Shloka 18

Devanagari script

यस्मिन्दिने न सेव्यन्ते स वृथा दिवसो नृणाम् / अनित्यमध्रुवं देहमनाधारं रसोद्भवम्

Transliteration

yasmindine na sevyante sa vṛthā divaso nṛṇām / anityamadhruvaṃ dehamanādhāraṃ rasodbhavam

Translation

That day on which one does not engage in spiritual service (sevā) is a wasted day for human beings; for the body is impermanent and unstable, without lasting support, and born of mere essence and fluids.

Word by Word

• यस्मिन्: in which
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (अधिकरण); एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धः—यः...तस्मिन् (relative)

• दिने: on a day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (अधिकरण); एकवचनम्

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

• सेव्यन्ते: are served/are practiced
• सेव्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लकारः—लट् (Present); प्रयोगः—कर्मणि (passive); पुरुषः—प्रथम; वचनम्—बहुवचनम्

• सः: that (day)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनम्

• वृथा: in vain, uselessly
• वृथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: in vain)

• दिवसः: day
• दिवसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनम्

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध); बहुवचनम्

• अनित्यम्: impermanent
• अनित्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म); एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्—देहम्

• अध्रुवम्: unstable, not lasting
• अध्रुवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्—देहम्

• देहम्: body
• देहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म); एकवचनम्

• अनाधारम्: without support, baseless
• अनाधारम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्—देहम्

• रसोद्भवम्: born of rasa (bodily fluids/essence)
• रसोद्भवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रसात् उद्भवः = arising from essence/juice); विशेषणम्—देहम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A day without spiritual service is wasted because the body is transient, unstable, and dependent—unfit as a final refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya-deha viveka and vairāgya; the body as āśraya-abhāva (no lasting support), prompting pursuit of the enduring Self/Brahman or devotion to the Lord.

Application: Treat each day as a unit of sādhana: prayer, japa, study, service, and ethical action; reduce procrastination by remembering bodily impermanence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated anitya-deha reflections used to motivate dharma, śrāddha, and bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Humans (nṛṇām)

FAQs

What is the importance of daily seva or spiritual practice in the Garuda Purana?

This verse says a day without seva is wasted because the body is fleeting; therefore one should use time for dharma, worship, and merit-building acts rather than delay.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in Preta Kanda?

Preta Kanda stresses preparation for the post-death journey; by highlighting the body’s instability, the verse urges turning toward lasting spiritual merit that supports the jīva beyond bodily death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat each day as limited: do some dharmic action—japa, charity, prayer, service to elders/guests, or study—so life is not spent only on temporary bodily concerns.