Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

उत्तमैः सह साङ्गत्यं पण्डितैः सह सत्कथाम् / अलुब्धैः सह मित्रत्वं कुर्वाणो नावसीदति

Transliteration

uttamaiḥ saha sāṅgatyaṃ paṇḍitaiḥ saha satkathām / alubdhaiḥ saha mitratvaṃ kurvāṇo nāvasīdati

Translation

ผู้ใดคบหาสมาคมกับผู้ประเสริฐ สนทนาธรรมอันงามกับบัณฑิต และผูกมิตรกับผู้ไม่โลภ—ผู้นั้นย่อมไม่ตกต่ำพินาศเลย.

Word by Word

• उत्तमैः: with the best (people)
• उत्तमैः: Sahakāraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण-रूपेण (with the best/virtuous persons)

• सह: with
• सह: Sambandha (Association marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (Preposition-like particle: with)

• साङ्गत्यम्: companionship/association
• साङ्गत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पण्डितैः: with learned people
• पण्डितैः: Sahakāraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सह: with
• सह: Sambandha (Association marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (with)

• सत्कथाम्: good discourse
• सत्कथाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (good/true talk)

• अलुब्धैः: with the non-greedy
• अलुब्धैः: Sahakāraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलुब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेधार्थ (non-greedy)

• सह: with
• सह: Sambandha (Association marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (with)

• मित्रत्वम्: friendship
• मित्रत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्रत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुर्वाणः: doing/practising
• कुर्वाणः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परस्मैपद-भाव (doing)

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

• अवसीदति: sinks/declines/is dejected
• अवसीदति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+सद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Satsaṅga, satkathā, and friendship with the non-greedy protect one from downfall.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅga shapes saṃskāras; śubha-vāsanā cultivation; citta-śuddhi through noble association as a support for bhakti/jñāna.

Application: Curate community: mentors, ethical peers, and learning circles; avoid exploitative relationships; practice generosity and simplicity to counter lobha.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Geographic Context

Type: social setting (satsaṅga/sabhā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: general sadācāra teachings praising satsaṅga and condemning lobha

FAQs

What is the importance of satsaṅga (virtuous company) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that association with noble people, wise counsel, and friendships free from greed protect a person from decline—making satsaṅga a practical safeguard for dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes that one’s habits and associations shape character and karma; by choosing noble company and non-greedy friendships, a person avoids karmic downfall that would otherwise obstruct a favorable post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose mentors and friends who value integrity over gain, spend time in uplifting study/discussion, and avoid greed-driven circles—these choices stabilize conduct and prevent ethical collapse.