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Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

दुष्टा भार्या शठं मित्रं भृत्यश्चोत्तरदायकः / ससर्पे च गृहे वासोमृत्युरेव न संशयः

Transliteration

duṣṭā bhāryā śaṭhaṃ mitraṃ bhṛtyaścottaradāyakaḥ / sasarpe ca gṛhe vāsomṛtyureva na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

దుర్మార్గురాలైన భార్య, మోసగాడైన మిత్రుడు, ఎదురుమాటలాడే సేవకుడు, పాము ఉన్న ఇంటిలో నివాసము - ఇవి మృత్యువుతో సమానము, ఇందులో సందేహము లేదు.

Word by Word
दुष्टाwicked
दुष्टा:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine Nominative Singular
भार्याwife
भार्या:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
शठम्deceitful
शठम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootशठ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here qualifying मित्रम्
मित्रम्friend
मित्रम्:
Karta (Co-subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Neuter Nominative Singular
भृत्यःservant
भृत्यः:
Karta (Co-subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय
उत्तरदायकःone who answers back/retorts
उत्तरदायकः:
Karta (Co-subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootउत्तर + दायक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: उत्तरं ददाति इति (one who gives back-answer/retort)
सwith
स:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययपूर्वपद-समासाङ्ग; used with सर्पे to form bahuvrihi-like sense ‘with a snake’
सर्पेwhere there is a snake / in presence of a snake
सर्पे:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative Singular
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय
गृहेin a house
गृहे:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootगृह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative Singular
वासःdwelling/residence
वासः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootवास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative Singular
मृत्युःdeath
मृत्युः:
Karma (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
एवcertainly/indeed
एव:
Sambandha (Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)
नno/not
न:
Sambandha (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय
संशयःdoubt
संशयः:
Karta (Subject of implied अस्ति)
TypeNoun
Rootसंशय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative Singular (elliptic: ‘there is’)
Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoidance of destructive associations and environments; adharma in close relations is as lethal as overt physical threat.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅga-doṣa (fault of association) binds and harms; discernment (viveka) is required to protect dharma and peace.

Application: Assess relational trustworthiness; set boundaries with deceit; ensure household safety; address conflict patterns and disrespect early.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108.26 (leave wicked company; do puṇya); Garuda Purana 1.108.23-24 (spousal contrast: wicked vs virtuous)

FAQs

It warns that certain relationships and living conditions become immediate sources of ruin—social, moral, and even physical—so a householder must choose companions and environment carefully.

Although the Garuda Purana is famous for afterlife descriptions, it also teaches practical dharma; here it frames destructive domestic factors as “death,” emphasizing prevention of downfall before karmic consequences intensify.

Cultivate trustworthy relationships, set boundaries with harmful behavior, ensure home safety, and address toxic dynamics early—because unchecked domestic danger can destroy wellbeing like “death.”

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