Shloka 100

Devanagari script

विद्या शिल्पं भूतिः सेवा गोरक्षा विपणिः कृषिः / वृत्तिर्भैक्ष्यं कुसीदं च दश जीवनहेतवः

Transliteration

vidyā śilpaṃ bhūtiḥ sevā gorakṣā vipaṇiḥ kṛṣiḥ / vṛttirbhaikṣyaṃ kusīdaṃ ca daśa jīvanahetavaḥ

Translation

Learning, craftsmanship, prosperity, service, protection of cattle, trade, agriculture, livelihood through one’s calling, mendicancy, and moneylending—these are the ten means by which people sustain life.

Word by Word

• विद्या: knowledge; learning
• विद्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शिल्पम्: craft; skill
• शिल्पम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भूतिः: prosperity; welfare
• भूतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सेवा: service
• सेवा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गोरक्षा: cow-protection; tending cattle
• गोरक्षा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (cows’ protection)

• विपणिः: trade; commerce
• विपणिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कृषिः: agriculture
• कृषिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वृत्तिः: livelihood; occupation
• वृत्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भैक्ष्यम्: begging; alms
• भैक्ष्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कुसीदम्: usury; money-lending
• कुसीदम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसीद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषणम्

• जीवनहेतवः: causes/means of livelihood
• जीवनहेतवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवन (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (means/causes of living)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ten life-supporting means (jīvana-hetavaḥ) legitimize varied livelihoods within a dharmic framework.

Vedantic Theme: Svadharma and guna-karma: diverse functions in society can be sattvic when performed rightly.

Application: Recognize dignity of multiple livelihoods; choose a means suited to capacity and ethics; avoid exploitative forms (e.g., usury) unless regulated by dharma and compassion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (livelihood/varna duties cluster in this adhyaya; follow-up verse assigns varna-appropriate earning)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of livelihood (vṛtti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies ten recognized supports of life, implying that earning and sustaining oneself is a dharmic concern and should be understood as part of righteous conduct.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on karma?

By listing acceptable means of sustenance, it frames daily earning as karma that can be aligned with dharma; livelihood choices shape one’s merit and ethical standing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose a livelihood that sustains life without harming others, value skill and honest work, and treat wealth and commerce as responsibilities governed by ethics.