Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

प्रियो विवाह्यश्च तथा यज्ञं प्रत्यृर्त्विजः पुनः / अध्वनीनो ऽतिथिः प्रोक्तः श्रोत्रियो वेदपारगः

Transliteration

priyo vivāhyaśca tathā yajñaṃ pratyṛrtvijaḥ punaḥ / adhvanīno 'tithiḥ proktaḥ śrotriyo vedapāragaḥ

Translation

A dear friend, a bridegroom fit for marriage, and the officiating priest (ṛtvij) invited for a yajña—also a traveler—are all declared to be atithi, “guests.” And a śrotriya is the learned one who has mastered the Vedas.

Word by Word

• प्रियः: a dear (person)
• प्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विवाह्यः: one to be married (a bridegroom/eligible person)
• विवाह्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह्य (कृदन्त; √वह् धातु with vi-; or adjectival pratipadika)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘विवाह्य’ = one to be married (marriageable/fit for marriage)

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; ‘likewise/also’)

• यज्ञम्: a sacrifice
• यज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रति: for/towards
• प्रति: Sambandha (Prepositional)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition; ‘towards/for’)

• ऋत्विजः: priests (officiants)
• ऋत्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; repetition)

• अध्वनीनः: a traveller/on the road
• अध्वनीनः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अध्वनीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अतिथिः: guest
• अतिथिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रोक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु with pro-)
• Form: भूतकृत्-प्रत्यय (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग; ‘is said/declared’

• श्रोत्रियः: a Vedic scholar
• श्रोत्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वेदपारगः: one who has mastered the Veda
• वेदपारगः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य पारगः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa (definition) of atithi: friend, bridegroom, invited ṛtvij, traveler; lakṣaṇa of śrotriya: one who has mastered the Vedas.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva through right discernment (viveka) in conduct—knowing whom to honor and how social roles support yajña and dharma.

Application: Treat travelers and those connected to sacred duties (marriage, yajña) as guests; recognize true scholarship by depth of learning and integrity, not mere status.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household and yajna-venue

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana gṛhastha-dharma passages defining atithi and praising śrotriya

FAQs

What is the importance of atithi (guest) dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies a traveler as an atithi and places such a person among those to be duly honored, reinforcing hospitality as a key duty within dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it frames right conduct—honoring guests, respecting Vedic learning, and supporting yajña—as dharmic behavior that shapes one’s karmic outcomes discussed elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat unexpected visitors—especially travelers—with respect and basic care, support sincere religious/charitable rites responsibly, and value authentic learning and integrity over mere labels.