Shloka 3

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

गृहस्थानां स्मृतो धर्म उत्तमानां विचक्षणैः / इष्टापूर्ते स्वशक्त्या हि कुर्वतां नास्ति पातकम्

Transliteration

gṛhasthānāṃ smṛto dharma uttamānāṃ vicakṣaṇaiḥ / iṣṭāpūrte svaśaktyā hi kurvatāṃ nāsti pātakam

Translation

Die Weisen und Einsichtigen erklären: Dies ist die höchste Dharma für Hausväter. Wer nach eigener Kraft iṣṭa (Opferverehrung) und pūrta (gemeinnützige verdienstvolle Werke) vollbringt, lädt keine Sünde auf sich.

Word by Word

• गृहस्थानाम्: of householders
• गृहस्थानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive plural

• स्मृतः: is declared/remembered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Past passive participle used predicatively

• धर्मः: dharma, duty
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• उत्तमानाम्: of the best
• उत्तमानाम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन — Genitive plural (qualifying गृहस्थानाम्)

• विचक्षणैः: by the wise
• विचक्षणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• इष्टापूर्ते: in (acts of) sacrifice and public charity
• इष्टापूर्ते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्ट + आपूर्त (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — Locative singular; द्वन्द्वसमास (इष्टं च आपूर्तं च)

• स्वशक्त्या: according to one's ability
• स्वशक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन — Instrumental singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य शक्तिः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• कुर्वताम्: of those who perform
• कुर्वताम्: Karta (Agent implied/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन — Genitive plural participle (of those doing)

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

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — Present indicative

• पातकम्: sin, fault
• पातकम्: Karma (Predicate complement/कर्म-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular (predicate noun)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gṛhastha-dharma is fulfilled through iṣṭa and pūrta performed according to one’s śakti (capacity), preventing pāpa.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: right action without overreach; dharma as purifier of antaḥkaraṇa when aligned with one’s adhikāra.

Application: Maintain regular worship/offerings and support public welfare (water, food, shelter, learning) within means; avoid debt-driven or pride-driven ‘charity’ beyond capacity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: recurring praise of dāna, iṣṭa-pūrta, and gṛhastha duties as supports on the yamamārga

Characters & Entities

• Grihasthas
• Iṣṭa
• Pūrta

FAQs

What is the importance of iṣṭa and pūrta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents iṣṭa (Vedic worship/sacrifice) and pūrta (acts like charity and public benefit) as the core dharma of householders; done within one’s means, they protect one from accruing pātaka (sin).

Does this verse relate to afterlife outcomes described in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, yes: the Garuda Purana links ethical action and meritorious deeds to favorable post-death results; here it states that proper householders’ duties, performed according to capacity, do not generate sin that would lead to suffering after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular worship or spiritual discipline (iṣṭa) and support community welfare through honest giving and service (pūrta), choosing commitments that match your resources rather than causing harm through overreach.