Shloka 36

Devanagari script

पूज्या द्विजानां कुमुदेन्दुभासो ये क्षत्त्रियाणां ज्वलनार्कवर्णाः / तथा विशां ये कनकावदाता नीलीप्रभाः शूद्रजनस्य ये च

Transliteration

pūjyā dvijānāṃ kumudendubhāso ye kṣattriyāṇāṃ jvalanārkavarṇāḥ / tathā viśāṃ ye kanakāvadātā nīlīprabhāḥ śūdrajanasya ye ca

Translation

Those worthy of honour among the twice-born shine with the radiance of the moon and the white lotus; those among kṣatriyas are of the colour of fire and the sun; among vaiśyas they are bright like purified gold; and among śūdras they are of a deep blue lustre.

Word by Word

• pūjyāḥ: worthy of worship
• pūjyāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (worthy of worship)

• dvijānām: of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvijānām: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘द्विज’ = ब्राह्मण/ twice-born

• kumuda-indu-bhāsaḥ: having the lustre of a moon over white lotuses
• kumuda-indu-bhāsaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kumuda (प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhās (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (kumuda iva induḥ; tasya bhāsaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ये)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• kṣattriyāṇām: of the Kshatriyas
• kṣattriyāṇām: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• jvalana-arka-varṇāḥ: of fiery, sun-like color
• jvalana-arka-varṇāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvalana (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘अग्नि-सूर्य-सदृशवर्ण’

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनुक्रमवाचक अव्यय (likewise/also)

• viśām: of the Vaishyas
• viśām: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (जातिवाचक), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘विश्’ = वैश्य-जनसमूह

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• kanaka-avadātāḥ: bright like gold
• kanaka-avadātāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kanaka (प्रातिपदिक) + avadāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘कनकवत् अवदात’ = golden-bright/whitish like gold

• nīlī-prabhāḥ: having blue radiance
• nīlī-prabhāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīlī (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘नीलवर्णप्रभा’

• śūdra-janasya: of the Shudra people
• śūdra-janasya: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śūdrāṇāṃ janaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘शूद्रजन’ = the Shudra people

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa-linked iconography of Pitṛs: honor-worthy ancestors appear with distinct tejas (radiance) corresponding to social order.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa/karma-based order reflected in subtle embodiment; tejas as a marker of merit and role.

Application: Approach śrāddha without contempt or confusion: honor Pitṛs as worthy recipients; recognize symbolic language as guiding reverence rather than literalism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: symbolic/visionary description

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha passages describing Pitṛ forms and eligibility of offerings (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Dvijas
• Kshatriyas
• Vaishyas
• Shudras

FAQs

What is the importance of varna-based description in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses symbolic colors to describe the spiritual luster of those who are truly worthy of honor within each social order, emphasizing dharmic conduct rather than mere birth-status.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it links inner virtue with visible ‘radiance’ (symbolic varṇa), implying that dharmic life refines one’s subtle qualities—an idea that the Garuda Purana later connects to post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Honor people for integrity, self-discipline, and service; cultivate purity of conduct so one’s character becomes ‘luminous’ through truthful, compassionate, and duty-aligned living.