सद्भिरेव सहासीत सद्भिः कुर्वीत सङ्गतिम्। सद्भिर्विवादं मैत्रीं च नासद्भिः किञ्चिदाचरेत्॥
sadbhir eva sahāsīta sadbhiḥ kurvīta saṅgatim । sadbhir vivādaṃ maitrīṃ ca nāsadbhiḥ kiṃcid ācaret ॥
PM's MessageOver the next few days, leaders from around the world will gather for the BRICS Summit. I am fully confident that the summit will see positive and meaningful discussions on various issues, guided by the aspiration for global welfare.
Meaning of Sadbhir Eva Sahāsīta Sadbhiḥ
A person should always live among the virtuous and cultivate their company. A person should engage in discussion and foster friendly relations with the virtuous, because mutual goodwill, dialogue and friendly relations strengthen peace and cooperation.
Word by word
- सद्भिः एवsadbhiḥ eva
only with the virtuous
सत्
Sandhi: sadbhiḥ + eva becomes sadbhir eva.
- सह आसीतsaha āsīta
one should sit or dwell together
आस्
Sandhi: saha + āsīta becomes sahāsīta.
- सद्भिःsadbhiḥ
with the virtuous
सत्
- कुर्वीतkurvīta
one should make or cultivate
कृ
- सङ्गतिम्saṅgatim
company or association
सम् + गम्
- सद्भिःsadbhiḥ
with the virtuous
सत्
- विवादम्vivādam
discussion, debate or disagreement
वि + वद्
- मैत्रीम्maitrīm
friendship
मित्र
- चca
and
- न असद्भिःna asadbhiḥ
not with the unvirtuous
असत्
Sandhi: na + asadbhiḥ becomes nāsadbhiḥ.
- किंचित् आचरेत्kiṃcit ācaret
one should undertake or practise anything
आ + चर्
Sandhi: kiṃcit + ācaret becomes kiṃcid ācaret.
Commentary
The verse makes the choice of company an ethical practice rather than a matter of convenience. The repeated sadbhiḥ, ‘with the virtuous’, governs sitting together, keeping company, discussion and friendship, while asadbhiḥ marks the company to be avoided. Significantly, vivāda need not mean hostility here: disagreement and deliberation can be worthwhile when they take place among people committed to good conduct. Maitrī adds friendship to that picture, suggesting that sound relationships can hold both warmth and honest debate. The contrast between sat and asat therefore asks a person to judge associations by character and conduct. In the accompanying post, the verse frames an international summit as an occasion for constructive dialogue directed toward the welfare of the world. That is a modern diplomatic application of its broader counsel: seek worthy company, engage seriously even where views differ, and nurture goodwill. The verse itself speaks about whom one chooses to associate and act with; peace and cooperation belong to the post’s application and the supplied meaning rather than to an explicit promise in the Sanskrit.
Original Post
More from Garuda Purana
View source pageउत्तमैः सह साङ्गत्यं पण्डितैः सह सत्कथाम्। अलुब्धैः सह मित्रत्वं कुर्वाणो नावसीदति॥
uttamaiḥ saha sāṅgatyaṃ paṇḍitaiḥ saha satkathām । alubdhaiḥ saha mitratvaṃ kurvāṇo nāvasīdati ॥
A Garuda Purana verse praises noble company, worthwhile conversation with the learned and friendship with those free from greed.
More subhashitams on Ethics
View topic pageअद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca । nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes a character free from hatred and ego, friendly to all beings and steady in joy and sorrow.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥
anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat । svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and non-agitating words, together with regular study, as austerity of speech.
स्वाधीनैव समृद्धिर्जनोपजीव्यत्वमुच्छ्रयश्छाया। सत्पुंसो मरुभूरिव जीवनमात्रं समाशास्यम्॥
svādhīnaiva samṛddhir janopajīvyatvam ucchrayaś chāyā । satpuṃso marubhūr iva jīvanamātraṁ samāśāsyam ॥
For a good person, as for a tree standing in the desert, self-reliant abundance, support for others, height and shade come naturally, so only that life itself need be wished for.