Garuda Purana

राजा न तप्तो धनसंचयेन न सागरस्तृप्तिमगाज्जलेन । न पण्डितस्तृप्यति भाषितेन तृप्तं न चक्षुर्नृपदर्शनेन ॥ १,१०९.

A king is not satisfied by amassing wealth, the ocean not by the waters of rivers, a scholar not by speaking, nor the eye by seeing the king.

स्वकर्म धर्मार्जितजीवितानां शास्त्रेषु दारेषु सदा रतानाम् । जितेन्द्रियाणामतिथिप्रियाणां गृहेऽपि मोक्षः पुरुषोत्तमानाम् ॥ १,१०९.

For those who live by their own righteous duties, who are always devoted to scripture and their wives, who have mastered their senses and honor guests, liberation is found even at home, O best of men.

मनोऽनुकूलाः प्रमदारूपवत्यः स्वलङ्कृताः । वसः प्रासादपृष्ठेषु स्वर्गः स्याच्छुभकर्मणः ॥ १,१०९.

For one whose mind is pleased by beautiful, well-adorned women, who dwells on palace terraces, heaven is attained through virtuous deeds.

न दानेन न मानेन नार्जवेन न सवया । न शस्त्रेण न शास्त्रेण सर्वथा विषमा स्त्रियः ॥ १,१०९.

Not by giving, not by respect, not by honesty, not by age, not by weapons, not by scriptures—women are, in every way, difficult to master.

शनैर्विद्या शनैर्थाः शनैः पर्वतमारुहेत् । शनैः कामं च धर्मं च पञ्चैतानि शनैः शनैः ॥ १,१०९.

Knowledge is gained gradually, wealth is gathered gradually, a mountain is climbed gradually; likewise, desire and righteousness—these five are attained step by step.

शाश्वतं देवपूजादि विप्रदानं च शाश्वतम् । शाश्वतं सगुणा विद्या सुहृन्मित्रं च शाश्वतम् ॥ १,१०९.

Worship of the gods is eternal, giving to Brahmins is eternal, knowledge with virtues is eternal, and a true friend is eternal.

ये बालभावान्न पठन्ति विद्यां ये यौवनस्था ह्यधनात्मदाराः । ते शोचनीया इह जीवलोके मनुष्यरूपेण मृगाश्चरन्ति ॥ १,१०९.

Those who, in childhood, do not study, and in youth are poor, lacking wealth and wives—such people are to be pitied, for in this world of the living, they wander as beasts in human form.

पठने भोजने चित्तं न कुर्याच्छास्त्रसेवकः । सुदूरमपि विद्यार्थो व्रजेद्गरुडवेगवान् ॥ १,१०९.

A student of scripture should not fix his mind on eating or reciting, but should pursue knowledge even to distant lands, swift as Garuda.

ये बालभावे न पठन्ति विद्यां कामातुरा यौवननष्टवित्ताः । ते वृद्धबावे परिभूयमानाः संदह्यमानाः शिशिरे यथाब्जम् ॥ १,१०९.

Those who, in childhood, do not study, and in youth are overcome by desire and lose their wealth—when old, they are scorned and tormented, like a lotus in winter.

तर्केऽप्रतिष्ठा श्रुतयो विभिन्नाः नासावृषिर्यस्य मतं न भिन्नम् । धर्मस्य तत्त्वं निहितं गुहायां महाजनो येन गतः स पन्थाः ॥ १,१०९.

Reasoning has no firm foundation, the scriptures are divided, and there is no sage whose doctrine is not contradicted; the truth of dharma lies hidden in a cave—follow the path taken by the great.

आकारैरिङ्गितैर्गत्या चेष्टया भाषितेन च । नेत्रवक्रविकाराभ्यां लक्ष्यतेऽन्तर्गतं मनः ॥ १,१०९.

By appearance, gestures, gait, actions, speech, and by the changes in the eyes and face, the inner mind is discerned.

अनुक्तमप्यूहति पण्डितो जनः परेङ्गितज्ञानफला हि बुद्धयः । उदीरितोर्थः पशुनापि गृह्यते हयाश्च नागाश्च वहन्ति दर्शितम् ॥ १,१०९.

Even when nothing is spoken, a wise person infers the meaning; for intelligence is the fruit of understanding gestures. The meaning that is spoken can be grasped even by animals, and horses and elephants carry out what is shown to them.

अर्थाद्भ्रष्टस्तीर्थयात्रां तु गच्छेत्सत्याद्भ्रष्टो रौरवं वै व्रजेच्च । योगाद्भ्रष्टः सत्यधृतिञ्च गच्छेद्राज्याद्भ्रष्टो मृगयायां व्रजेच्च ॥ १,१०९.

One who strays from wealth should go on a pilgrimage; one who strays from truth should go to Raurava hell. One who strays from yoga should seek steadfastness in truth; one who loses a kingdom should go hunting.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ११० सूत उवाच । योध्रुवाणि परित्यज्य ह्यधुवाणि निषेवते । ध्रुवाणि तस्य नश्यन्ति ह्यध्रुवं नष्टमेव च ॥ १,११०.

Sūta said: Abandoning what is lasting, if one pursues what is fleeting, then what is lasting is lost to him, and the fleeting is already lost.

वाग्यन्त्रहीनस्य नरस्य विद्या शस्त्रं यथा कापुरुषस्य हस्ते । न तुष्टिमुत्पादयते शरीरे ह्यन्धस्य दारा इव दर्शनीयाः ॥ १,११०.

For a man lacking the power of speech and expression, knowledge is like a weapon in the hand of a coward; it does not bring satisfaction to the body, just as a beautiful wife does not bring joy to a blind man.

भोज्ये भोजनशक्तिश्च रतिशक्तिर्वरस्त्रियः । विभवे दानशक्तिश्च नाल्पस्य तपसः फलम् ॥ १,११०.

The power to eat is in food, the power of enjoyment is in a worthy woman, the power to give is in wealth; there is no fruit of austerity for one who is insignificant.

अग्निहोत्रफला वेदाः शीलवृत्तिफलं शुभम् । रतिपुत्रफला दारा दत्तभुक्तफलं धनम् ॥ १,११०.

The Vedas yield fruit through the fire sacrifice; good conduct yields auspicious results; a wife yields the fruit of pleasure and sons; wealth yields the fruit of what is given and enjoyed.

वरयेत्कुलजां प्राज्ञो विरूपामपि कन्यकाम् । सुरूपां सुनितम्बाञ्च नाकुलीनां कदाचन ॥ १,११०.

A wise man should choose a girl from a good family, even if she is unattractive; but never a beautiful, well-shaped girl from a bad family.

अर्थेनापि हि किं तेन यस्यानर्थे तु संगतिः । को हि नाम शिखाजातं पन्नगस्य मणिं हरेत् ॥ १,११०.

What use is wealth that is joined to misfortune? Who would ever take the jewel from the crest of a snake?

हविर्दुष्टकुलद्वाह्यं बालादपि सुभाषितम् । अमेध्यात्काञ्चनं ग्राह्यं स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलादपि ॥ १,११०.

One should accept sacrificial offerings, a bride from a good family, good speech even from a child, gold even from something impure, and a gem of a woman even from a bad family.

विषादप्यमृतं ग्राह्यममेध्यादपि काञ्चनम् । नीचादप्युत्तमां विद्यां स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलादपि ॥ १,११०.

One should accept nectar even from poison, gold even from something impure, excellent knowledge even from a lowly person, and a gem of a woman even from a bad family.

न राज्ञा सह मित्रत्वं न सर्पो निर्विषः क्रचित् । न कुलं निर्मलं तत्र स्त्रीजनो यत्र जायते ॥ १,११०.

One should never be friends with a king, nor ever trust a snake without venom; there is no family entirely pure where women are born.

कुले नियोजयेद्भक्तं पुत्रं विद्यासु योजयेत् । व्यसने योजयेच्छत्रुमिष्टं धर्मे नियोज्येत् ॥ १,११०.

In the family, one should appoint a devoted son; in learning, one should appoint the learned; in adversity, one should employ an enemy; in righteousness, one should appoint the beloved.

स्थानेष्वेव प्रयोक्ताव्या भृत्याश्चाभरणानि च । न हि चूडामणिः पादे शोभते वै कदाचन ॥ १,११०.

Servants and ornaments should be used only in their proper places; for a crest-jewel never looks beautiful on the foot.

चूडामणिः समुद्रोऽग्निर्घण्टा चाखण्डमम्बरम् । अथवा पृथिवीपालो मूर्ध्नि पादे प्रमादतः ॥ १,११०.

A crest-jewel, the ocean, fire, an unbroken sky, or a king of the earth—if placed on the foot instead of the head, it is due to ignorance.

कुसुमस्तबकस्येव द्वे गती तु मनस्विनः । मूर्ध्नि वा सर्वलोकानां शीर्षतः पतितो वने ॥ १,११०.

Just as a cluster of flowers has only two destinies, so too for the high-minded: either on the head of all people, or fallen to the ground in the forest.

कनकभूषणसंग्रहणोचितो यदि मणिस्त्रपुणि प्रतिबध्यते । न च विरौति न चापि स शोभते भवति योजयितुर्वचनीयता ॥ १,११०.

If a jewel fit for a golden ornament is set in lead, it neither cries out nor shines; it becomes subject to the will of the one who sets it.

वाजिवारणलौहानां काष्ठपाषाणवाससाम् । नारीपुरुषतोयानामन्तरं महदन्तरम् ॥ १,११०.

There is a great difference between horses, elephants, and iron, and between wood, stone, and cloth; so too between women, men, and water.

कदर्थितस्यापि हि धैर्यवृत्तेर्न शक्यते सर्वगुणप्रमाथः । अधः खलेनापि कृतस्य वह्नेर्नाधः शिखा याति कदाचिदेव ॥ १,११०.

Even when harassed, the nature of one who is steadfast cannot be destroyed by all faults; just as the flame of fire, even when pressed down by the wicked, never goes downward.