Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

त्यज दुर्जनसंसर्गं भज साधुसमागमम् / कुरु पुण्यमहोरात्र स्मर नित्यमनित्यताम्

Transliteration

tyaja durjanasaṃsargaṃ bhaja sādhusamāgamam / kuru puṇyamahorātra smara nityamanityatām

Translation

จงละทิ้งการคบหากับคนชั่ว จงแสวงหาการสมาคมกับผู้ทรงศีล จงทำบุญกุศลทั้งกลางวันและกลางคืน และจงระลึกถึงความไม่เที่ยงของสังขารอยู่เสมอ

Word by Word

• त्यज: abandon
• त्यज: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• दुर्जनसंसर्गम्: association with wicked people
• दुर्जनसंसर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् + जन (प्रातिपदिक) + संसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दुर्जनानां संसर्गः

• भज: seek/associate with
• भज: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• साधुसमागमम्: company of the virtuous
• साधुसमागमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक) + समागम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: साधूनां समागमः

• कुरु: do
• कुरु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• पुण्य: merit/virtue
• पुण्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; used as first member in compound

• अहोरात्रम्: day and night
• अहोरात्रम्: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहः + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (अहः+रात्रिः) नपुंसकलिङ्ग एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial usage: ‘day and night’)

• स्मर: remember
• स्मर: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• अनित्यताम्: impermanence
• अनित्यताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनित्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka in association (avoid duḥsaṅga, seek sādhu-saṅga), continuous puṇya-kriyā, and nityānitya-vastu-viveka (remembering impermanence) as a ladder toward liberation-minded living.

Vedantic Theme: Nityānitya-viveka and vairāgya as foundational sādhana; sādhu-saṅga as catalyst for sattva and bhakti/jñāna maturation.

Application: Curate influences (people/media), adopt daily disciplines of service and charity, and practice regular contemplation on mortality and change to reduce compulsive attachment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108.23-25 (examples of duḥsaṅga and domestic peril); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections broadly emphasize impermanence and karma consequences (general thematic link)

FAQs

What is the importance of satsanga (holy company) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames satsanga as a direct spiritual safeguard: by avoiding harmful influences (durjana-saṃsarga) and keeping virtuous company (sādhu-samāgama), one naturally supports dharmic conduct and the accumulation of punya.

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

While not describing Yama’s realm or post-death routes directly, it gives the ethical foundation that determines post-death outcomes: continuous punya and remembrance of impermanence shape one’s karma and readiness for liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Limit relationships and media that normalize unethical behavior, seek teachers and communities rooted in dharma, do daily acts of charity/service, and reflect regularly on impermanence to reduce attachment and impulsive wrongdoing.