Shloka 8

Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa

Devanagari script

नाक्षक्रीडारतो यस्तु हस्तौ तस्य सुसंयतौ / परस्त्रीवर्जनरतस्तस्योपस्थं सुसंयतम्

Transliteration

nākṣakrīḍārato yastu hastau tasya susaṃyatau / parastrīvarjanaratastasyopasthaṃ susaṃyatam

Translation

One who does not delight in gambling has his hands well restrained; and one who delights in avoiding another man’s wife has his sexual organ well restrained.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Discourse marker (Nipāta/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• akṣa-krīḍā-rataḥ: engaged in dice-play
• akṣa-krīḍā-rataḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अक्षक्रीडायां रतः)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Discourse marker (Nipāta/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात — but/indeed

• hastau: his two hands
• hastau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• su-saṃyatau: well-controlled
• su-saṃyatau: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + saṃ + √yam (धातु) → saṃyata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘well-restrained’ (agrees with hastau)

• para-strī-varjana-rataḥ: devoted to avoiding others’ women
• para-strī-varjana-rataḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक) + varjana (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (परस्त्रीवर्जने रतः)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• upastham: the genitals
• upastham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• su-saṃyatam: well-controlled
• su-saṃyatam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + saṃ + √yam (धातु) → saṃyata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘well-restrained’ (agrees with upastham)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoiding gambling restrains the hands (actions of grasping/stealing); avoiding another’s wife restrains the sexual organ (lust).

Vedantic Theme: Sense-control (dama) as purification; guarding against saṅga that generates bondage.

Application: Remove triggers: avoid gambling environments and addictive risk-taking; uphold fidelity and boundaries; cultivate contentment and respectful conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: condemnations of dyūta (gambling) and para-strī-gamana as pāpa with severe consequences; Garuda Purana: emphasis on brahmacarya/sexual restraint and honest livelihood

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding gambling in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats gambling as a failure of restraint that destabilizes conduct; avoiding it is presented as mastery over the hands and actions, supporting dharmic living and better karma.

How does this verse relate to karma and moral discipline?

By linking specific temptations (gambling and illicit sexuality) to bodily faculties, the verse frames karma as shaped by disciplined control of actions and desires, which preserves ethical purity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid high-risk gambling and addictive betting, and maintain strict sexual ethics (faithfulness and respect for others’ relationships) as everyday disciplines of self-mastery.