Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

उपयादीश्वरं चैव योगक्षेमप्रासिद्धये / साधयेद्विविधानर्थान्कुटुम्बार्थं ततो द्विजः

Transliteration

upayādīśvaraṃ caiva yogakṣemaprāsiddhaye / sādhayedvividhānarthānkuṭumbārthaṃ tato dvijaḥ

Translation

For the attainment and assured maintenance of yoga and kṣema—prosperity and security—the twice-born should duly worship the Lord (Īśvara); thereafter, he should pursue various means of livelihood to support his family.

Word by Word

• उपयात्: should approach
• उपयात्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-या (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), एकवचनम् (singular)

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

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

• योगक्षेमप्रासिद्धये: for the attainment of welfare and security
• योगक्षेमप्रासिद्धये: Sampradana (Purpose/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगक्षेम + प्रासिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम् (feminine), चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (dative), एकवचनम् (singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः ('for the accomplishment/renown of yoga-kṣema')

• साधयेत्: should accomplish/should procure
• साधयेत्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• विविधान्: various
• विविधान्: Karma (Object-Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), बहुवचनम् (plural); विशेषणम्

• अर्थान्: means/wealth/objects
• अर्थान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• कुटुम्बार्थम्: for the sake of the family
• कुटुम्बार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुटुम्ब + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), एकवचनम् (singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (accusative of purpose)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'then/thereafter')

• द्विजः: the twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (nominative), एकवचनम् (singular)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prioritize worship of the Lord for yoga-kṣema (attainment and preservation), then pursue legitimate livelihoods to support family.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha with karma: worldly security arises from dharmic effort offered to God; echoes karma-yoga orientation.

Application: Begin the day with īśvara-pūjā/japa; choose ethical income sources; allocate resources for family maintenance and charity; keep prosperity under the discipline of dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50 (daily conduct sequence: worship → duties → purity rites)

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara

FAQs

What is the importance of yoga-kṣema in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames yoga-kṣema as the rightful goal of a householder—prosperity and its protection—achieved first through worship of the Lord and then through ethical effort to sustain the family.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes dharmic living: devotion and righteous livelihood purify one’s life and karma, shaping the soul’s post-death trajectory described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize daily devotion/inner discipline, then pursue income through honest means, using wealth primarily to uphold family responsibilities without abandoning spiritual orientation.