्य न गोचरान्तरगतः कोर्ऽथो गतो गौरवं को वा दुर्जनवागुरानिपतितः क्षेमेण यातः पुमान्

kor'thaṁ prāpya na garvito bhuvi naraḥ kasyāpadonāgatāḥ strībhiḥ kasya na khaṇḍitaṁ bhuvi manaḥ ko nāma rājñāṁ priyaḥ kaḥ kālasya na gocarāntaragataḥ kor'tho gato gauravaṁ ko vā durjanavāgurānipatitaḥ kṣemeṇa yātaḥ pumān

What man on earth, having obtained wealth, is not made proud? To whom have calamities not come? Whose mind has not been troubled by women? Who is truly dear to kings? Who has not fallen within the range of time? What wealth has attained lasting dignity? And what man, ensnared by the wicked's words, has emerged unharmed?

Verse 19 (garuda.1.109.19)

सुहृत्स्वजनबन्धुर्न बुद्धिर्यस्य न चात्मनि । यस्मिन्कर्मणि सिद्धेऽपि न दृश्येत फलोदयः । विपत्तौ च महद्दुःखं तद्वुधः कथमाचरेत्

suhṛtsvajanabandhurna buddhiryasya na cātmani yasminkarmaṇi siddhe'pi na dṛśyeta phalodayaḥ vipattau ca mahadduḥkhaṁ tadvudhaḥ kathamācaret

One who has no well-wishing friend, kinsman, or good sense in himself; a task in which, even if accomplished, no fruit appears; and great suffering in calamity — how would a wise man engage in such things?

Verse 20 (garuda.1.109.20)

यस्मिन्देशे न संमानं न प्रीतिर्न च बान्धवाः । न च विद्यागमः कश्चित्तं देशं परिवर्जयेत्

yasmindeśe na saṁmānaṁ na prītirna ca bāndhavāḥ na ca vidyāgamaḥ kaścittaṁ deśaṁ parivarjayet

A land where there is neither honor, nor affection, nor kinsmen, nor any opportunity to acquire learning — one should avoid that land.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.109.21)

धनस्य यस्य राजतो भयं न चास्ति चौरतः । मृतं च यन्न मुच्यते समर्जयस्व तद्धनम्

dhanasya yasya rājato bhayaṁ na cāsti caurataḥ mṛtaṁ ca yanna mucyate samarjayasva taddhanam

Acquire that wealth which has no fear from the king or from thieves, and which does not leave you even at death.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.109.22)

यदर्जितं प्राणहरैः परिश्रमैर्मृतस्य तं वै विभजन्तिरिक्थिनः । कृतं च यद्दुष्कृतमर्थलिप्सया तदेव दोषोपहतस्य यौतुकम्

yadarjitaṁ prāṇaharaiḥ pariśramairmṛtasya taṁ vai vibhajantirikthinaḥ kṛtaṁ ca yadduṣkṛtamarthalipsayā tadeva doṣopahatasya yautukam

That which is earned through life-consuming toil — the heirs simply divide it when the earner is dead; and the sinful deeds committed out of the desire for wealth become the sole inheritance of the one afflicted by that fault.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.109.23)

सञ्चितं निहितं द्रव्यं परामृश्यं मुहुर्मुहुः । आखोरिव कदर्यस्य धनं दुः खाय केवलम्

sañcitaṁ nihitaṁ dravyaṁ parāmṛśyaṁ muhurmuhuḥ ākhoriva kadaryasya dhanaṁ duḥ khāya kevalam

Wealth hoarded and hidden away, to be checked again and again — like a mouse's hoard, the wealth of a miser is only for suffering.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.109.24)

नग्ना व्यसनिनो रूक्षाः कपालाङ्कितपाणयः । दर्शयन्तीह लोकस्य अदातुः फलमीदृशम्

nagnā vyasanino rūkṣāḥ kapālāṅkitapāṇayaḥ darśayantīha lokasya adātuḥ phalamīdṛśam

The naked, the vice-ridden, the wretched, with begging bowls in hand — these show the people of this world the very fruit of one who does not give.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.109.25)

शिक्षयन्ति च याचन्ते देहीति कृपणा जनाः । अवस्थेयमदानस्य मा भूदेवं भवानपि

śikṣayanti ca yācante dehīti kṛpaṇā janāḥ avastheyamadānasya mā bhūdevaṁ bhavānapi

Wretched people teach this very lesson as they beg, saying 'give me' — this is the state of one who does not give; may you too never come to this.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.109.26)

सञ्चितं क्रतुशतैर्न युज्यते याचितं गुणवते न दीयते । तत्कदर्यपरिरक्षितं धनं चोरपार्थिवगृहे प्रयुज्यते

sañcitaṁ kratuśatairna yujyate yācitaṁ guṇavate na dīyate tatkadaryaparirakṣitaṁ dhanaṁ corapārthivagṛhe prayujyate

Wealth hoarded is not used even for a hundred sacrifices; when asked for, it is not given even to a worthy person — that wealth, guarded by a miser, ends up being used in the house of a thief or a king.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.109.27)

न देवेभ्यो न विप्रोभ्यो बन्धुभ्यो नैव चात्मने । कदर्यस्य धनं याति त्वग्नितस्करराजसु

na devebhyo na viprobhyo bandhubhyo naiva cātmane kadaryasya dhanaṁ yāti tvagnitaskararājasu

Not to the gods, not to brahmins, not to kinsmen, and not even to himself — the wealth of a miser goes only to fire, thieves, and kings.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.109.28)

अतिक्लेशेन येऽप्यर्था धर्मस्यातिक्रमेण च । अरेर्वा प्रणिपातेन मा भूतस्ते कदाचन

atikleśena ye'pyarthā dharmasyātikrameṇa ca arervā praṇipātena mā bhūtaste kadācana

Wealth obtained through excessive hardship, or through the transgression of dharma, or through bowing before an enemy — may that never be yours.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.109.29)

विद्याघातो ह्यनभ्यासः स्त्रीणां घातः कुचैलता । व्याधीनां भोजनं जीर्णं शत्रोर्घातः प्रपञ्चता

vidyāghāto hyanabhyāsaḥ strīṇāṁ ghātaḥ kucailatā vyādhīnāṁ bhojanaṁ jīrṇaṁ śatrorghātaḥ prapañcatā

The destroyer of learning is the lack of practice; the destroyer of a woman's regard is shabby clothing; the destroyer of disease is proper digestion; the destroyer of an enemy is elaborate strategy.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.109.30)

तस्करस्य वधो दण्डः कुमित्रस्याल्पभाषणम् । पृथक्शय्या तु नारीणां ब्राह्मणस्यानिमन्त्रणम्

taskarasya vadho daṇḍaḥ kumitrasyālpabhāṣaṇam pṛthakśayyā tu nārīṇāṁ brāhmaṇasyānimantraṇam

For a thief, the punishment is death; for a bad friend, speaking little; for erring women, a separate bed; for an unworthy brahmin, non-invitation.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.109.31)

दुर्जनाः शिल्पिनो दासा दुष्टाश्च पटहाः स्त्रियः । ताडिता मार्दवं यान्ति न ते सत्कारभाजनम्

durjanāḥ śilpino dāsā duṣṭāśca paṭahāḥ striyaḥ tāḍitā mārdavaṁ yānti na te satkārabhājanam

The wicked, craftsmen, slaves, unruly women, and drums — these become gentle only when struck; they are not fit for gentle honor.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.109.32)

जानीयात्प्रेषणे भृत्यान्बान्धवान्व्यसनागमे । मित्रमापदि काले च भार्याञ्च विभवक्षये

jānīyātpreṣaṇe bhṛtyānbāndhavānvyasanāgame mitramāpadi kāle ca bhāryāñca vibhavakṣaye

One should judge servants by their conduct in carrying out commands, kinsmen when misfortune arrives, a friend in adversity and difficult times, and a wife when wealth is exhausted.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.109.33)

स्त्रीणां द्विगुण आहारः प्रज्ञा चैव चतुर्गुणा । षड्गुणो व्यवसायश्च कामश्चाष्टगुणः स्मृतः

strīṇāṁ dviguṇa āhāraḥ prajñā caiva caturguṇā ṣaḍguṇo vyavasāyaśca kāmaścāṣṭaguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ

Women's appetite is twice that of men; their intelligence, fourfold; their industriousness, sixfold; and their desire, remembered as eightfold.

Verse 34 (garuda.1.109.34)

न स्वप्नेन जयेन्निद्रां न कामेन स्त्रियं जयेत् । न चेन्धनैर्जयेद्वह्निं न मद्येन तृषां जयेत्

na svapnena jayennidrāṁ na kāmena striyaṁ jayet na cendhanairjayedvahniṁ na madyena tṛṣāṁ jayet

One cannot conquer sleep by dreaming; one cannot win a woman through desire alone; one cannot conquer fire with fuel; one cannot conquer thirst with wine.

Verse 35 (garuda.1.109.35)

समांसैर्भोजनैः स्निग्धैर्मद्यैर्गन्धविलेपनैः । वस्त्रैर्मनोरमैर्माल्यैः कामः स्त्रीषु विजृम्भते

samāṁsairbhojanaiḥ snigdhairmadyairgandhavilepanaiḥ vastrairmanoramairmālyaiḥ kāmaḥ strīṣu vijṛmbhate

Through meat-dishes, rich foods, wine, scented unguents, beautiful clothes, and garlands — desire flourishes in women.

Verse 36 (garuda.1.109.36)

ब्रह्मचर्येऽपि वक्तव्यं प्राप्तं मन्मथचेष्टितम् । हृद्यं हि पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा योनिः प्रक्लिद्यते स्त्रियाः

brahmacarye'pi vaktavyaṁ prāptaṁ manmathaceṣṭitam hṛdyaṁ hi puruṣaṁ dṛṣṭvā yoniḥ praklidyate striyāḥ

This should be said even regarding celibacy: the workings of desire may still arise; for indeed, seeing a pleasing man, a woman's body becomes aroused.

Verse 37 (garuda.1.109.37)

सुवेषं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरं यदि वा सुतम् । योनिः क्लिद्यति नारीणां सत्यंसत्यं हि शौनक !

suveṣaṁ puruṣaṁ dṛṣṭvā bhrātaraṁ yadi vā sutam yoniḥ klidyati nārīṇāṁ satyaṁsatyaṁ hi śaunaka !

Seeing a well-adorned man — whether he be a brother or a son — a woman's body becomes aroused; this is true, truly true, O Shaunaka!

Verse 38 (garuda.1.109.38)

नद्यश्च नार्यश्च समस्वभावाः स्वतन्त्रभावे गमनादिकेच । तोयैश्च दोषैश्च निपातयन्ति नद्यो हि कूलानि कुला नि नार्यः

nadyaśca nāryaśca samasvabhāvāḥ svatantrabhāve gamanādikeca toyaiśca doṣaiśca nipātayanti nadyo hi kūlāni kulā ni nāryaḥ

Rivers and women share the same nature — in their independent movement as well; through their waters and their faults — rivers bring down their banks, and women, their families.

Verse 39 (garuda.1.109.39)

नदी पातयते कूलं नारी पातयते कुलम् । नारीणाञ्च नदीनां च स्वच्छन्दा ललिता गतिः

nadī pātayate kūlaṁ nārī pātayate kulam nārīṇāñca nadīnāṁ ca svacchandā lalitā gatiḥ

A river brings down its bank; a woman brings down her family. Of women and of rivers, the movement is free-willed and playful.

Verse 40 (garuda.1.109.40)

नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधिः । नान्तकः सर्वभूतानां न पुंसां वामलोचनाः

nāgnistṛpyati kāṣṭhānāṁ nāpagānāṁ mahodadhiḥ nāntakaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ na puṁsāṁ vāmalocanāḥ

Fire is never satisfied with fuel; the great ocean is never satisfied with rivers; death is never satisfied with all beings; and beautiful-eyed women are never satisfied with men.

Verse 41 (garuda.1.109.41)

न तृप्तिरस्ति शिष्टानामिष्टानां प्रियवादिनाम् । सुखानाञ्च सुतानाञ्च जीवितस्य वरस्य च

na tṛptirasti śiṣṭānāmiṣṭānāṁ priyavādinām sukhānāñca sutānāñca jīvitasya varasya ca

There is no satiation for the cultured, the beloved, and those who speak pleasantly; nor for pleasures, sons, life, and excellence.

Verse 42 (garuda.1.109.42)

राजा न तप्तो धनसंचयेन न सागरस्तृप्तिमगाज्जलेन । न पण्डितस्तृप्यति भाषितेन तृप्तं न चक्षुर्नृपदर्शनेन

rājā na tapto dhanasaṁcayena na sāgarastṛptimagājjalena na paṇḍitastṛpyati bhāṣitena tṛptaṁ na cakṣurnṛpadarśanena

A king is never satisfied by accumulating wealth; the ocean never attains satisfaction with water; a learned man is never satisfied with discourse; and the eye is never satisfied even with grand sights.

Verse 43 (garuda.1.109.43)

स्वकर्म धर्मार्जितजीवितानां शास्त्रेषु दारेषु सदा रतानाम् । जितेन्द्रियाणामतिथिप्रियाणां गृहेऽपि मोक्षः पुरुषोत्तमानाम्

svakarma dharmārjitajīvitānāṁ śāstreṣu dāreṣu sadā ratānām jitendriyāṇāmatithipriyāṇāṁ gṛhe'pi mokṣaḥ puruṣottamānām

For those who live by righteously earning through their own proper duty, who are ever devoted to scripture and their wife, who have conquered their senses, and who are fond of guests — for such excellent men, liberation is possible even while dwelling in the household.

Verse 44 (garuda.1.109.44)

मनोऽनुकूलाः प्रमदारूपवत्यः स्वलङ्कृताः । वसः प्रासादपृष्ठेषु स्वर्गः स्याच्छुभकर्मणः

mano'nukūlāḥ pramadārūpavatyaḥ svalaṅkṛtāḥ vasaḥ prāsādapṛṣṭheṣu svargaḥ syācchubhakarmaṇaḥ

Women pleasing to the mind, beautiful, and well-adorned; residing atop mansions — this is heaven for one of virtuous deeds.

Verse 45 (garuda.1.109.45)

न दानेन न मानेन नार्जवेन न सवया । न शस्त्रेण न शास्त्रेण सर्वथा विषमा स्त्रियः

na dānena na mānena nārjavena na savayā na śastreṇa na śāstreṇa sarvathā viṣamā striyaḥ

Neither by giving, nor by honoring, nor by honesty, nor by matching their age, nor by weapons, nor by scriptural learning — women remain, in every way, unfathomable.

Verse 46 (garuda.1.109.46)

शनैर्विद्या शनैर्थाः शनैः पर्वतमारुहेत् । शनैः कामं च धर्मं च पञ्चैतानि शनैः शनैः

śanairvidyā śanairthāḥ śanaiḥ parvatamāruhet śanaiḥ kāmaṁ ca dharmaṁ ca pañcaitāni śanaiḥ śanaiḥ

Slowly is gained learning, slowly wealth; one should climb a mountain slowly; slowly comes fulfilled desire and dharma — these five, slowly, slowly.

Verse 47 (garuda.1.109.47)

शाश्वतं देवपूजादि विप्रदानं च शाश्वतम् । शाश्वतं सगुणा विद्या सुहृन्मित्रं च शाश्वतम्

śāśvataṁ devapūjādi vipradānaṁ ca śāśvatam śāśvataṁ saguṇā vidyā suhṛnmitraṁ ca śāśvatam

Eternal is the worship of the gods and the like; eternal is giving to brahmins; eternal is virtuous learning; and eternal is a true friend.

Verse 48 (garuda.1.109.48)

ये बालभावान्न पठन्ति विद्यां ये यौवनस्था ह्यधनात्मदाराः । ते शोचनीया इह जीवलोके मनुष्यरूपेण मृगाश्चरन्ति

ye bālabhāvānna paṭhanti vidyāṁ ye yauvanasthā hyadhanātmadārāḥ te śocanīyā iha jīvaloke manuṣyarūpeṇa mṛgāścaranti

Those who do not study learning in childhood, and those who, having reached youth, are without wealth and a wife — these are pitiable in this world; they wander about in human form as mere beasts.

Verse 49 (garuda.1.109.49)

पठने भोजने चित्तं न कुर्याच्छास्त्रसेवकः । सुदूरमपि विद्यार्थो व्रजेद्गरुडवेगवान्

paṭhane bhojane cittaṁ na kuryācchāstrasevakaḥ sudūramapi vidyārtho vrajedgaruḍavegavān

A student of the scriptures should not let his mind wander to food while studying; the seeker of knowledge should go, even very far, swift as Garuda.

Verse 50 (garuda.1.109.50)

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

ye bālabhāve na paṭhanti vidyāṁ kāmāturā yauvananaṣṭavittāḥ te vṛddhabāve paribhūyamānāḥ saṁdahyamānāḥ śiśire yathābjam

Those who do not study learning in childhood, who are consumed by desire, and who lose their wealth in youth — they, in old age, become despised and withered, like a lotus in the cold season.

Verse 51 (garuda.1.109.51)

तर्केऽप्रतिष्ठा श्रुतयो विभिन्नाः नासावृषिर्यस्य मतं न भिन्नम् । धर्मस्य तत्त्वं निहितं गुहायां महाजनो येन गतः स पन्थाः

tarke'pratiṣṭhā śrutayo vibhinnāḥ nāsāvṛṣiryasya mataṁ na bhinnam dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ

Logic has no fixed ground; the Vedic revelations are diverse; there is no sage whose view is not disputed by another. The truth of dharma lies hidden in a cave; the path is that which the great and virtuous have walked.

Verse 52 (garuda.1.109.52)

आकारैरिङ्गितैर्गत्या चेष्टया भाषितेन च । नेत्रवक्रविकाराभ्यां लक्ष्यतेऽन्तर्गतं मनः

ākārairiṅgitairgatyā ceṣṭayā bhāṣitena ca netravakravikārābhyāṁ lakṣyate'ntargataṁ manaḥ

By outward appearance, subtle gestures, gait, movement, and speech, and by the changes in the eyes and face, one's inner state of mind is discerned.

Verse 53 (garuda.1.109.53)

अनुक्तमप्यूहति पण्डितो जनः परेङ्गितज्ञानफला हि बुद्धयः । उदीरितोर्थः पशुनापि गृह्यते हयाश्च नागाश्च वहन्ति दर्शितम्

anuktamapyūhati paṇḍito janaḥ pareṅgitajñānaphalā hi buddhayaḥ udīritorthaḥ paśunāpi gṛhyate hayāśca nāgāśca vahanti darśitam

A wise person infers even what is unspoken — for intelligence bears the fruit of understanding others' subtle signs. Even an animal grasps a meaning once explicitly stated; horses and elephants carry out what is shown to them.

Verse 54 (garuda.1.109.54)

अर्थाद्भ्रष्टस्तीर्थयात्रां तु गच्छेत्सत्याद्भ्रष्टो रौरवं वै व्रजेच्च । योगाद्भ्रष्टः सत्यधृतिञ्च गच्छेद्राज्याद्भ्रष्टो मृगयायां व्रजेच्च

arthādbhraṣṭastīrthayātrāṁ tu gacchetsatyādbhraṣṭo rauravaṁ vai vrajecca yogādbhraṣṭaḥ satyadhṛtiñca gacchedrājyādbhraṣṭo mṛgayāyāṁ vrajecca

One fallen from wealth should go on pilgrimage; one fallen from truth goes indeed to the hell Raurava; one fallen from yoga should take up firm devotion to truth; and one fallen from a kingdom takes up hunting.