Shloka 7

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

कृषिं कुर्वन्द्विजः श्रान्तं बलीवर्दं न वाहयेत् / दिनार्धं स्नानयोगादिकारी विप्रांश्च भोजयेत्

Transliteration

kṛṣiṃ kurvandvijaḥ śrāntaṃ balīvardaṃ na vāhayet / dinārdhaṃ snānayogādikārī viprāṃśca bhojayet

Translation

A twice-born man engaged in farming should not force an exhausted bull to labor. For half the day he should attend to purifying bath, worship, and related duties, and he should also feed the brāhmaṇas.

Word by Word

• कृषिम्: agriculture, farming
• कृषिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कुर्वन्: doing, performing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कुर्वन्’ = doing

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रान्तम्: tired, exhausted
• श्रान्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (बलीवर्दम्)

• बलीवर्दम्: bull/ox (draught animal)
• बलीवर्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलीवर्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• वाहयेत्: should make carry/should yoke (to carry)
• वाहयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• दिनार्धम्: half a day
• दिनार्धम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दिनस्य अर्धम्)

• स्नानयोगादिकारी: one engaged in bathing, yoga, etc.
• स्नानयोगादिकारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + योग + आदि + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (स्नान-योग-आदि-कार्येषु कारिन् = one engaged in bathing, yoga, etc.)

• विप्रान्: Brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: cause to eat)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, dharma-ācāra context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahiṃsā toward working animals and daily purification/worship with feeding of brāhmaṇas as dharmic support of ṛta.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: ordinary work becomes purifying when governed by dharma and offered through worship and service.

Application: Do not overwork dependents (animals/workers); keep a fixed daily routine of cleanliness and worship; practice regular charity/feeding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: agrarian household/field setting (implicit)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (gṛhastha/ācāra and purity rules context)

FAQs

What is the importance of humane treatment of animals in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats compassion as dharma: even while farming, one should not overwork an exhausted bull, indicating that ethical livelihood includes non-cruelty and restraint.

How does this verse relate to spiritual merit (puṇya) in the Garuda Purana?

It links daily purity and worship (snāna-yoga) with acts of giving—feeding brāhmaṇas—presenting household life as a path to merit through disciplined routine and charity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid exploiting labor (animal or human), build a daily practice of cleanliness/prayer/discipline, and regularly share food or support those devoted to learning and service.