Shloka 25

Devanagari script

अधरोत्तरवृत्तया हि यादृक् स्याद्वर्णसङ्करः / ततः कष्टतरो वज्रवर्णानां सङ्करो मतः

Transliteration

adharottaravṛttayā hi yādṛk syādvarṇasaṅkaraḥ / tataḥ kaṣṭataro vajravarṇānāṃ saṅkaro mataḥ

Translation

Indeed, when conduct becomes inverted—those below behaving as those above, and those above as those below—there arises varṇa-saṅkara, the mixing and confusion of social orders. From that, intermixture among the “vajra-like” (hard, uncompromising) classes is regarded as even more grievous.

Word by Word

• adhara-uttara-vṛttyā: by lower-and-higher conduct (intermixture of practices)
• adhara-uttara-vṛttyā: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhara + uttara + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘अधरोत्तर’ इति द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद

• hi: indeed
• hi: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• yādṛk: of whatever kind
• yādṛk: Karta/Predicate adjective (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yādṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्न/सम्बन्धविशेषण (correlative adjective)

• syāt: may be / should be
• syāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• varṇa-saṅkaraḥ: intermixture of varṇas
• varṇa-saṅkaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa + saṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tataḥ: therefore / from that
• tataḥ: Hetu/Logical connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), अर्थः—तस्मात्/ततः (therefore/from that)

• kaṣṭataraḥ: more difficult/worse
• kaṣṭataraḥ: Karta/Predicate adjective (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• vajra-varṇānām: of the vajra-varṇas (special classes)
• vajra-varṇānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• saṅkaraḥ: intermixture
• saṅkaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mataḥ: is considered
• mataḥ: Karta/Predicate (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (मन् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle) ‘मत’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘considered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Role-inversion in conduct generates varṇa-saṅkara; intermixture among rigid ‘vajra’ classes is especially harmful.

Vedantic Theme: When dharma (order) is violated, tamas/rajas dominate leading to saṃkara (confusion); societal karma ripens as collective suffering.

Application: Maintain integrity of responsibilities and competencies; prevent institutional role-confusion (e.g., authority without accountability, expertise without ethics).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.24 (role boundaries); Garuda Purana 1.68.26 (virtue over obstinacy)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Varna

FAQs

What is the importance of varṇa-saṅkara in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames varṇa-saṅkara as arising primarily from inverted conduct—when social roles and duties are undermined—making it a dharmic breakdown rather than merely a birth-based issue.

How does this verse explain the consequences of inverted conduct?

It states that when the ‘lower’ imitates the ‘higher’ and the ‘higher’ adopts ‘lower’ behavior, social confusion follows; and when even the firm, ‘vajra-like’ groups mix in such disorder, the harm is considered more severe.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain integrity in one’s duties and ethical standards—avoid status-driven hypocrisy and role-confusion—so that personal conduct supports social harmony and dharma.