Shloka 92

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

Devanagari script

बहवो वर्तनोपाया ऋषिभिः परिकीर्तिताः / सर्वेषामपि चैवैषां कुसीदमधिकं विदुः

Transliteration

bahavo vartanopāyā ṛṣibhiḥ parikīrtitāḥ / sarveṣāmapi caivaiṣāṃ kusīdamadhikaṃ viduḥ

Translation

The sages have proclaimed many means of livelihood; yet among them all they know usury—lending for interest (kusīda)—to be the most excessive and blameworthy.

Word by Word

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• वर्तन-उपायाः: means of livelihood/ways of subsistence
• वर्तन-उपायाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वर्तनस्य उपायाः)

• ऋषिभिः: by sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• परिकीर्तिताः: have been proclaimed
• परिकीर्तिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु) (कृदन्त: क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• कुसीदम्: usury/interest-lending
• कुसीदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसीद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• अधिकम्: greater/superior
• अधिकम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्मपूरक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (comparative sense: superior)

• विदुः: they know/consider
• विदुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/Parokṣa past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kuśīda (usury/interest-taking) is singled out as an excessive and blameworthy livelihood despite many permitted means of earning.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of artha; restraint of lobha (greed) to reduce bondage-producing karma.

Application: Prefer livelihoods aligned with fairness and non-exploitation; if lending, avoid predatory interest and harm to dependents.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma/Acara sections): condemnations of lobha and adharmic artha; discussions of dana and sadachara as purifiers of wealth (contextual).

Characters & Entities

• Rishis

FAQs

What is the importance of kusida (usury) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse flags kusida—lending at interest—as the most blameworthy among livelihood methods, making it a key ethical warning about wealth gained through exploitation.

How does this verse explain karma related to earning money?

By ranking usury as “adhikam” (excessive in fault), the verse implies that how wealth is earned affects karmic weight—unethical gain carries heavier negative consequences than other livelihoods.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prefer fair, non-exploitative financial dealings—avoid predatory interest, support transparent lending, and choose income sources aligned with dharma and social welfare.