Shloka 17

Nītisāra: Virtuous Association, Household Dharma, and Kāla (Time) as the Supreme Regulator

Devanagari script

स जीवति गुणा यस्य धर्मो यस्य स जीवति / गुणधर्मविहीनो यो निष्फल तस्य जीवनम्

Transliteration

sa jīvati guṇā yasya dharmo yasya sa jīvati / guṇadharmavihīno yo niṣphala tasya jīvanam

Translation

إنما يحيا حقًّا من قامت فيه الفضائل وقام فيه الدَّرما. أما من خلا من الفضيلة والدَّرما فحياته عقيمة لا ثمرة لها.

Word by Word

• सः: he (truly)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• गुणाः: virtues, good qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• धर्मः: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जीवति: lives (truly)
• जीवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• गुणधर्मविहीनः: devoid of virtue and dharma
• गुणधर्मविहीनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण-धर्म-विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (गुणैः धर्मेण च विहीनः / lacking virtues and dharma), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• निष्फलम्: fruitless, futile
• निष्फलम्: Pradhana-Visheshana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जीवनम्: life, living
• जीवनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Life is meaningful only when virtues (guṇa) and dharma are present; otherwise existence is ‘niṣphala’ (fruitless).

Vedantic Theme: Distinguishing prāṇa-based existence from purposeful living aligned with dharma; preparation of the mind for higher pursuit (mokṣa) through ethical excellence.

Application: Regular self-audit of conduct; cultivate virtues (truthfulness, compassion, restraint) and dharmic duties; align daily choices with long-term meaning rather than impulse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108 (nīti culminating in virtue/dharma valuation)

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that real “life” is measured by the presence of dharma and virtues; without them, existence is considered spiritually unproductive.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing dharma and guṇa as the basis of a fruitful life, it implies that one’s moral and righteous conduct shapes the soul’s onward journey and outcomes after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate virtues (truthfulness, compassion, self-control) and live by dharma in daily decisions—otherwise achievements lack lasting value.