Shloka 15

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायमन्वहं कुर्यान्न पचेच्चान्नमात्मने / बालस्ववासिनीवृद्धगर्भिण्यातुरकन्यकाः

Transliteration

svādhyāyamanvahaṃ kuryānna paceccānnamātmane / bālasvavāsinīvṛddhagarbhiṇyāturakanyakāḥ

Translation

One should perform svādhyāya (sacred self-study) each day, and one should not cook food only for oneself. Food should be shared with children, dependents of the household, the elderly, pregnant women, the sick, and unmarried girls.

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायम्: self-study (Vedic recitation)
• स्वाध्यायम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अन्वहम्: daily
• अन्वहम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्वहम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• पचेत्: should cook
• पचेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

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

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आत्मने: for oneself
• आत्मने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• बाल: a child
• बाल: Qualifier (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपद)

• स्ववासिनी: a woman staying in her own home
• स्ववासिनी: Qualifier (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + वासिनी (प्रातिपदिक); वस् (धातु) + णिनि-प्रत्यय (कृदन्त-आधार)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपद)

• वृद्ध: an old (person)
• वृद्ध: Qualifier (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपद)

• गर्भिणी: a pregnant woman
• गर्भिणी: Qualifier (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपद)

• आतुर: a sick (person)
• आतुर: Qualifier (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपद)

• कन्यकाः: girls/maidens
• कन्यकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Svadhyaya and anna-sharing as obligatory daily conduct; food is not for solitary enjoyment but for sustaining dependents and those in need.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: offering and sharing reduce ahankara/mamakara and purify the mind (antahkarana-shuddhi).

Application: Keep a daily study/recitation practice; cook with an intention to share; ensure portions for children, elders, pregnant women, the sick, and unmarried daughters/wards before personal consumption.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household (griha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96.16-19 (sequence on bhojana-vidhi, atithi-seva, apośana)

FAQs

What is the importance of svādhyāya (daily self-study) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents svādhyāya as a daily discipline that sustains dharma and strengthens right conduct alongside compassionate living.

How does this verse relate to karma and merit in the Garuda Purana?

By discouraging cooking only for oneself and encouraging feeding the vulnerable, it emphasizes anna-dāna and care for dependents as merit-producing actions aligned with dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a daily study/recitation habit and ensure meals include sharing—supporting children, elders, pregnant women, the sick, and those under your care before personal indulgence.