Shloka 6

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

मात्रा स्वस्त्रा दुहित्रा वा न विविक्तासनो वसेत् / बलवानिन्द्रियग्रामो विद्वांसमपि कर्षति

Transliteration

mātrā svastrā duhitrā vā na viviktāsano vaset / balavānindriyagrāmo vidvāṃsamapi karṣati

Translation

ไม่พึงนั่งลับตากับมารดา พี่น้องหญิง หรือบุตรี เพราะหมู่แห่งอินทรีย์มีกำลังยิ่งนัก อาจฉุดแม้ผู้รู้ให้คลาดเคลื่อนได้

Word by Word

• मात्रा: with the mother
• मात्रा: Sahakarana (Association/सहकारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• स्वस्त्रा: with the sister
• स्वस्त्रा: Sahakarana (Association/सहकारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svasṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दुहित्रा: with the daughter
• दुहित्रा: Sahakarana (Association/सहकारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duhitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• विविक्त-आसनः: seated in seclusion; alone-seated
• विविक्त-आसनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vivikta (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (viviktaṃ āsanam yasya = one having a secluded seat) विशेषण (of implied subject)

• वसेत्: should dwell/sit
• वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बलवान्: powerful
• बलवान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘indriyagrāmaḥ’)

• इन्द्रिय-ग्रामः: the group of senses
• इन्द्रिय-ग्रामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक) + grāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (indriyāṇāṃ grāmaḥ = collection of senses)

• विद्वांसम्: a learned man
• विद्वांसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (even/also particle)

• कर्षति: drags, pulls away
• कर्षति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Indriya-grāma (the collective senses) is बलवान (powerful); therefore avoid secluded sitting with close female relatives to prevent transgression and scandal—situation-management as moral discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha as prerequisite for steadiness of mind; recognition of rajas as a destabilizing force even for the विद्वान्.

Application: Maintain appropriate boundaries and transparency; avoid compromising situations; cultivate self-regulation practices (mindfulness, vows, accountability) rather than relying on self-image of virtue.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.5 (avoidance of faults); Garuda Purana 1.114.7 (self-control and consequences)

FAQs

What is the importance of sense-control (indriya-nigraha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the senses are inherently powerful and can overpower even the learned, so disciplined conduct and avoiding tempting situations is essential for dharmic living.

How does this verse explain spiritual risk even for the wise?

It emphasizes that scholarship alone is not a guarantee of restraint—without practical safeguards, sensory impulses can still ‘pull’ the mind away from right conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain clear boundaries, avoid unnecessarily private or compromising situations, and prioritize habits that strengthen self-restraint and mental clarity.