Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

अप्रियं न वदेज्जातु ब्रह्मसूत्री विनीतवान् / देवप्रदक्षिणाङ्कुर्याद्यष्टिमान्सकमण्डलुः

Transliteration

apriyaṃ na vadejjātu brahmasūtrī vinītavān / devapradakṣiṇāṅkuryādyaṣṭimānsakamaṇḍaluḥ

Translation

A disciplined bearer of the sacred thread (brahmasūtra) should never speak what is unpleasant. Humble in conduct, carrying a staff and a kamaṇḍalu (water-pot), he should perform pradakṣiṇā—reverent circumambulation—in honor of the Devas.

Word by Word

• अप्रियम्: what is unpleasant
• अप्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समास (unpleasant thing)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• वदेत्: should speak
• वदेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• जातु: ever
• जातु: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जातु (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ever/at any time)

• ब्रह्म-सूत्री: one wearing the sacred thread
• ब्रह्म-सूत्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—ब्रह्मसूत्रं यस्य/धारयति (wearer of sacred thread)

• विनीतवान्: disciplined
• विनीतवान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-नी (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त-वतुप् (possessive of past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘विनीत’ + वान् (well-disciplined)

• देव-प्रदक्षिणाम्: circumambulation of the deity
• देव-प्रदक्षिणाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—देवस्य प्रदक्षिणा (circumambulation of the deity)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यष्टिमान्: having a staff
• यष्टिमान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्यय (possessive: having a staff)

• स-कमण्डलुः: with a water-pot
• स-कमण्डलुः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—कमण्डलुना सह (with a water-pot)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A dvija should be gentle in speech and express reverence through disciplined conduct and circumambulation of the Devas.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti and niyama purify speech (vak) and mind; humility (vinaya) supports inner realization.

Application: Practice non-harsh speech; incorporate simple devotional acts (pradakshina, namaskara) to cultivate humility and steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (speech ethics and daily devata reverence)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling speech in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames gentle, non-hurtful speech as a core mark of discipline (vinaya) for the sacred-thread wearer, making ethical speech a primary dharmic practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing daily dharma—self-restraint, humility, and reverence—it points to the conduct that supports merit (puṇya) and a steadier spiritual trajectory, rather than ritual alone.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid harsh or needlessly unpleasant speech, cultivate humility, and maintain simple daily acts of reverence (like pradakṣiṇā/prayer) as consistent discipline.