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Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

व्यालीकण्ठप्रदेशाह्यपि च फणभृद्भाषणा या च रौद्री या कृष्णा व्याकुलागी रुधिरनयनसंव्याकुला व्याघ्रकल्पा / क्रोधे यैवोग्रवक्त्रा स्फुरदनलशिखा काकजिह्वा कराला सेव्या न स्त्री विदग्धा परपुरगमना भ्रान्तचित्ता विराक्त

Transliteration

vyālīkaṇṭhapradeśāhyapi ca phaṇabhṛdbhāṣaṇā yā ca raudrī yā kṛṣṇā vyākulāgī rudhiranayanasaṃvyākulā vyāghrakalpā / krodhe yaivogravaktrā sphuradanalaśikhā kākajihvā karālā sevyā na strī vidagdhā parapuragamanā bhrāntacittā virākta

Translation

喉と首筋が蛇のごとく、言葉は鉤頭の蛇のように毒を含み、荒々しく暗く、常に落ち着かず、血走る眼をして虎のように猛り、怒れば顔は凄まじく、火焔がほとばしるかのごとく、烏の舌のようで恐ろしい姿となる—そのような、才はあっても邪に堕ち、他の男の家に通い、心は迷い、真の情を欠く女は、伴侶として求めても留めてもならない。

Word by Word
व्यालीshe-serpent / serpent-like woman
व्याली:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeNoun
Rootव्याली (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; used as first member in compound
कण्ठthroat/neck
कण्ठ:
Sambandha (Compound relation)
TypeNoun
Rootकण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/समासाङ्ग; compound member
प्रदेशाregion/area
प्रदेशा:
Sambandha (Compound relation)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; in compound-base
अह्यsnake-like
अह्य:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootअह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘serpentine’ (from अहि) qualifying implied स्त्री
अपिalso/even
अपि:
Sambandha (Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-अव्यय (also/even)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय
फणभृत्hooded serpent
फणभृत्:
Sambandha (Compound relation)
TypeNoun
Rootफण (प्रातिपदिक) + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: फणं बिभर्ति इति (cobra/hood-bearer)
भाषणाspeaking (like)
भाषणा:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootभाषण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘speaking’/‘speech-like’ as qualifier; here: ‘speaking like a serpent’
याwho
या:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; relative pronoun
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय
रौद्रीfierce/terrible
रौद्री:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootरौद्री (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
याwho
या:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; repetition for listing
कृष्णाdark/black
कृष्णा:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
व्याकुलाagitated
व्याकुला:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootव्याकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
अगीfiery
अगी:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootअगि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; rare/uncertain reading; taken as ‘fiery/like fire’ (अग्नि-सदृशी)
रुधिरblood
रुधिर:
Sambandha (Compound relation)
TypeNoun
Rootरुधिर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; used as first member in compound
नयनeyes
नयन:
Sambandha (Compound relation)
TypeNoun
Rootनयन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; compound member
संव्याकुलाutterly disturbed
संव्याकुला:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootसम् + वि + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘thoroughly agitated’
व्याघ्रकल्पाtiger-like
व्याघ्रकल्पा:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootव्याघ्र + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष: व्याघ्र इव कल्पा (tiger-like)
क्रोधेin anger
क्रोधे:
Adhikarana (State/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootक्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative Singular
याwho
या:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
एवindeed
एव:
Sambandha (Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-अव्यय
उग्रवक्त्राhaving a fierce face
उग्रवक्त्रा:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootउग्र + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: उग्रं वक्त्रं यस्याः
स्फुरत्flashing/quivering
स्फुरत्:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्फुर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
Formशतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त, नपुंसक/पुं-समासपूर्वपद; used in compound with अनलशिखा
अनलfire
अनल:
Sambandha (Compound relation)
TypeNoun
Rootअनल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; compound member
शिखाflame
शिखा:
Sambandha (Compound relation)
TypeNoun
Rootशिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; in compound-base
काकजिह्वाhaving a crow-like tongue
काकजिह्वा:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootकाक + जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: काकस्य जिह्वेव (crow-tongued)
करालाhideous/terrifying
कराला:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootकराल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
सेव्याfit to be associated with/served
सेव्या:
Karma (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसेव् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
Formयत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/भाव्य), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be served’ (here negated)
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय
स्त्रीwoman
स्त्री:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
विदग्धाcunning/overly clever
विदग्धा:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootविदग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; here in negative characterization
परanother’s
पर:
Sambandha (Compound relation)
TypeAdjective
Rootपर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासपूर्वपद; ‘other’s’
पुरtown/house
पुर:
Sambandha (Compound relation)
TypeNoun
Rootपुर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; compound member
गमनाgoing (to)
गमना:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootगमन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘going’ as qualifier; in compound parapuragamanā
भ्रान्तचित्ताwith a deluded mind
भ्रान्तचित्ता:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootभ्रान्त + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: भ्रान्तं चित्तं यस्याः
विराक्ताdetached/indifferent
विराक्ता:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootवि + रञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘dispassionate/indifferent’
Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoid association with a person whose character is dominated by krodha, restlessness, deceit, and infidelity; external ‘cleverness’ (vidagdhatā) without virtue is dangerous.

Vedantic Theme: Tamas/rajas-driven mind (vyākulatā, bhrānti) obscures sattva; uncontrolled krodha is a binding force that destroys peace and dharma.

Application: Do not romanticize charisma or ‘sharpness’ when paired with cruelty and betrayal; prioritize emotional regulation, fidelity, and trustworthiness in close relationships.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108.25 (domestic threats equated with death); Garuda Purana 1.108.26 (avoid wicked company); Garuda Purana 1.108.23-24 (spousal vice/virtue contrast)

Characters & Entities
V
Viṣṇu
G
Garuḍa

FAQs

This verse functions as a dharma-guideline for householders, warning against companionship that is marked by cruelty, uncontrolled anger, deceit, and sexual misconduct—traits seen as destructive to family order and spiritual progress.

While the Garuda Purana is famous for afterlife descriptions, it also stresses ethical living as the root of one’s post-death fate; controlling passions and avoiding adharmic relationships is presented as foundational conduct.

Treat it as a caution against toxic, unfaithful, and abusive behavior in relationships—prioritize trust, self-control, and emotional steadiness, and avoid alliances that normalize deceit or harm.

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