Shloka 25

Āśauca and Udaka-kriyā: Post-Cremation Conduct, Eligibility, and Purifiers

Devanagari script

पिण्याकमूलगन्धांश्च वैश्यवृत्तो न विक्रयेत् / धर्मार्थं विक्रयं नेयास्तिला धान्येन तत्समाः

Transliteration

piṇyākamūlagandhāṃśca vaiśyavṛtto na vikrayet / dharmārthaṃ vikrayaṃ neyāstilā dhānyena tatsamāḥ

Translation

Wer nach dem Erwerb eines Vaiśya lebt, soll weder Ölkuchen (Pressrückstände), noch Wurzeln oder Duftstoffe verkaufen. Selbst um der Dharma willen soll er solchen Handel nicht treiben; Sesamsamen sind dem Getreide gleichzustellen.

Word by Word

• पिण्याक: oil-cake/residue
• पिण्याक: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्याक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• मूल: root (of a plant)
• मूल: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• गन्धान्: fragrances/scented substances
• गन्धान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (पिण्याक+मूल+गन्ध) समाहार/इतरेतर-भावेन सूची; समस्तपदम्

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

• वैश्यवृत्तः: one following a vaiśya livelihood
• वैश्यवृत्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वैश्यस्य वृत्तिः/वृत्तः) ‘one engaged in vaiśya-occupation’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negator/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation)

• विक्रयेत्: should sell
• विक्रयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + क्री (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• धर्म: dharma/righteousness
• धर्म: Hetu (Purpose/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (समासे); समासपूर्वपद

• अर्थम्: for the sake (of)
• अर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य अर्थम्) = ‘for the sake of dharma’

• विक्रयम्: sale/selling
• विक्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• नेयाः: should be taken/allowed (to be done)
• नेयाः: Kriya (Injunctive predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु) → नेय (कृदन्त, भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: कर्तव्यतार्थक-भाव्यकृदन्त (gerundive), बहुवचन, प्रथमा (1); पुंलिङ्ग (तिला-विशेष्ये)

• तिलाः: sesame seeds
• तिलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• धान्येन: with grain
• धान्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• समाः: equivalent/similar
• समाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तत्सम = तेन सम)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain commodities are improper for sale for a Vaiśya by vocation; dharma constrains profit-seeking.

Vedantic Theme: Regulation of rajas (commerce) by śāstra to preserve sattva and social harmony.

Application: Avoid trades considered ritually/ethically improper in one’s tradition; do not justify questionable commerce by claiming ‘for dharma’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106.26-27 (further vikraya-niṣedha and livelihood guidance)

FAQs

What is the importance of right livelihood in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dharma as including ethical limits on commerce—certain items should not be traded even when one claims a religious purpose.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes that one’s livelihood choices shape karmic merit; dharma is not only ritual but also conduct that supports a favorable post-death trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid justifying unethical business practices as “for a good cause”; keep income sources aligned with dharma, honesty, and social responsibility.