Shloka 21
Kālin̄dī’s Austerity; True Tapas and Prāyaścitta; Kṛṣṇa’s Grace and Marriage
एतादृशं तत्तु जातं मुकुन्द अलं ह्यलं तेन दुःखं च भुक्तम् / संगं दत्तात्सज्जनानां सदा त्वं विना च त्वं दुर्जनानां च संगात्
etādṛśaṃ tattu jātaṃ mukunda alaṃ hyalaṃ tena duḥkhaṃ ca bhuktam / saṃgaṃ dattātsajjanānāṃ sadā tvaṃ vinā ca tvaṃ durjanānāṃ ca saṃgāt
O Mukunda, such indeed has come to pass—enough, enough! Through that association, suffering has been endured. Therefore, always keep company with the virtuous, and keep yourself away from the company of the wicked.
Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu (Mukunda)
Concept: Association determines inner state and destiny; choose the company of the virtuous and avoid the wicked.
Vedantic Theme: Satsanga as a proximate cause for vairagya and bhakti; guna-sanga shaping chitta-vritti.
Application: Curate influences—friends, media, mentors; seek communities that reinforce integrity, devotion, and clarity; reduce exposure to manipulative or cynical circles.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated injunctions on satsanga and avoidance of asat-sanga (general thematic parallel)
FAQs
This verse states that suffering arises through harmful association and therefore urges constant companionship with virtuous people as a direct means to protect dharma and reduce karmic decline.
By highlighting that choices of association shape one’s lived suffering, it implies that the soul’s post-death outcomes are prepared by daily conduct—good company supports dharmic karma, while bad company leads toward pain and adverse consequences.
Choose mentors, friends, and communities that strengthen truthfulness, restraint, and devotion; reduce exposure to influences that normalize cruelty, addiction, or deceit—because repeated association becomes habit and habit becomes destiny.