Shloka 21

Devanagari script

नासमञ्जसशीलैस् तु सहासीत कदाचन सद्वृत्तसंनिकर्षो हि क्षणार्धम् अपि शस्यते

Transliteration

nāsamañjasaśīlais tu sahāsīta kadācana sadvṛttasaṃnikarṣo hi kṣaṇārdham api śasyate

Translation

Never keep company with those of perverse and unbalanced conduct; even half a moment’s closeness to the truly well‑behaved is praised as a blessing.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• asamañjasa-śīlaiḥ: with those of improper conduct
• asamañjasa-śīlaiḥ: Sahakari (Instrument/साधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-samañjasa (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘शील’ (having nature) qualified by ‘असमञ्जस’ (improper)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• saha: together/with
• saha: Sambandha (Association marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—सहकारार्थक (with)

• āsīta: should be / should sit
• āsīta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ās (धाातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative/imperative sense), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; निषेधेन सह—‘न ... āsīta’ = ‘should not sit/be’

• kadācana: ever/at any time
• kadācana: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—कालवाचक (at any time/ever)

• sadvṛtta-saṃnikarṣaḥ: association with the virtuous
• sadvṛtta-saṃnikarṣaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃnikarṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘सद्वृत्तस्य संनिकर्षः’ (contact with the well-conducted)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक (indeed/for)

• kṣaṇa-ardham: half a moment
• kṣaṇa-ardham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘क्षणस्य अर्धम्’ (half a moment)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—अपि (even/also)

• śasyate: is commended
• śasyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śas (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)—‘is praised/commended’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in discourse to Maitreya, within the dynastic narrative as a moral instruction on dharma and association)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Sadācāra and the ethics of association (saṅga) as a means to preserve dharma

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoid the company of the morally unsteady and cherish even momentary proximity to the virtuous, for saṅga powerfully shapes character.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Curate daily influences—friends, media, mentors—seeking steady, ethical communities and limiting exposure to corrosive habits.

Vishishtadvaita: Virtuous saṅga is a practical bhakti-support, aligning the jīva’s conduct with the Lord’s order (niyati) and auspicious qualities.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of sat-saṅga (company of the virtuous) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse elevates even momentary contact with the righteous as spiritually and ethically beneficial, presenting sat-saṅga as a direct support for dharma and inner steadiness.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the practical path of dharma in this context?

By contrasting harmful association with the wicked against the praised proximity to the virtuous, Parāśara frames dharma not only as doctrine but as daily discipline shaped by one’s companions.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

While Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching aligns with Vaishnava ethics: living in harmony with dharma and seeking the company of the righteous supports devotion and orientation toward the Supreme Reality, Vishnu.