Shloka 36

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

अवेक्षेत च शास्त्राणि धर्मादीनि द्विजोत्तमः / वैदिकांश्चैव निगमान्वेदाङ्गानि च सर्वशः

Transliteration

avekṣeta ca śāstrāṇi dharmādīni dvijottamaḥ / vaidikāṃścaiva nigamānvedāṅgāni ca sarvaśaḥ

Translation

The foremost among the twice-born should diligently examine the śāstras on Dharma and allied disciplines, and likewise study the Vedic scriptures (nigamas) and, in every way, all the Vedāṅgas, the auxiliary limbs of the Veda.

Word by Word

• अवेक्षेत: should observe/should study
• अवेक्षेत: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), विधिलिङ्/आज्ञार्थक-भावः (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• शास्त्राणि: treatises/scriptures
• शास्त्राणि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• धर्मादीनि: dharma and related (topics)
• धर्मादीनि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), बहुवचनम् (plural); तत्पुरुष-समासः (आदि-शब्देन समाहारः: 'dharma and others')

• द्विजोत्तमः: the best Brahmin/twice-born
• द्विजोत्तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (nominative), एकवचनम् (singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः ('best of the twice-born')

• वैदिकान्: Vedic
• वैदिकान्: Karma (Object-Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), बहुवचनम् (plural); विशेषणम् (qualifying)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

• निगमान्: Vedic texts/traditions (nigamas)
• निगमान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• वेदाङ्गानि: the Vedāṅgas
• वेदाङ्गानि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), बहुवचनम् (plural); तत्पुरुष-समासः ('limbs of the Veda')

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• सर्वशः: in every way/entirely
• सर्वशः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (adverb)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematic study of Dharma-śāstra, Veda, and Vedāṅgas as the foundation for right conduct and right understanding.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-pramāṇa and adhikāritva: disciplined learning as preparation for dharma and eventual jñāna.

Application: Maintain a daily/weekly regimen of svādhyāya: Veda portions, Vedāṅga basics (śikṣā, vyākaraṇa, chandas, nirukta, jyotiṣa, kalpa) and dharma texts; consult commentarial tradition before acting in doubtful cases.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50 (ācāra/snāna/vidhi context)

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (twice-born)
• Nigama (Vedic scripture)
• Vedāṅga

FAQs

What is the importance of studying śāstras and Vedāṅgas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames śāstra, Veda (nigama), and Vedāṅga study as the disciplined foundation for living Dharma correctly, not merely as theory but as guidance for right conduct.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes like karma, sin, and afterlife outcomes?

By emphasizing correct understanding of Dharma through Vedic and auxiliary sciences, it implies that informed conduct and properly grounded ritual/ethical choices shape karmic consequences discussed elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study reliable Dharma sources with proper guidance (and their interpretive tools), then apply them as ethical discipline—truthfulness, restraint, and duty-aligned action—rather than selective or superstition-based practice.