Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

अग्निहोत्रोपचरणं जीवनं च स्वकर्मभिः / धर्मदारेषु कल्पेत पर्ववर्जं रतिक्रियाः

Transliteration

agnihotropacaraṇaṃ jīvanaṃ ca svakarmabhiḥ / dharmadāreṣu kalpeta parvavarjaṃ ratikriyāḥ

Translation

Man soll das Agnihotra aufrechterhalten und das Leben durch die eigene rechte Arbeit tragen. Geschlechtliche Vereinigung ist nur mit der rechtmäßigen Ehefrau zu vollziehen und an heiligen Observanztagen (parva) zu meiden.

Word by Word

• अग्निहोत्रोपचरणम्: attendance/service to the Agnihotra rite
• अग्निहोत्रोपचरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निहोत्र + उपचरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अग्निहोत्रस्य उपचरणम्)

• जीवनम्: livelihood
• जीवनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• स्वकर्मभिः: by one’s own duties/works
• स्वकर्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (स्वानि कर्माणि)

• धर्मदारेषु: with lawful wives
• धर्मदारेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य दाराः)

• कल्पेत: should be undertaken/should be done
• कल्पेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पर्ववर्जम्: excluding festival/holy days
• पर्ववर्जम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्व + वर्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पर्वाणि वर्जयित्वा) अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः

• रतिक्रियाः: sexual acts
• रतिक्रियाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रतेः क्रियाः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Maintain agnihotra; live by one’s rightful work; sexual conduct confined to lawful spouse and avoided on parva (holy observance) days.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha and yajña-spirit purify the mind; kama regulated by dharma.

Application: Sustain daily spiritual practice; earn ethically; practice fidelity and mindful intimacy with respect for sacred times/commitments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: household/altar-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (gṛhastha duties)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of Agnihotra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places Agnihotra among core gṛhastha duties, presenting it as a sustaining religious discipline alongside earning one’s livelihood through rightful work.

What does this verse teach about marital conduct?

It restricts sexual union to dharma-sanctioned marriage and adds time-based restraint by advising avoidance on parva (sacred observance) days.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live by honest work, keep a daily sacred practice (as feasible), and treat intimacy as a dharmic responsibility—guided by fidelity, restraint, and respect for sacred times.