Shloka 17

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

समधर्मा हि मर्मज्ञस्तीक्ष्णः स्वजनकण्टकः / न तथा बाधते शत्रुः कृतवैरो बहिः स्थितः

Transliteration

samadharmā hi marmajñastīkṣṇaḥ svajanakaṇṭakaḥ / na tathā bādhate śatruḥ kṛtavairo bahiḥ sthitaḥ

Translation

Seseorang yang tampak berpegang pada Dharma, namun tajam lidahnya dan tahu menikam titik lemah—menjadi duri dalam kalangan sendiri—lebih menyakiti. Musuh yang telah menyatakan permusuhan dan berdiri di luar tidaklah mengganggu sedemikian rupa.

Word by Word

• samadharmā: of equal conduct (like oneself)
• samadharmā: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक) + dharman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (samaḥ dharmaḥ yasya / sama-dharmaḥ)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• marmajñaḥ: knower of secrets/weak points
• marmajñaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: marma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (marmāṇi jānāti)

• tīkṣṇaḥ: sharp, harsh
• tīkṣṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• svajanakaṇṭakaḥ: a thorn to one’s own people
• svajanakaṇṭakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svajana (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṇṭaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (svajanasya kaṇṭakaḥ)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• tathā: so much, in that way
• tathā: Sambandha (Manner/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: "thus/so much")

• bādhate: harms, troubles
• bādhate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bādh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; √बाध् = बाधते

• śatruḥ: enemy
• śatruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• kṛtavairaḥ: having made enmity
• kṛtavairaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त) + vaira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (kṛtaṃ vairaṃ yena / kṛta-vairaḥ)

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: outside)

• sthitaḥ: standing, situated
• sthitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु) → sthita (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A seemingly righteous but hurtful insider is more damaging than an external declared enemy; discern character beyond appearances.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā expressed as hypocrisy and ego; need for viveka in judging guṇa and saṃskāra, not mere outer dharma-signs.

Application: Evaluate people by consistent conduct; set boundaries with toxic insiders; don’t ignore harm because it comes from ‘one of us’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti: warnings about false friends, harsh speech, and internal discord (general)

FAQs

What is the importance of guarding against internal harm in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that harm from within one’s own circle—someone who knows one’s vulnerabilities and speaks or acts sharply—can be more damaging than an openly hostile outsider.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it teaches dharmic self-protection and discernment: ethical living includes careful association and truthful, non-harmful speech, which supports inner purity essential for spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Be discerning with confidences, avoid harsh speech, set boundaries with manipulative insiders, and value transparent disagreement over covert, intimate sabotage.