Shloka 25

Nīti-saṅgraha: Conduct, Association, Kali-yuga Decline, and the Supremacy of Vidyā

Devanagari script

अभ्रच्छाया खले प्रीतिः परनारीषु संगतिः / पञ्चैते ह्यस्थिरा भावा यौवनानि धनानि च

Transliteration

abhracchāyā khale prītiḥ paranārīṣu saṃgatiḥ / pañcaite hyasthirā bhāvā yauvanāni dhanāni ca

Translation

Like the shadow of a cloud, affection for a wicked person and association with another man’s wife are fleeting. These five conditions are indeed unstable: such dispositions, youth, and wealth.

Word by Word

• अभ्रच्छाया: shadow of a cloud
• अभ्रच्छाया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘अभ्रस्य छाया’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• खले: in a wicked person
• खले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• प्रीतिः: affection
• प्रीतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• परनारीषु: with other men’s women
• परनारीषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘पराः नारीः’ इति कर्मधारय

• संगतिः: association
• संगतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत्/अविकारी; ‘five’ (एतान् भावान् विशेषयति)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• अस्थिराः: unstable
• अस्थिराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणं ‘भावाः’

• भावाः: states/things
• भावाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• यौवनानि: youths/youthfulness
• यौवनानि: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• धनानि: wealths
• धनानि: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Unstable attachments: affection toward the wicked and illicit association (paranārī-saṅga) are fleeting; dispositions, youth, and wealth are also unstable—therefore do not build life on them.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) and vairāgya (dispassion) as preparatory virtues; recognition of anityatā of kāma and artha.

Application: Choose companions by character, avoid unethical relationships, and plan life around enduring values rather than transient pleasure, status, or money.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: metaphoric (cloud-shadow imagery) with implied social spaces of temptation

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana moral counsel on avoiding duṣṭa-saṅga and kāma-doṣa; anityatā reflections in Dharma sections

FAQs

What is the importance of impermanence (anityatā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that youth, wealth, and certain attachments are unstable, urging a dharmic life that does not rely on fleeting supports.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana’s larger message?

By warning against immoral association and unstable attachments, it points to purification of conduct—seen as essential for a favorable post-death journey and avoidance of suffering due to adharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid harmful company, refrain from illicit relationships, and treat youth and wealth as temporary—use them for dharma, self-discipline, and service rather than indulgence.