Shloka 35

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

उदासे धार्मिकः सौम्यः प्राप्यापि विपुलं धनम् / तृणवन्मन्यते तार्क्ष्य आत्मानं वित्तमप्यथ

Transliteration

udāse dhārmikaḥ saumyaḥ prāpyāpi vipulaṃ dhanam / tṛṇavanmanyate tārkṣya ātmānaṃ vittamapyatha

Translation

يا تاركشيا (غارودا)، إنّ الرجلَ التقيَّ اللطيفَ يبقى زاهدًا غيرَ متعلّق؛ حتى إذا نال مالًا وفيرًا عدَّ المالَ وذاتَه المتجسّدة هذه كأنهما نصلُ عشبٍ لا قيمةَ له.

Word by Word

• udāse: in indifference/detachment
• udāse: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• dhārmikaḥ: righteous person
• dhārmikaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhārmika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• saumyaḥ: gentle/calm
• saumyaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• prāpya: having obtained
• prāpya: Purvakalika Kriya (Action/पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-āp (धातु)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive)

• api: even/although
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• vipulam: abundant/vast
• vipulam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dhanam: wealth
• dhanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tṛṇavat: like straw/grass (worthless)
• tṛṇavat: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tṛṇavat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverbial (Vat-pratyaya)

• manyate: considers/thinks
• manyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Atmanepada, 1st Person (Prathama Purusha), Singular

• tārkṣya: O Garuda
• tārkṣya: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārkṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• ātmānam: himself/soul
• ātmānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vittam: wealth
• vittam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• api: also
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• atha: moreover/then
• atha: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even amid abundance, the righteous remain udāsīna (detached), seeing wealth and embodied identity as trivial (tṛṇavat).

Vedantic Theme: Asanga (non-attachment) and dehābhimāna-tyāga; preparation for liberation through equanimity.

Application: Practice non-possessiveness; treat gains as transient; cultivate humility and steady dharmic conduct regardless of income.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.36 (vairagya supporting dana and freedom from lobha)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tārkṣya)

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment (udāsīnatā/vairāgya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents detachment as a hallmark of the dhārmika: even great wealth does not bind him, because he treats possessions—and even the egoic sense of self—as insignificant.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By minimizing attachment to wealth and ‘I’-identity, one reduces bondage created by desire and possessiveness—key causes of fear and suffering described in the post-death journey and judgment narratives.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Earn and use wealth ethically, but practice non-possessiveness: simplify needs, give in charity, and regularly reflect that money and status are temporary and should not define your identity.