Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

भरणं पोष्य वर्गस्य तस्माद्यत्नेन कारयेत् / स जीवति वरश्चैको बहुभिर्योपजीव्यति

Transliteration

bharaṇaṃ poṣya vargasya tasmādyatnena kārayet / sa jīvati varaścaiko bahubhiryopajīvyati

Translation

Darum soll man mit Eifer für den Unterhalt der von einem Abhängigen sorgen; denn wahrhaft lebt jener eine vortreffliche Mensch, durch den viele leben können.

Word by Word

• भरणम्: maintenance/support
• भरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पोष्य: of those to be supported
• पोष्य: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पोष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वर्गस्य) ‘to be supported’

• वर्गस्य: of the group
• वर्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययप्रयोगः (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• कारयेत्: should arrange/should cause (it) to be done
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative) ‘should cause to be done/should arrange’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वरः: excellent
• वरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (सः)

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

• एकः: one (person)
• एकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बहुभिः: by many (people)
• बहुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-यः (relative pronoun)

• उपजीव्यति: is supported/lives on (others)
• उपजीव्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + √जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One should strive to maintain dependents; the truly living/excellent person is the one by whom many live.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha (holding the world together) as a mark of sattva; selfhood refined through selfless responsibility.

Application: Assume accountable care for family, employees, students, and vulnerable persons; build sustainable support systems rather than sporadic charity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.79-80 (who are to be maintained; atithi as agni; svarga-sādhana)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of supporting dependents in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats sustaining dependents as a central duty (dharma), praising the person whose effort enables many to live as truly noble and spiritually meritorious.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana themes about karma and the afterlife?

By emphasizing responsibility and nourishment of others, it points to merit-producing actions that strengthen one’s dharmic record—an important theme in Garuda Purana discussions of consequences after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Fulfill obligations to family and dependents, ensure fair support for those relying on you, and treat livelihood as service—measuring success by how many are helped to live with dignity.