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Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

परो ऽपि हितवाबन्धुर्बन्धुरप्यहितः परः / अहितो देहजो व्याधिर्हितमारण्यमौषधम्

Transliteration

paro 'pi hitavābandhurbandhurapyahitaḥ paraḥ / ahito dehajo vyādhirhitamāraṇyamauṣadham

Translation

Selbst ein Fremder, der zu deinem Wohl handelt, ist wahrhaft ein Verwandter; und selbst ein Verwandter, der schadet, ist wie ein Fremder. Die aus dem eigenen Körper geborene Krankheit ist unerquicklich, doch die im Wald gefundene Arznei ist heilsam.

Word by Word
परःa stranger, another person
परः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/उद्देश्य), एकवचन
अपिeven, also
अपि:
Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formसम्भावना/अपि-अव्यय (particle: even/also)
हितवान्beneficial, well-wishing
हितवान्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootहितवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (beneficial)
बन्धुःkinsman, friend
बन्धुः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootबन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
बन्धुःa relative
बन्धुः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootबन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
अपिeven
अपि:
Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअपि-अव्यय (particle: even)
अहितःharmful, not beneficial
अहितः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअहित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (harmful)
परःa stranger (i.e., like an outsider)
परः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
अहितःharmful
अहितः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअहित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण
देहजःborn of the body
देहजः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदेह-ज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासः—तत्पुरुष (देहात् जातः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण
व्याधिःdisease
व्याधिः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootव्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
हितम्benefit, good
हितम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootहित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
आरण्यम्of the forest, wild
आरण्यम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootआरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (forest-related)
औषधम्medicine, remedy
औषधम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootऔषध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True kinship is defined by welfare (hita), not by blood; harm can arise from what is ‘one’s own,’ while benefit can come from what is ‘outside.’

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) over deha-abhimāna (body-identification) and kula-abhimāna (clan-identification); evaluate by guṇa/karma rather than labels.

Application: Choose companions and advisors by proven goodwill; set boundaries with harmful relatives; accept help from outsiders; treat problems realistically even if ‘self-born’ (habits, addictions).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108 (nīti on relationships and discernment)

FAQs

This verse prioritizes welfare (hita) over mere social labels: a person becomes “family” through beneficial conduct, while harm (ahita) nullifies even blood relations.

Indirectly, it frames dharmic discernment: choosing beneficial influences and remedies over harmful attachments supports right conduct, which Garuda Purana repeatedly links to one’s post-death outcomes.

Judge relationships and advice by whether they genuinely improve character and wellbeing; accept help from worthy sources and avoid enabling harm even when it comes from close circles.

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