Shloka 27

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

प्रतिग्रहो ऽधिको विप्रे याजनाध्यापने तथा / प्रधानं क्षत्त्रिये कर्म प्रजानां परिपालनम्

Transliteration

pratigraho 'dhiko vipre yājanādhyāpane tathā / pradhānaṃ kṣattriye karma prajānāṃ paripālanam

Translation

Für den Brāhmaṇa gilt das Annehmen von Gaben als vornehmste Pflicht, ebenso das Leiten der Opfer und das Unterrichten. Für den Kṣatriya ist die höchste Aufgabe der Schutz und die Regierung des Volkes.

Word by Word

• प्रतिग्रहः: acceptance (of gifts)
• प्रतिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति+ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• अधिकः: superior/greater
• अधिकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; प्रतिग्रहः इति विशेषणम्

• विप्रे: for/in the Brahmin
• विप्रे: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्

• याजनाध्यापने: in officiating sacrifices and teaching
• याजनाध्यापने: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याजन+अध्यापन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, द्विवचनम्; ‘याजन’ च ‘अध्यापन’ च (dvandva)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• प्रधानम्: principal
• प्रधानम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; कर्म इति विशेषणम्

• क्षत्त्रिये: for/in the Kshatriya
• क्षत्त्रिये: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्

• कर्म: duty/action
• कर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• प्रजानाम्: of the subjects/people
• प्रजानाम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्

• परिपालनम्: protection/governance
• परिपालनम्: Karma (Apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि+पालन (प्रातिपदिक; पाल् धातु-नम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; कर्म इत्यस्य विधेय/समासार्थः

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa-dharma: brāhmaṇa duties include accepting appropriate gifts, officiating, and teaching; kṣatriya’s foremost duty is protection and governance of subjects.

Vedantic Theme: Svadharma as a stabilizer of society and a purifier of the individual; right action aligned with one’s role reduces conflict and supports sattva.

Application: Teachers/priests maintain integrity in receiving support and in transmitting knowledge; leaders prioritize citizen safety, justice, and welfare as primary work.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: institutional spaces

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96.26 (duties); Garuda Purana 1.96.28 (vaiśya/śūdra duties); Garuda Purana 1.96.29 (universal virtues)

FAQs

What is the importance of varna-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames social order as dharma: Brāhmaṇas uphold sacred learning and ritual functions, while Kṣatriyas uphold public protection—each role sustaining religious and civic stability.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it links one’s prescribed duties (karma aligned with dharma) to moral merit; fulfilling one’s rightful obligations is presented as a foundation for auspicious outcomes after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live by role-based responsibility: teachers/priestly roles should prioritize learning and guidance with integrity, and leaders/administrators should prioritize protection, justice, and welfare of the public.