Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

यस्य भार्या विरूपाक्षी कश्मला कलहप्रिया / उत्तरोत्तरवादा स्या सा जरा न जरा जरा

Transliteration

yasya bhāryā virūpākṣī kaśmalā kalahapriyā / uttarottaravādā syā sā jarā na jarā jarā

Translation

यस्य भार्या विरूपाक्षी कश्मला कलहप्रिया; उत्तरोत्तरवादा सा जरा न जरा जरा।

Word by Word

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विरूपाक्षी: ugly-eyed / having deformed eyes
• विरूपाक्षी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + रूप + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्याः सा)

• कश्मला: impure, wicked, sinful
• कश्मला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कश्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कलहप्रिया: fond of quarrel
• कलहप्रिया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलह + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कलहः प्रियः यस्याः सा)

• उत्तरोत्तरवादा: one who keeps arguing back (again and again)
• उत्तरोत्तरवादा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर + उत्तर + वाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (उत्तरोत्तरः वादः यस्याः सा = ever-contradicting/arguing back repeatedly)

• स्या: may be / would be
• स्या: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जरा: old age; decay
• जरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• जरा: old age
• जरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पुनरुक्ति/अनुप्रास-प्रयोग)

• जरा: old age
• जरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पुनरुक्ति/अनुप्रास-प्रयोग)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kalaha (quarrelsomeness), impurity of conduct, and relentless contentious speech destroy household peace, experienced as accelerated aging and suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Rajas/tamas-driven speech and conduct bind the mind to duḥkha; ethical restraint is protective of prāṇa and mental clarity.

Application: Avoid habitual contempt, escalation, and constant rebuttal; cultivate conflict-resolution, accountability, and respectful boundaries to prevent chronic stress.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108.18-21 (contrast: virtues vs faults)

FAQs

What is the importance of household harmony in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames persistent quarrel, impure conduct, and harsh speech within marriage as a direct cause of ongoing suffering, likened to premature ‘old age’ in one’s life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it points to how daily adharma—especially harmful speech and constant conflict—creates continuous mental affliction and negative karmic tendencies that shape one’s spiritual trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate truthful and gentle speech, reduce reactive arguing, and prioritize ethical conduct and cleanliness of character—so the home supports dharma rather than becoming a source of constant distress.