Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

अहिंसा सूनृता वाणी सत्यशौचे क्षमा दया / वर्णिनां लिङ्गिनां चैव सामान्यो धर्म उच्यते

Transliteration

ahiṃsā sūnṛtā vāṇī satyaśauce kṣamā dayā / varṇināṃ liṅgināṃ caiva sāmānyo dharma ucyate

Translation

Non-violence, gentle and truthful speech, truthfulness and purity, forgiveness, and compassion—these are declared to be the universal dharma common to all, whether householders of the social orders or renunciants bearing the outward marks of ascetic life.

Word by Word

• अहिंसा: non-violence
• अहिंसा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिंसा (प्रातिपदिक; a- + हिंसा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सूनृता: truthful/pleasant speech
• सूनृता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूनृता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वाणी: speech
• वाणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सत्यशौचे: truth and purity
• सत्यशौचे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य + शौच (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (सत्यं च शौचं च)

• क्षमा: forbearance
• क्षमा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वर्णिनाम्: of the varṇa-holders (people of the classes)
• वर्णिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• लिङ्गिनाम्: of the āśrama/marks-bearers (orders/ascetics)
• लिङ्गिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• सामान्यः: common (to all)
• सामान्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (धर्मस्य)

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sāmānya-dharma: non-violence, truthful-gentle speech, purity, forgiveness, compassion as universal duties for all.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of mind) as the ground for higher knowledge and devotion.

Application: Practice ahimsa in thought/speech/action; speak truth kindly; maintain cleanliness; cultivate forgiveness and compassion in daily interactions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.23-26 (gṛhastha-dharma daily regimen)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of sāmānya-dharma (universal duties) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse defines the core virtues—non-violence, truthful-gentle speech, purity, forgiveness, and compassion—as duties binding on everyone, forming the moral foundation for all other religious practice.

How does this verse relate to the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s broader teaching on karma and consequences?

By establishing universal ethical restraints, the text implies that one’s post-death experience and karmic results depend first on basic conduct—harm, deceit, and impurity undermine merit regardless of one’s social or ascetic status.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice non-harming in action and speech, speak truth kindly, keep inner/outer cleanliness, respond with forgiveness, and cultivate compassion—these are baseline disciplines for any spiritual path.