Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

परो ऽपि हितवाबन्धुर्बन्धुरप्यहितः परः / अहितो देहजो व्याधिर्हितमारण्यमौषधम्

Transliteration

paro 'pi hitavābandhurbandhurapyahitaḥ paraḥ / ahito dehajo vyādhirhitamāraṇyamauṣadham

Translation

แม้เป็นคนแปลกหน้าแต่หากกล่าวและทำเพื่อประโยชน์ ก็เป็นญาติแท้; ส่วนญาติที่ก่อโทษก็เหมือนคนอื่น โรคที่เกิดจากกายเป็นโทษ แต่โอสถที่พบในป่ากลับเป็นคุณ

Word by Word

• परः: a stranger, another person
• परः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/उद्देश्य), एकवचन

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• हितवान्: beneficial, well-wishing
• हितवान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हितवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (beneficial)

• बन्धुः: kinsman, friend
• बन्धुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बन्धुः: a relative
• बन्धुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-अव्यय (particle: even)

• अहितः: harmful, not beneficial
• अहितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (harmful)

• परः: a stranger (i.e., like an outsider)
• परः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहितः: harmful
• अहितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• देहजः: born of the body
• देहजः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देह-ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (देहात् जातः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• व्याधिः: disease
• व्याधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हितम्: benefit, good
• हितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आरण्यम्: of the forest, wild
• आरण्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (forest-related)

• औषधम्: medicine, remedy
• औषधम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True kinship is defined by welfare (hita), not by blood; harm can arise from what is ‘one’s own,’ while benefit can come from what is ‘outside.’

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) over deha-abhimāna (body-identification) and kula-abhimāna (clan-identification); evaluate by guṇa/karma rather than labels.

Application: Choose companions and advisors by proven goodwill; set boundaries with harmful relatives; accept help from outsiders; treat problems realistically even if ‘self-born’ (habits, addictions).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108 (nīti on relationships and discernment)

FAQs

What is the importance of hita (benefit) and ahita (harm) in Garuda Purana?

This verse prioritizes welfare (hita) over mere social labels: a person becomes “family” through beneficial conduct, while harm (ahita) nullifies even blood relations.

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

Indirectly, it frames dharmic discernment: choosing beneficial influences and remedies over harmful attachments supports right conduct, which Garuda Purana repeatedly links to one’s post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Judge relationships and advice by whether they genuinely improve character and wellbeing; accept help from worthy sources and avoid enabling harm even when it comes from close circles.