Shloka 124

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

मातरं पितरं वापि भ्रातरं सुहृदं गुरुम्

Transliteration

mātaraṃ pitaraṃ vāpi bhrātaraṃ suhṛdaṃ gurum

Translation

سواء كانت الأم أو الأب، أو الأخ، أو الصديق المحسن، أو المعلّم (الغورو)—فحتى هؤلاء داخلون (في الحكم).

Word by Word

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Discourse (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Discourse (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: also/even)

• भ्रातरम्: brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• सुहृदम्: friend / well-wisher
• सुहृदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• गुरुम्: teacher
• गुरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dedicatory acts (uddeshya) may be performed with specific persons in mind—parents, siblings, friends, guru—reflecting relational dharma and gratitude.

Vedantic Theme: Rina-traya sensibility (debts to ancestors/teachers/devas) as preparatory dharma supporting inner purification.

Application: When performing purificatory or devotional acts, consciously dedicate merit to those who supported one’s life and learning; cultivate gratitude and responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: teachings on obligations to pitrs and on honoring guru/elders; Garuda Purana: sections where uddeshya (intention) determines recipient of merit

Characters & Entities

• Mother
• Father
• Brother
• Friend (Suhṛd)
• Guru

FAQs

What is the importance of respecting mother, father, and guru in the Garuda Purana?

This verse explicitly lists mother, father, brother, friend, and guru to stress that dharma includes reverence and non-harm toward one’s closest relations and especially one’s teacher.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana themes like karma and afterlife consequences?

By naming core relationships, the verse frames moral accountability: wrongdoing toward these figures is treated as serious adharma, which in Garuda Purana discourse is tied to karmic results and post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice gratitude and restraint in speech and action toward parents, teachers, and close relations—avoid exploitation, disrespect, and betrayal, and uphold duties of care and honesty.