Shloka 24

Devanagari script

यस्मिन्कस्मिन्कृते कार्ये कर्तारमनुवर्तते / सर्वथा वर्तमानो ऽपि धैर्यबुद्धिन्तु कारयेत्

Transliteration

yasminkasminkṛte kārye kartāramanuvartate / sarvathā vartamāno 'pi dhairyabuddhintu kārayet

Translation

In whatever task is undertaken, one should follow the guidance of the doer and leader. Even while fully engaged in every way, one should see that the work is carried out with a mind endowed with steadiness and courage.

Word by Word

• यस्मिन्: in which
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-निर्देशार्थे (relative pronoun)

• कस्मिन्: in some (one)
• कस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-निर्देश (indefinite)

• कृते: done; undertaken
• कृते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय) → कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्गे (कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त/PPP); ‘कृते’ = ‘कृते (कार्ये)’

• कार्ये: in a task
• कार्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• कर्तारम्: the doer; agent
• कर्तारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ + तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अनुवर्तते: follows; conforms to
• अनुवर्तते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• सर्वथा: in every way; always
• सर्वथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वर्तमानः: being present; existing
• वर्तमानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्) → वर्तमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वर्तमानकालिक-कर्तरि-शतृ (present active participle)

• अपि: even; although
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• धैर्यबुद्धिम्: a steadfast mind; courage-intellect
• धैर्यबुद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धैर्यस्य बुद्धिः)

• तु: but; however
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानार्थक/विरोधार्थक निपात (contrastive particle)

• कारयेत्: should cause to do; should cultivate/bring about
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + णिच् (causative) → कारय (धातु-आदेश)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिजन्त (causative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Effective action requires following competent guidance while maintaining dhairya (steadiness) and buddhi (clear discernment).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga attitude: steadiness of mind and right understanding while acting in the world.

Application: In any project, align with the responsible leader’s plan, stay fully engaged, and cultivate calm courage to complete the work without agitation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.25-28 (practical restraints and health/dharma aphorisms in the same didactic cluster)

FAQs

What is the importance of dhairya (steadiness) in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that successful and righteous action requires dhairya-buddhi—steadfast, courageous discernment—so that duties are performed without wavering or panic.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader ethic: disciplined, dharmic conduct in life shapes karmic outcomes, which in turn influences one’s post-death journey described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When working under a responsible guide/lead, cooperate and stay aligned with the task—while maintaining calm resolve and clear judgment, especially under pressure.