Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

नित्य स्नाता सुगन्धा च नित्यं च प्रियवादिनी / अल्पभुक्ताल्पभाषी च सततं मङ्गलैर्युता

Transliteration

nitya snātā sugandhā ca nityaṃ ca priyavādinī / alpabhuktālpabhāṣī ca satataṃ maṅgalairyutā

Translation

नित्यं स्नाता सुगन्धा च नित्यं प्रियवादिनी; अल्पभुक्ता अल्पभाषी च सततं मङ्गलैर्युता।

Word by Word

• नित्य: always
• नित्य: Visheshana (Adverbial qualifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• स्नाता: bathed
• स्नाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुगन्धा: fragrant, sweet-smelling
• सुगन्धा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कर्मधारय (सु-गन्धा)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नित्यं: always
• नित्यं: Visheshana (Adverbial qualifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रियवादिनी: one who speaks pleasantly
• प्रियवादिनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-भाव: प्रियं वदति/वादयति इति)

• अल्पभुक्ता: eating little
• अल्पभुक्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प + भुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; भुज्-धातु-आधारित क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अल्पं भुक्ता)

• अल्पभाषी: speaking little
• अल्पभाषी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प + भाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अल्पं भाषते)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सततं: constantly
• सततं: Visheshana (Adverbial qualifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मङ्गलैः: with auspicious (things/acts)
• मङ्गलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• युता: endowed, joined
• युता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (युक्ता = endowed/connected)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca, moderation, and vāṅ-niyama (discipline of speech) as virtues that sustain household harmony and auspiciousness.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-enhancing conduct (śauca, mita-āhāra, mita-bhāṣaṇa) supports clarity and ethical steadiness.

Application: Maintain personal hygiene and a calm home routine; practice mindful speech and moderate consumption to reduce conflict and increase well-being.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108.18, 1.108.20-22 (contextual list of virtues and faults)

FAQs

What is the importance of daily purity and auspicious conduct in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents daily bathing, pleasant cleanliness, kind speech, moderation, and restraint as markers of dharmic living that cultivate sustained auspiciousness (maṅgala).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

While not describing the afterlife directly, it emphasizes disciplined conduct and purity as foundations of good karma—conditions repeatedly linked in the Purana to favorable post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain personal cleanliness, speak kindly, practice mindful eating, reduce unnecessary speech, and keep a consistently auspicious, disciplined routine.