Shloka 15

Sevaka-parīkṣā (Testing and Appointment of Servants) and Rājadharma Outcomes

Devanagari script

दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यो विद्ययालङ्कृतो ऽपिसन् / मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किमसौ न भयङ्करः

Transliteration

durjanaḥ parihartavyo vidyayālaṅkṛto 'pisan / maṇinā bhūṣitaḥ sarpaḥ kimasau na bhayaṅkaraḥ

Translation

ദുര്ജനനെ ഒഴിവാക്കണം, അവൻ വിദ്യയാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടവനായാലും; മണിയാൽ ഭൂഷിതനായ സർപ്പം ഭയങ്കരമല്ലേ?

Word by Word

• दुर्-जनः: a wicked person
• दुर्-जनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (दुष्टः जनः)

• परिहर्तव्यः: to be avoided
• परिहर्तव्यः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + √हृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle): ‘to be avoided’

• विद्यया: by learning/knowledge
• विद्यया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अलङ्कृतः: adorned
• अलङ्कृतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलङ् + √कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवादसूचक (particle: even/also)

• सन्: being
• सन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √अस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle)

• मणिना: with a jewel
• मणिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• भूषितः: adorned
• भूषितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √भूष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• सर्पः: a snake
• सर्पः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• किम्: what?/is it that...?
• किम्: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• असौ: that (one)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• भयङ्करः: terrifying
• भयङ्करः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, typical dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: विद्या without सद्गुण does not make a दुर्जन safe; external brilliance can mask inner विष (harm).

Vedantic Theme: Distinction between apparent qualities (upādhi) and inner nature (svabhāva); asat-saṅga avoidance; sattva as true ornament.

Application: Evaluate people by conduct and compassion, not credentials; be wary of charismatic or highly educated individuals who lack ethics.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: moral allegory

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti-style verses on दुर्जन-परिहार and sat-saṅga

FAQs

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

This verse teaches discernment: learning alone does not purify a harmful nature, so one should avoid association with the wicked even if they appear respectable or scholarly.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports dharmic living by warning against influences that lead one into adharma; such choices shape karma and therefore affect the soul’s post-death journey described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Evaluate people by conduct and integrity rather than credentials or eloquence; keep distance from manipulative or harmful individuals even if they seem impressive.