Shloka 16
Nītisāra: Virtuous Association, Household Dharma, and Kāla (Time) as the Supreme Regulator
स भृत्यो यो विधेयस्तु तद्बीजं यत्प्ररोहति / सा भार्या या प्रियं ब्रूते स पुत्रो यस्तु जीवति
sa bhṛtyo yo vidheyastu tadbījaṃ yatprarohati / sā bhāryā yā priyaṃ brūte sa putro yastu jīvati
Hamba yang sejati ialah yang taat menurut; benih yang sejati ialah yang tumbuh bercambah. Isteri yang sejati ialah yang menuturkan kata yang menyenangkan; anak lelaki yang sejati ialah yang mengekalkan kesinambungan keturunan.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Functional truth of roles: servant = obedient; seed = that which sprouts; wife = speaks pleasingly (harmonious speech); son = one who sustains lineage/household continuity.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as svadharma in relational roles; speech (vāk) as a karmic instrument shaping harmony or conflict.
Application: In leadership and service, value reliability; in family life, cultivate kind truthful speech; support children’s responsibility and continuity of values (not merely biology).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108 (nīti on household roles and markers)
FAQs
This verse defines “true” roles by their function and virtue—obedience in service, harmony in speech, and continuity/support in sonship—showing that dharma is measured by lived responsibility, not mere labels.
Indirectly, it emphasizes righteous conduct in household life; such dharmic living is presented across the Garuda Purana as the foundation that supports good karma and favorable post-death outcomes.
Measure relationships by reliability and ethical behavior: be dependable in duty, speak kindly to maintain harmony, and support family responsibilities with integrity.