Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

कुसीदकृषिवाणिज्यं प्रकुर्वीत स्वयं परम् (कृतम्) / आपत्काले स्वयं कुर्वन्नैनसा युज्यते द्विजः

Transliteration

kusīdakṛṣivāṇijyaṃ prakurvīta svayaṃ param (kṛtam) / āpatkāle svayaṃ kurvannainasā yujyate dvijaḥ

Translation

A twice-born man (dvija) should not personally take up usury, agriculture, or trade as his principal occupation. Yet in a time of distress, if he himself does so, he becomes bound up with sin.

Word by Word

• कुसीदकृषिवाणिज्यम्: usury, agriculture, and trade
• कुसीदकृषिवाणिज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसीद + कृषि + वाणिज्य (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (collective dvandva; neuter acc sg)

• प्रकुर्वीत: should undertake
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (optative, 3rd person singular)

• स्वयम्: personally
• स्वयम्: Kartri-viseshana (Agent-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निजत्वबोधक-अव्यय (adverb: 'oneself')

• परम्: only/at most
• परम्: Prayojana/Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative used adverbially: 'only/at most/otherwise')

• आपत्काले: in time of distress
• आपत्काले: Adhikarana (Time-locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपत्-काल (प्रातिपदिक; आपत् + काल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (locative singular)

• स्वयम्: personally
• स्वयम्: Kartri-viseshana (Agent-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निजत्वबोधक-अव्यय (adverb)

• कुर्वन्: doing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) → कुर्वत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तरि (present active participle; masc nom sg)

• एनसा: with sin / by sin
• एनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• युज्यते: is tainted/connected
• युज्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम् (present, 3rd person singular, ātmanepada; passive-like sense 'is joined/tainted')

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dvija should not adopt usury, agriculture, or trade as primary work; in emergency he may do so, yet it carries moral taint (ainas).

Vedantic Theme: Āpaddharma: contextual ethics; karma accrues even under necessity—hence vigilance and repentance/rectification.

Application: Avoid livelihood choices that conflict with one’s vowed role; if compelled by crisis, minimize harm, keep conduct clean, and return to proper duty when possible.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.88 (brāhmaṇa livelihood); Garuda Purana 1.213.87-90 (wealth sources and varṇa occupations)

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

What is the importance of āpatkāla (emergency dharma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that exceptional situations (āpatkāla) may force one to take up normally discouraged livelihoods, yet the text still warns of moral and karmic risk, urging caution and restraint.

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

Yes. By stating that engaging in certain occupations can connect a dvija with enas (sin), it frames livelihood choices as karmically consequential—an important theme underlying later discussions of sin and its results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose ethical means of income, avoid exploitative profit (especially harmful lending), and if hardship forces compromises, minimize harm, act transparently, and return to a more dharmic livelihood when possible.