Shloka 22

Devanagari script

यावत्स्वस्थं शरीरं हि तावद्धर्मं समाचरेत् / अस्वस्थः प्रेरितश्चान्यैर्नाकिञ्चित्कर्तुमर्हति

Transliteration

yāvatsvasthaṃ śarīraṃ hi tāvaddharmaṃ samācaret / asvasthaḥ preritaścānyairnākiñcitkartumarhati

Translation

Solange der Körper gesund ist, soll man eifrig Dharma üben; wird man krank und ist auf Antrieb und Hilfe anderer angewiesen, vermag man wahrhaft nichts mehr zu vollbringen.

Word by Word

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/परिमाणवाचक)
• Form: परिमाण/कालवाचक-अव्यय (correlative: 'as long as')

• स्वस्थम्: healthy
• स्वस्थम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/बलार्थ

• तावत्: so long (then)
• तावत्: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/कालवाचक-अव्यय (correlative: 'so long/then')

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteous duty
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should practice, should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अस्वस्थः: unwell
• अस्वस्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्वस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (जन्तोः/पुरुषस्य)

• प्रेरितः: impelled, urged
• प्रेरितः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + ईर्/इर् (धातु) → प्रेरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• अन्यैः: by others
• अन्यैः: Kartr-karana (Agent-instrument/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रमाण (indefinite: 'anything')

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तुम् (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक-अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• अर्हति: is able/fit, deserves
• अर्हति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma must be practiced while one has bodily capacity; illness and dependence reduce agency and the ability to perform duties.

Vedantic Theme: Human birth as rare opportunity; impermanence of the body; pramada (negligence) as obstacle to spiritual progress.

Application: Do not postpone ethical duties, charity, worship, and preparation for death; build daily disciplines while healthy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated exhortations to perform dharma, dana, and shraddha preparations before decline (general thematic parallel).

Characters & Entities

• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of practicing dharma while healthy in Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses urgency: dharma should be practiced while one has bodily strength and independence, because illness makes one dependent and unable to act effectively.

How does this verse connect to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, it frames life as the preparation period: one’s capacity to perform dharmic acts (merit-making duties, right conduct, and timely rites) is greatest before debilitating sickness, which can limit one’s ability to prepare for what follows death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Don’t postpone ethical duties and spiritual discipline—build habits of dharma, charity, and right living while you are healthy, rather than waiting for a crisis when action becomes difficult.