Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

सर्वारम्भपरित्यागो भिक्षान्नं वृक्षमूलता / निष्परिग्रहताद्रोहः समता सर्वजन्तुषु

Transliteration

sarvārambhaparityāgo bhikṣānnaṃ vṛkṣamūlatā / niṣparigrahatādrohaḥ samatā sarvajantuṣu

Translation

Renouncing all new undertakings, living on alms, dwelling at the foot of a tree, possessing nothing, being free from malice, and holding equal-mindedness toward all beings—these are the marks of disciplined detachment.

Word by Word

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; (समासाङ्ग)

• आरम्भ: undertaking; enterprise
• आरम्भ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• परित्यागः: renunciation; abandonment
• परित्यागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परित्याग (प्रातिपदिक; परि + √त्यज् (धातु) + घञ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्व-आरम्भ-परित्यागः = abandonment of all undertakings)

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

• अन्नम्: alms-food
• अन्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भिक्षा-अन्नम् = food obtained by alms)

• वृक्ष: tree
• वृक्ष: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• मूलता: dwelling at the foot of a tree
• मूलता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल + ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तान्त-भाववाचक; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वृक्ष-मूलता = staying at the root of a tree)

• निः: without; free from
• निः: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निः (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग (prefix)

• परिग्रहता: possessiveness; acquisition
• परिग्रहता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिग्रह + ता (प्रातिपदिक; परि + √ग्रह् (धातु) + घञ् + ता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तान्त-भाववाचक (possessiveness/acceptance)

• अद्रोहः: non-hatred; non-malice
• अद्रोहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रोह (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + द्रोह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (non-hostility)

• समता: equanimity; equality
• समता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समता (प्रातिपदिक; सम + ता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भाववाचक

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; (समासाङ्ग)

• जन्तुषु: among beings
• जन्तुषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aparigraha, cessation of new worldly enterprises, alms-living, non-malice, and equal vision toward all beings.

Vedantic Theme: Samatva and ahimsa as expressions of seeing the Self in all (sarva-bhuta-atma-bhava) and weakening egoic doership.

Application: Reduce acquisition and commitments; practice generosity and non-reactivity; cultivate equal respect across social boundaries and species.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest/wayside hermitage

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.20-21 (inner purity, speech restraint, meditation; parivrājaka-dharma)

Characters & Entities

• All beings (sarva-jantu)

FAQs

What is the importance of renunciation (vairāgya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames renunciation as practical conduct—giving up new worldly pursuits, living simply on alms, owning nothing, and cultivating equanimity—showing that vairāgya is measured by daily discipline, not mere belief.

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

By emphasizing non-attachment, non-harm, and even-mindedness toward all beings, it points to reducing karmic entanglements and purifying intention—core prerequisites for moving toward moksha in the Purana’s ethical framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Limit unnecessary new commitments driven by desire, simplify possessions, practice non-hostility in speech and action, and train equanimity—treating all beings with fairness and compassion.