Shloka 9

Varṇāśrama Dharma, Ethical Virtues, and Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga Culminating in ‘Ahaṃ Brahma’

Devanagari script

उदासीनः साधकश्च गृहस्थो द्विविधो भवेत् / कुटुम्बभरणे युक्तः साधको ऽसौ गृही भवेत्

Transliteration

udāsīnaḥ sādhakaśca gṛhastho dvividho bhavet / kuṭumbabharaṇe yuktaḥ sādhako 'sau gṛhī bhavet

Translation

يُقال إنّ ربّ البيت نوعان: «أوداسينا» المتجرّد، و«سادهاكا» الملتزم بالمجاهدة. والذي ينشغل بإعالة الأسرة وحفظ شؤونها—فهو ربّ البيت السادهاكا.

Word by Word

• उदासीनः: (one) detached (type)
• उदासीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदासीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (detached/indifferent type)

• साधकः: (one) active/practising (type)
• साधकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• गृहस्थः: the householder
• गृहस्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• द्विविधः: twofold
• द्विविधः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• कुटुम्बभरणे: in the maintenance of the family
• कुटुम्बभरणे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुटुम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + भरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कुटुम्बस्य भरणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• युक्तः: engaged; devoted
• युक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle: ‘engaged’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• साधकः: the active/practising one
• साधकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• असौ: that (person)
• असौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक (that/this person)

• गृही: a householder
• गृही: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहिन्/गृही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; गृहस्थ-पर्याय

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Two kinds of householders: udāsīna (detached) and sādhaka (disciplined practitioner); the one engaged in maintaining the family is termed sādhaka gṛhastha.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as sādhana: action and responsibility can be spiritually formative when performed with discipline and non-attachment.

Application: If supporting dependents, do it as a vow: steady livelihood, ethical provision, and regulated habits; cultivate inner detachment even while active.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic-social space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.8 (gṛhastha duties); Garuda Purana 1.49.10 (udāsīna as mokṣa-leaning after debts)

FAQs

What is the importance of Gṛhastha Dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the householder life as a legitimate spiritual mode: even while maintaining a family, one can be a sādhaka by performing duties with discipline and inner restraint.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing disciplined duty and detachment, it points to the karmic foundation for a steadier afterlife journey—purifying actions in life supports better post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Fulfill family responsibilities conscientiously while cultivating detachment—treat work and caregiving as dharma and maintain a daily practice (japa, charity, self-control) without obsession or greed.