Shloka 26

Nārāyaṇa-Smaraṇa as the Supreme Dharma, Expiation, and Yogic Purifier

Devanagari script

असंत्यज्य च गार्हस्थयं स तप्त्वा च महत्तपः / छिनत्ति पौरुषीं मायां केशवार्पितमानसः

Transliteration

asaṃtyajya ca gārhasthayaṃ sa taptvā ca mahattapaḥ / chinatti pauruṣīṃ māyāṃ keśavārpitamānasaḥ

Translation

Ohne das Hausväterleben aufzugeben und nachdem er große Askese geübt hat, durchschneidet der, dessen Geist Keśava dargebracht ist, die aus bloßer menschlicher Selbstbehauptung geborene Māyā.

Word by Word

• असंत्यज्य: without abandoning
• असंत्यज्य: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ+सम्+त्यज् (धातु) → असंत्यज्य (ल्यप्-कृदन्त/अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम् (absolutive/gerund); निषेधपूर्वकं—‘न त्यक्त्वा’ (without abandoning)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• गार्हस्थ्यम्: householder life
• गार्हस्थ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

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

• तप्त्वा: having performed (austerity)
• तप्त्वा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तप् (धातु) → तप्त्वा (क्त्वा-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम् (absolutive/gerund)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; ‘तपः’ इति विशेषणम्

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• छिनत्ति: cuts off/destroys
• छिनत्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• पौरुषीम्: human/pertaining to man
• पौरुषीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौरुषी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; ‘मायाम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• मायाम्: illusion/delusion
• मायाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• केशव: of Keśava
• केशव: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग)

• अर्पित: offered/dedicated
• अर्पित: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्प् (धातु) → अर्पित (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग)

• मानसः: one whose mind is dedicated to Keśava
• मानसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (केशवे अर्पितं मानसं यस्य); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत् ‘सः’ इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One need not abandon gṛhastha-dharma; with great tapas and mind surrendered to Keśava, one cuts through ‘pौरुषी माया’—egoic, human self-assertion and its delusive constructions.

Vedantic Theme: Ahaṅkāra-nivṛtti and māyā-bheda through īśvara-arpita-citta; integration of pravṛtti (householder duties) with nivṛtti (inner renunciation).

Application: Maintain household responsibilities while adopting disciplined sādhana (regulated japa, vrata, sat-saṅga, self-restraint); practice ‘īśvara-arpana’ of thoughts and actions to reduce ego-driven reactivity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.230.27 (ethical transformation when Govinda is in the heart); Garuda Purana 1.230.28 (Nārāyaṇa-smaraṇa in rites/prāyaścitta)

Characters & Entities

• Keshava (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of grihastha dharma in Garuda Purana?

This verse affirms that one can pursue liberation without abandoning household life, if one practices sincere tapas and dedicates the mind to Keśava.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It points to inner purification: by cutting māyā (delusion/egoic confusion) through devotion and discipline, the soul becomes fit for higher realization rather than remaining bound by human self-assertion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live responsibly as a householder, keep regular spiritual discipline (japa, vrata, charity, self-restraint), and consciously dedicate actions and attention to Viṣṇu to reduce ego and भ्रम (delusion).