Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

शूद्रस्य द्विजशुश्रूषा द्विजानामनुपूर्वशः / गुरौ वासो ऽग्निशुश्रूषा स्वाध्यायो ब्रह्मचारिणः

Transliteration

śūdrasya dvijaśuśrūṣā dvijānāmanupūrvaśaḥ / gurau vāso 'gniśuśrūṣā svādhyāyo brahmacāriṇaḥ

Translation

For a Śūdra, the prescribed duty is service to the twice-born (dvija), in proper order. For a brahmacārin (student), the duties are dwelling with the teacher, tending the sacred fire, and daily study of the Veda.

Word by Word

• शूद्रस्य: of the Śūdra
• शूद्रस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• द्विजशुश्रूषा: service to the twice-born
• द्विजशुश्रूषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजानां शुश्रूषा)

• द्विजानाम्: of the twice-born (Brahmin/Kṣatriya/Vaiśya)
• द्विजानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अनुपूर्वशः: in due order/according to sequence
• अनुपूर्वशः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुपूर्वशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• गुरौ: in/with the teacher
• गुरौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वासः: dwelling/residence
• वासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अग्निशुश्रूषा: attendance on the sacred fire
• अग्निशुश्रूषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अग्नेः शुश्रूषा)

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study (Vedic recitation)
• स्वाध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मचारिणः: of the brahmacārin (student)
• ब्रह्मचारिणः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prescribed duties: Śūdra service to twice-born; brahmacārin’s regimen of living with the teacher, tending fire, and Vedic study.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline (niyama) and humility as preparation for knowledge; dharma as the foundation for jñāna.

Application: Cultivate service-mindedness and structured learning; honor mentors; maintain daily study and ritual responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (brahmacarya and household duties sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Shudra
• Dvija
• Guru
• Brahmacarin
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of varṇa-āśrama dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents dharma as role-based discipline: social duties (service in proper order) and student duties (living with the guru, fire-tending, and scriptural study) that cultivate right conduct and spiritual preparedness.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on karma and destiny?

By defining prescribed duties, it implies that faithful performance supports merit (puṇya) and ethical formation, which the Garuda Purana links to one’s karmic outcomes and post-death trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt disciplined learning (regular study), respectful service to teachers/elders, and consistent daily spiritual practice—treating education and duty as character-building rather than merely transactional.