Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

कालेन रिपुणासन्धिः काले मित्रेण विग्रहः / कार्यकारणमाश्रित्य कालं क्षिपति पण्डितः

Transliteration

kālena ripuṇāsandhiḥ kāle mitreṇa vigrahaḥ / kāryakāraṇamāśritya kālaṃ kṣipati paṇḍitaḥ

Translation

കാലം നോക്കി ശത്രുവിനോടും സന്ധി ചെയ്യണം; കാലം നോക്കി സുഹൃത്തിനോടും വിഗ്രഹം സംഭവിക്കാം. പ്രവർത്തിയുടെ കാരണം-പ്രയോജനം ആശ്രയിച്ച് പണ്ഡിതൻ കാലത്തെ യുക്തമായി വിനിയോഗിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• कालेन: in due time/by time
• कालेन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचनम्

• रिपुणा: with an enemy
• रिपुणा: Sahakāraka/Association (Instrumental accompaniment/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचनम्

• सन्धिः: alliance/peace
• सन्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता-स्थानी), एकवचनम्

• काले: at the right time
• काले: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• मित्रेण: with a friend
• मित्रेण: Sahakāraka/Association (Instrumental accompaniment/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचनम्

• विग्रहः: conflict/war
• विग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता-स्थानी), एकवचनम्

• कार्य-कारणम्: task and its cause
• कार्य-कारणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; द्वन्द्वः (कार्यं च कारणं च)

• आश्रित्य: having considered/resorted to
• आश्रित्य: Purvakala-kriya (Gerundial/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/अव्ययभाव), अव्ययम्; पूर्वक्रिया (having resorted to/considering)

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• क्षिपति: spends/uses (time)
• क्षिपति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• पण्डितः: the wise man
• पण्डितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla-yukti: peace with an enemy or opposition to a friend may be right depending on time, cause, and purpose; the wise ‘spend’ time strategically.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga discernment: acting without rigidity, guided by buddhi (discriminative intellect) and dharma-sādhana.

Application: Reassess relationships periodically; negotiate when conditions change; set principled boundaries even with friends; prioritize long-term dharma over short-term sentiment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108 (nīti on prudence and kāla)

FAQs

What is the importance of kāla (time) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats time as a decisive factor in dharmic action: the wise adjust reconciliation or opposition based on the right moment and the real purpose behind an act.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes discernment and right action—qualities that shape karma. In the Garuda Purana’s broader framework, such choices influence one’s karmic outcomes and post-death trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid rigid loyalties or permanent enmity; evaluate context, consequences, and purpose before acting, and use time deliberately rather than reacting impulsively.