Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

राजान्तेवासियाज्येभ्यः सीदन्निच्छेद्धनं क्षुधा / दम्भहैतुकपाषण्डिबकवृत्तींश्च वर्जयेत्

Transliteration

rājāntevāsiyājyebhyaḥ sīdanniccheddhanaṃ kṣudhā / dambhahaitukapāṣaṇḍibakavṛttīṃśca varjayet

Translation

When afflicted by hunger, one should not seek wealth from the king, from the teacher’s household, or from those for whom one performs sacrifices (yajña). One should also shun hypocrites, self-serving heretics (pāṣaṇḍin), and those who live by the “crane-like” way—piety that is merely a show.

Word by Word

• राज-अन्तेवासि-याज्येभ्यः: from kings, resident pupils, and patrons to be officiated for
• राज-अन्तेवासि-याज्येभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तेवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + याज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व-समासः (enumerative): राजभ्यः च अन्तेवासिभ्यः च याज्येभ्यः च

• सीदन्: being distressed/sinking
• सीदन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• इच्छेत्: should desire/seek
• इच्छेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्षुधा: by hunger
• क्षुधा: Hetu/Karana (Cause/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दम्भ-हैतुक-पाषण्डि-बक-वृत्तीन्: hypocritical, sophistic, heretical, crane-like practices
• दम्भ-हैतुक-पाषण्डि-बक-वृत्तीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + हैतुक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाषण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + बक (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: दम्भेन/हेतुना युक्ताः पाषण्डिनः, बकवत् वृत्तयः (hypocritical modes)

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

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even in hunger, avoid compromised patronage and deceitful religiosity; maintain purity of means and intention.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga discipline: purity of livelihood (ajiva) supports sattva and steadiness for higher knowledge.

Application: Set boundaries with patrons/employers; avoid conflicts of interest; do not monetize sacred roles or relationships; reject performative spirituality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (warnings against improper livelihood and hypocrisy)

FAQs

What is the importance of right livelihood (dharma-ājīvikā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that even under hunger one should not compromise dharma by seeking wealth from ethically sensitive sources or by adopting hypocritical, predatory conduct.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on karma?

By warning against exploitative dependence and religious pretence, it implies that livelihood choices shape karma; outward ritualism without integrity becomes a cause of moral decline and future suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid conflicts of interest, do not exploit positions of trust (teacher, patron, institution), and reject performative spirituality—choose transparent, ethical income even in hardship.