Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

यस्य भार्या गुणज्ञा च भर्तारमनुगामिनी / अल्पाल्पेन तु सन्तुष्टा सा प्रिया न प्रिया प्रिया

Transliteration

yasya bhāryā guṇajñā ca bhartāramanugāminī / alpālpena tu santuṣṭā sā priyā na priyā priyā

Translation

من كانت زوجته عارفةً بالفضيلة، تابعةً لزوجها بإخلاص، قانعةً بالقليل—فهذه هي الحبيبة حقًّا؛ لا حبيبةً بالاسم، بل حبيبةً في تمام المعنى.

Word by Word

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

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गुणज्ञा: knower of virtues
• गुणज्ञा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गुणान् जानाति इति

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

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Masculine Accusative Singular

• अनुगामिनी: following (him), devoted
• अनुगामिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु) + णिनि (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘following’

• अल्प: with little
• अल्प: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; used as first member in reduplicated compound

• अल्पेन: by a little
• अल्पेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental Singular

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अनुनयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• सन्तुष्टा: content/satisfied
• सन्तुष्टा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + तुष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine Nominative Singular

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रिया: dear/beloved
• प्रिया: Karma (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• प्रिया: dear
• प्रिया: Karma (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; emphatic repetition

• प्रिया: truly dear
• प्रिया: Karma (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True ‘priyā’ is defined by guṇa (virtue), anugamana (steadfast companionship), and santoṣa (contentment with little).

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-guṇa as the basis for harmony; reduction of craving (tṛṣṇā) supports inner peace and loosens saṃsāric agitation.

Application: Value character over status; practice gratitude and simple living; build relationships on shared ethics and mutual support rather than consumption.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108.23 (contrast: shameless wife as ‘false old age’); Garuda Purana 1.108.25 (domestic dangers); Garuda Purana 1.108.26 (seek sādhus; do puṇya)

FAQs

What is the importance of contentment (santoṣa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents contentment with little (alpālpena santuṣṭā) as a key marker of virtue in household life, making harmony and dharma sustainable in marriage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader dharmic framework: righteous household conduct (ācāra) builds merit and steadiness of mind, which shapes one’s post-death destiny described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Value character over display: cultivate gratitude, restraint, and mutual loyalty in relationships—contentment and virtue are portrayed as the real basis of lasting love.