Shloka 5

Yājñavalkya on the Sources of Dharma and the Saṁskāras of the Twice-Born

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठदक्षसंवर्तशातातपपराशराः / आपस्तम्बोशनोव्यासाः कात्यायनबृहस्पती

Transliteration

vasiṣṭhadakṣasaṃvartaśātātapaparāśarāḥ / āpastambośanovyāsāḥ kātyāyanabṛhaspatī

Translation

Vasiṣṭha, Dakṣa, Saṃvarta, Śātātapa und Parāśara; Āpastamba, Uśanā (Śukra), Vyāsa, Kātyāyana und Bṛhaspati—diese ehrwürdigen ṛṣis und Lehrer werden als Autoritäten angeführt.

Word by Word

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दक्षः: Dakṣa
• दक्षः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संवर्तः: Saṃvarta
• संवर्तः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शातातपः: Śātātapa
• शातातपः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शातातप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पराशराः: Parāśara(s)
• पराशराः: Karta (Member(s) of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराशर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural) (पाठान्तर-संभव; सूची-समुच्चय)

• आपस्तम्बः: Āpastamba
• आपस्तम्बः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपस्तम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उशनाः: Uśanā (Śukra)
• उशनाः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्यासाः: Vyāsa(s)
• व्यासाः: Karta (Member(s) of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural) (सूची-समुच्चय)

• कात्यायनः: Kātyāyana
• कात्यायनः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कात्यायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• बृहस्पतिः: Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is preserved and articulated through a recognized succession of smṛti-kāras and sūtra-kāras (Vasiṣṭha, Dakṣa, Saṃvarta, Śātātapa, Parāśara, Āpastamba, Uśanā, Vyāsa, Kātyāyana, Bṛhaspati).

Vedantic Theme: Guru-śiṣya-paramparā as a vehicle for śāstra; plurality of smṛti voices harmonized under śruti-consistency.

Application: When studying or applying dharma, consult multiple authoritative traditions and reconcile them through context (deśa-kāla) and higher principles.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Dharma discussions that cite smṛti authorities for ācāra, dāna, prāyaścitta

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Dakṣa
• Saṃvarta
• Śātātapa
• Parāśara
• Āpastamba
• Uśanā (Śukra)
• Vyāsa
• Kātyāyana
• Bṛhaspati

FAQs

What is the importance of citing sages like Vasiṣṭha and Āpastamba in the Garuda Purana?

This verse signals that the teaching is grounded in recognized Dharmaśāstra/Smṛti lineages, strengthening the authority of the rules being taught (often around dharma and rites).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by invoking Dharma authorities, it frames the surrounding instructions as reliable guidance for right conduct and rites that support the deceased and the living, which in Garuḍa Purāṇa is tied to post-death welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow funeral/śrāddha practices and ethical duties with fidelity to established tradition and competent guidance, rather than inventing rituals without scriptural grounding.