Shloka 16
Nītisāra: Virtuous Association, Household Dharma, and Kāla (Time) as the Supreme Regulator
स भृत्यो यो विधेयस्तु तद्बीजं यत्प्ररोहति / सा भार्या या प्रियं ब्रूते स पुत्रो यस्तु जीवति
sa bhṛtyo yo vidheyastu tadbījaṃ yatprarohati / sā bhāryā yā priyaṃ brūte sa putro yastu jīvati
الخادم الحقّ هو المطيع، والبذر الحقّ هو ما ينبت. والزوجة الحقّة هي التي تقول الكلام المُرضي، والابن الحقّ هو الذي يُبقي السلالة قائمة.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Functional truth of roles: servant = obedient; seed = that which sprouts; wife = speaks pleasingly (harmonious speech); son = one who sustains lineage/household continuity.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as svadharma in relational roles; speech (vāk) as a karmic instrument shaping harmony or conflict.
Application: In leadership and service, value reliability; in family life, cultivate kind truthful speech; support children’s responsibility and continuity of values (not merely biology).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108 (nīti on household roles and markers)
FAQs
This verse defines “true” roles by their function and virtue—obedience in service, harmony in speech, and continuity/support in sonship—showing that dharma is measured by lived responsibility, not mere labels.
Indirectly, it emphasizes righteous conduct in household life; such dharmic living is presented across the Garuda Purana as the foundation that supports good karma and favorable post-death outcomes.
Measure relationships by reliability and ethical behavior: be dependable in duty, speak kindly to maintain harmony, and support family responsibilities with integrity.