Shloka 4

Bhikṣu-Dharma and the Paramahaṃsa Ideal

Devanagari script

रोहिते भिक्षुकैर्ग्रामे यात्रामात्र मलोलुपः / भवेत्परमहंसो वा एकदण्डी यमादितः

Transliteration

rohite bhikṣukairgrāme yātrāmātra malolupaḥ / bhavetparamahaṃso vā ekadaṇḍī yamāditaḥ

Translation

En una aldea atestada de mendigos, quien viaja sólo lo necesario y no codicia ganancias impuras puede llegar a ser un Paramahaṃsa; o bien, adoptando el ekadaṇḍa (bastón único), se vuelve uno refrenado por Yama y las demás disciplinas (yamas).

Word by Word

• rohite: in Rohita (place) / in the reddish (state)
• rohite: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rohita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (as a place-name/condition)

• bhikṣukaiḥ: by/with mendicants
• bhikṣukaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• grāme: in the village
• grāme: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• yātrā-mātraḥ: taking only what is necessary
• yātrā-mātraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yātrā (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—यात्रायाः मात्रः (only as much as needed for sustenance/journey)

• a-lolupaḥ: not greedy
• a-lolupaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + lolupa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ् (not greedy)

• bhavet: should be/become
• bhavet: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• parama-haṃsaḥ: a paramahaṃsa (highest ascetic)
• parama-haṃsaḥ: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + haṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘परमः हंसः’ (highest swan; title of ascetic)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• eka-daṇḍī: a bearer of a single staff
• eka-daṇḍī: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (संख्या) + daṇḍin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—एकः दण्डः यस्य (one-staff bearer)

• yama-āditaḥ: beginning with yama (restraints)
• yama-āditaḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + taḥ (तसिल्/अव्ययभाव)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थ ‘from’; ‘यमादि’ = yama etc. (restraints)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Non-greed and necessity-based movement amid competing mendicants supports elevation toward paramahaṃsa ideal; alternatively, ekadaṇḍa signifies focused discipline aligned with yamas.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya and nirodha: freedom is supported by restraint, not by social identity; yama as foundation for higher realization.

Application: Reduce unnecessary travel/consumption; avoid competing for resources/status; adopt clear ethical vows (yamas) as a stabilizing framework.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: settlement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana discussions of yama-niyama and renunciant grades (general thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of Paramahaṃsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the Paramahaṃsa as an ideal of renunciation: living with minimal needs, avoiding greed and impure gain even amid social pressures, indicating spiritual maturity rather than external display.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing yama-based restraint and non-greed, it links inner discipline to purification of karma—an essential preparation for the soul’s onward journey described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce unnecessary consumption, avoid unethical income, and practice core restraints (truthfulness, non-harming, self-control); spiritual progress is measured by conduct, not by status or appearance.