Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

सद्भिः सङ्गं प्रकुर्वीत सिद्धिकामः सदा नरः / नासद्भिरिहलोकाय परलोकाय वा हितम्

Transliteration

sadbhiḥ saṅgaṃ prakurvīta siddhikāmaḥ sadā naraḥ / nāsadbhirihalokāya paralokāya vā hitam

Translation

Wer stets nach wahrer Vollendung strebt, soll immer die Gemeinschaft der Tugendhaften suchen; Umgang mit den Schlechten bringt kein Heil — weder in dieser Welt noch in der jenseitigen.

Word by Word

• सद्भिः: with the good (people)
• सद्भिः: Sahakari (Association/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), बहुवचन

• सङ्गम्: association
• सङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन

• प्रकुर्वीत: should cultivate/do
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सिद्धिकामः: desiring success
• सिद्धिकामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि + काम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: सिद्धेः कामः (desiring success)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• असद्भिः: with the bad (people)
• असद्भिः: Sahakari (Association/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), बहुवचन

• इहलोकाय: for this world
• इहलोकाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इहलोक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case/dative), एकवचन; ‘इह’ (here) + लोक

• परलोकाय: for the next world
• परलोकाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परलोक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case/dative), एकवचन; ‘पर’ (other) + लोक

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• हितम्: benefit
• हितम्: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; भाववाचक (as ‘benefit’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṅga (association) shapes character and destiny; satsanga is a direct instrument of success and welfare in both this life and the next.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-saṅga: association strengthens sattva/rajas/tamas; satsanga supports purification (citta-śuddhi) and readiness for higher knowledge/bhakti.

Application: Choose mentors, peers, and communities that reinforce honesty, restraint, and devotion; reduce exposure to exploitative or addictive influences.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108 (nīti section continuing)

FAQs

What is the importance of satsanga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that keeping company with the virtuous is a direct cause of ‘siddhi’ (right accomplishment), while bad company yields no true benefit either materially or spiritually.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

By emphasizing choices that shape karma, it implies that one’s associations influence conduct and merit, affecting outcomes not only in earthly life but also in the post-death course of the soul.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose mentors, friends, and communities that reinforce truthful, disciplined, and compassionate living; avoid environments that normalize harmful habits, since they damage both character and long-term spiritual well-being.