Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

वाक्पाणिपादचापल्यं वर्जयच्चातिभोजनम् / श्रोत्रियं वातिथिं तृप्तमासीमान्तादनुव्रजेत्

Transliteration

vākpāṇipādacāpalyaṃ varjayaccātibhojanam / śrotriyaṃ vātithiṃ tṛptamāsīmāntādanuvrajet

Translation

One should avoid fickleness of speech, hands, and feet, and also avoid overeating. Having satisfied a śrotriya and a guest, one should respectfully accompany them up to the boundary of one’s dwelling.

Word by Word

• वाक्: speech
• वाक्: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (पद-रूप: वाक्)

• पाणि: hand
• पाणि: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• पाद: foot
• पाद: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• चापल्यम्: restlessness/fickleness
• चापल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चापल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वर्जयत्: avoiding/should avoid
• वर्जयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृज्/√वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘avoiding’ (imperatival sense with context)

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

• अतिभोजनम्: overeating
• अतिभोजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (अति-भोजनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रोत्रियम्: a Vedic scholar
• श्रोत्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अतिथिम्: a guest
• अतिथिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तृप्तम्: satisfied (fed)
• तृप्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप्त (कृदन्त; √तृप् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; विशेषण (to śrotriyam/atithim)

• आसीमान्तात्: up to the boundary
• आसीमान्तात्: Adhikarana (Limit/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + सीमान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्यय (up to the boundary)

• अनुव्रजेत्: should accompany (see off)
• अनुव्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु) with anu-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoid restlessness of speech/hands/feet and overeating; after satisfying śrotriya and atithi, accompany them respectfully to the boundary.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha and mita-āhāra as sattva-building disciplines; humility in service reduces ego and purifies karma.

Application: Practice mindful speech and controlled gestures; eat moderately; when hosting, ensure guests’ comfort and safe departure (walk them out, follow up).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household boundary (sīmā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana gṛhastha-dharma on restraint, moderation, and atithi-satkara

Characters & Entities

• Atithi
• Shrotriya

FAQs

What is the importance of atithi-seva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats serving and satisfying a guest and a Veda-learned Brahmin as a core dharmic act that generates merit (puṇya) and purifies daily conduct.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By stressing disciplined behavior and honoring the worthy, it points to the accumulation of puṇya that supports a favorable post-death course, a recurring Garuda Purana theme when discussing consequences of conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint in speech and habits (including diet), offer respectful hospitality, and courteously see guests/elders off—turning daily life into lived dharma.