Shloka 32

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

उद्विग्नाः सन्ति च जनाः पिशाचसदृशाः प्रजाः / अन्यायभोजनेनाग्निदेवतातिथिपूजनम्

Transliteration

udvignāḥ santi ca janāḥ piśācasadṛśāḥ prajāḥ / anyāyabhojanenāgnidevatātithipūjanam

Translation

Die Menschen werden unruhig und verstört, und das Volk nimmt im Verhalten die Art von Piśācas an; und indem man isst, was durch Unrecht erlangt wurde, wird selbst die Verehrung, die Agni, den Göttern und dem Gast (atithi) dargebracht wird, befleckt und unziemlich.

Word by Word

• उद्विग्नाः: distressed, agitated
• उद्विग्नाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्विग्न (कृदन्त; √द्विज्/√द्विज्? 'उद्+विज्' धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past passive participle)

• सन्ति: are
• सन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

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

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पिशाचसदृशाः: like demons/ghouls
• पिशाचसदृशाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिशाच + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिशाचस्य सदृशाः)

• प्रजाः: subjects, populace
• प्रजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• अन्यायभोजनेन: by unrighteous eating/food
• अन्यायभोजनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्याय + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अन्यायस्य भोजनम्)

• अग्निदेवतातिथिपूजनम्: worship of fire-deities and guests
• अग्निदेवतातिथिपूजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + देवता + अतिथि + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (अग्निदेवताः च अतिथयः च—तेषां पूजनम्)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma-ārjita (unjustly obtained) food/wealth vitiates yajña, deva-pūjā, and atithi-satkāra; purity of means is integral to purity of rite.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-śuddhi as a prerequisite for antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi; outer ritual without inner/ethical purity becomes fruitless.

Application: Earn and offer only through just means; treat guest-service and daily offerings as ethical disciplines, not mere formalities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Kali-yuga doṣa descriptions around 1.223; emphasis on śraddhā/ācāra purity elsewhere in Pretakalpa and dharma sections

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Devas
• Atithi
• Pishachas

FAQs

What is the importance of righteous food (nyaya-bhojana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that food obtained through injustice disturbs the mind and degrades conduct, and it also contaminates acts of worship—so purity of livelihood and diet is essential for dharmic ritual merit.

How does this verse relate to karma and the effectiveness of worship?

It implies that karma begins with acquisition and consumption: when one eats ill-gotten food, the intention and substance behind offerings to Agni, the Devas, and guests become impure, reducing the spiritual efficacy of the ritual.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Earn and consume ethically, avoid benefiting from injustice, and treat hospitality and worship as extensions of moral living—so that puja, charity, and guest-honoring are supported by clean means.