Shloka 101

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

प्रतिग्रहार्जिता विप्रे क्षत्रिये शस्त्रनिर्जिता / वैश्ये न्यायार्जिताः स्वार्थाः शूद्रे शुश्रूषयार्जिताः

Transliteration

pratigrahārjitā vipre kṣatriye śastranirjitā / vaiśye nyāyārjitāḥ svārthāḥ śūdre śuśrūṣayārjitāḥ

Translation

For a brāhmaṇa, wealth is properly obtained through receiving gifts (pratigraha); for a kṣatriya, through victory by arms; for a vaiśya, through gains earned by lawful and just means; and for a śūdra, through earnings acquired by service.

Word by Word

• प्रतिग्रहर्जिताः: earned through receiving gifts
• प्रतिग्रहर्जिताः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √अर्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) विशेषणम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (by/through acceptance of gifts)

• विप्रे: in the case of a Brahmin
• विप्रे: Adhikarana (Location/Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• क्षत्रिये: in the case of a Kshatriya
• क्षत्रिये: Adhikarana (Location/Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शस्त्रनिर्जिताः: won by weapons; gained through arms
• शस्त्रनिर्जिताः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √जि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (by means of weapons / by weapons-conquest)

• वैश्ये: in the case of a Vaishya
• वैश्ये: Adhikarana (Location/Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• न्यायार्जिताः: earned by lawful means
• न्यायार्जिताः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √अर्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थे (by justice/rightful means)

• स्वार्थाः: one’s own gains; profits
• स्वार्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (one’s own gains/interests)

• शूद्रे: in the case of a Shudra
• शूद्रे: Adhikarana (Location/Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शुश्रूषया: by service; by attendance
• शुश्रूषया: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अर्जिताः: earned; acquired
• अर्जिताः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √अर्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varna-appropriate acquisition of wealth: gifts for brahmins, arms/conquest for kshatriyas, lawful trade for vaishyas, service for shudras.

Vedantic Theme: Guna-karma alignment: action consistent with one’s role reduces inner conflict and supports sattva (though later Vedanta relativizes varna in light of Atman-knowledge).

Application: Earn through role-consistent, non-harmful means; interpret ‘conquest’ as legitimate protection/governance functions; ensure legality and fairness in commerce; dignify service work with just compensation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (preceding verse lists livelihoods; this verse assigns varna-specific acquisition norms)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Kṣatriya
• Vaiśya
• Śūdra

FAQs

What is the importance of rightful livelihood (dharma-ārjana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames earning as a dharmic act: wealth should be acquired through means appropriate to one’s social duty, because the method of earning shapes karma and spiritual consequences.

How does this verse relate to karma and consequences described in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing lawful and duty-aligned earning, it implies that unjust acquisition creates negative karma—an important theme in the Purana’s broader discussions of sin, merit, and post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose ethical, lawful income sources; avoid exploitation and fraud; and align work with service, integrity, and responsibility—so that wealth supports dharma rather than becoming a cause of karmic downfall.