Shloka 16

Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma

Devanagari script

हीनदुर्जनसंसर्ग अत्यन्तविरहादरः / स्नेहो ऽन्यगेहवासश्च नारीसच्छीलनाशनम्

Transliteration

hīnadurjanasaṃsarga atyantavirahādaraḥ / sneho 'nyagehavāsaśca nārīsacchīlanāśanam

Translation

നീചദുർജനസംഗം, കർത്തവ്യബന്ധുക്കളിൽ നിന്ന് അത്യധികം വിരക്തി, മറ്റൊരാളുടെ വീട്ടിൽ താമസിക്കാനുള്ള മോഹം, സ്ത്രീസംഗം—ഇവ സദാചാരത്തെ നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• हीनदुर्जनसंसर्गः: association with base wicked people
• हीनदुर्जनसंसर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हीन + दुर्जन + संसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (हीनानां दुर्जनानां संसर्गः)

• अत्यन्तविरहादरः: excessive fondness for separation/absence
• अत्यन्तविरहादरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्यन्त + विरह + आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अत्यन्तः विरहः, तस्मिन् आदरः/आदरः)

• स्नेहः: attachment/affection
• स्नेहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अन्यगेहवासः: living in another’s house
• अन्यगेहवासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य + गेह + वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अन्यस्य गेहे वासः)

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

• नारीसच्छीलनाशनम्: destroyer of a woman’s good conduct
• नारीसच्छीलनाशनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी + सत्/सत्? + शील + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नारीणां सच्छीलस्य नाशनम्/नाशकं)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bad association (duḥsaṅga), improper attachments, and destabilizing habits erode śīla; cultivate sat-saṅga and steadiness.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅga as a cause of bondage (saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ—theme echoed in Gītā); guarding the mind through right environment.

Application: Choose friends carefully; avoid exploitative circles; maintain stable duties and home; set boundaries in relationships that undermine integrity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: social sphere/household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109 (nīti on saṅga and śīla)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding bad company in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats association with the wicked as a direct cause of character-loss, warning that one’s conduct is shaped by the company one keeps.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing sadachara (right conduct) and restraint, it implies that moral discipline protects one’s dharma and karmic trajectory, which in the Garuda Purana framework influences post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose uplifting friendships, avoid environments that normalize unethical behavior, maintain responsibility to home and duties, and practice disciplined boundaries in relationships.