Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

भुजङ्गमे वेश्मनि दृष्टिदृष्टे व्याधौ चिकित्साविनिवर्तिते च / देहे च बाल्यादिवयो ऽन्विते च काला वृतो ऽसौ लभते धृतिं कः

Transliteration

bhujaṅgame veśmani dṛṣṭidṛṣṭe vyādhau cikitsāvinivartite ca / dehe ca bālyādivayo 'nvite ca kālā vṛto 'sau labhate dhṛtiṃ kaḥ

Translation

当在自家屋内见到毒蛇，当疾病已被医治所遏止，当此身仍具青春与诸般人生阶段——然而仍被时间（死神）攫住之时，谁还能安住不动、保持镇定？

Word by Word

• भुजङ्गमे: in a snake
• भुजङ्गमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुजङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• वेश्मनि: in a house
• वेश्मनि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• दृष्टिदृष्टे: in what is seen and perceived (by sight)
• दृष्टिदृष्टे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृष्टि-दृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (दृष्टिः + दृष्टम्)

• व्याधौ: in illness
• व्याधौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• चिकित्साविनिवर्तिते: in (a disease) cured/removed by treatment
• चिकित्साविनिवर्तिते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिकित्सा-विनिवर्तित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle) √वृत्/वर्त् with वि-नि-; समासः—तत्पुरुष (चिकित्सया विनिवर्तितः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• देहे: in the body
• देहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• बाल्यादिवयः: childhood and other ages
• बाल्यादिवयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल्य-आदि-वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (बाल्यं च आदि च यस्मिन् तत्)

• अन्विते: endowed with, accompanied by
• अन्विते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि-क्त (PPP) √इ (अनु+इ)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कालः: time, death
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• वृतः: surrounded, encompassed
• वृतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि-क्त (PPP) √वृ (to cover/surround)

• असौ: that person/that one
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• धृतिम्: steadfastness, composure
• धृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kala (Time/Death) is unavoidable; even when dangers seem managed (snake seen, disease treated, youth present), mortality remains certain.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatva and mrityu-satya; impetus toward vairagya and mumukshutva (desire for liberation).

Application: Use moments of relief and health as prompts for spiritual practice, reconciliation, and purposeful living; do not postpone dharma and sadhana.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring kala/mrityu admonitions leading into ethical and post-death teachings

FAQs

What is the importance of Kala (Time/Death) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Kala as an unavoidable force that can seize a person even when danger seems averted and life appears secure, urging urgent spiritual preparedness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stressing the unpredictability of death, it implies that one should not postpone dharma, remembrance of God, and end-of-life preparations, since the soul’s transition can occur at any moment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not rely on temporary safety (health, youth, problem-solving); practice daily discipline—ethical living, devotion, and awareness of mortality—so the mind remains steady when change or death arrives.