Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

श्रुत्युक्तः परमो धर्मः स्मृतिशास्त्रगतो ऽपरः / सिष्टाचारेण संप्राप्तस्त्रयो धर्माः सनातनाः

Transliteration

śrutyuktaḥ paramo dharmaḥ smṛtiśāstragato 'paraḥ / siṣṭācāreṇa saṃprāptastrayo dharmāḥ sanātanāḥ

Translation

The highest Dharma is that taught in the Śruti (the Veda); another is that found in the Smṛti-śāstras; and the third is that established through the conduct of the virtuous and learned. These three are the eternal forms of Dharma.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्युक्तः: taught in Śruti
• श्रुत्युक्तः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (वच्-धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘श्रुत्या उक्तः’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष; विशेषणम् (धर्मः)

• परमः: supreme
• परमः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धर्मः)

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्मृतिशास्त्रगतः: found in the Smṛti-śāstra
• स्मृतिशास्त्रगतः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (गम्-धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्मृतिशास्त्रे गतः’ इति सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष; विशेषणम् (अपरः)

• अपरः: another (dharma)
• अपरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (धर्मः) इति अनुवर्तते

• सिष्टाचारेण: by the conduct of the learned
• सिष्टाचारेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √शास् क्त ‘trained/learned’) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘सिष्टानाम् आचारः’

• संप्राप्तः: attained/established
• संप्राप्तः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle) प्रयोगः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (धर्मः) इति अनुवर्तते; ‘obtained/established’

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम् (धर्माः)

• धर्माः: dharmas
• धर्माः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सनातनाः: eternal
• सनातनाः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (धर्माः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Three eternal dharmas: Śruti-based, Smṛti-śāstra-based, and that established by the conduct of the virtuous (śiṣṭācāra).

Vedantic Theme: Harmony of revelation, tradition, and realized ethical culture; dharma as a living continuum anchored in śāstra.

Application: Resolve moral/ritual questions by: (1) checking Vedic injunctions, (2) consulting Smṛti and dharma-śāstra, (3) observing the practice of genuinely learned and ethical exemplars.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.2-3 (priority and capacity); Garuda Purana 1.213.5 (marks of śiṣṭācāra)

Characters & Entities

• Veda (Śruti)
• Smṛti
• Siṣṭas (the virtuous/learned)

FAQs

What are the main sources of Dharma according to this Garuda Purana verse?

It presents three eternal authorities for Dharma: Śruti (Veda) as supreme, Smṛti-śāstra as another source, and siṣṭācāra—the established conduct of the virtuous and learned.

How does this verse help when there is confusion about religious duty?

It prioritizes Śruti first, then Smṛti, and finally the tested practice of exemplary people (siṣṭas), giving a practical hierarchy for resolving doubts about right conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use core Vedic principles, verify guidance through reputable dharma texts, and model behavior on ethical, disciplined exemplars—so decisions reflect both scriptural grounding and lived integrity.