Shloka 6

Dharma-sāra: Dāna-mahātmyam, Karma-vāda, and the Conquest of Grief and Greed

Devanagari script

तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण यज्ञैः स्नानेन वा पुनः / धर्मस्य नाशका ये च ते वै निरयगामिनः

Transliteration

tapasā brahmacaryeṇa yajñaiḥ snānena vā punaḥ / dharmasya nāśakā ye ca te vai nirayagāminaḥ

Translation

Aunque practiquen austeridad, brahmacarya, sacrificios (yajña) o incluso baños rituales, quienes destruyen el dharma están destinados, en verdad, a ir a Naraka (infierno).

Word by Word

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मचर्येण: by celibacy; by brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्येण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• यज्ञैः: by sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• स्नानेन: by bathing
• स्नानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• पुनः: again; moreover
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — repetition/emphasis

• धर्मस्य: of dharma
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• नाशकाः: destroyers
• नाशकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाशक (प्रातिपदिक; √नश् धातु + ण्वुल्/क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; कर्तरि कृदन्त — ‘destroyers’

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

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

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; संकेत (correlative pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — assertion

• निरयगामिनः: hell-goers; those who go to hell
• निरयगामिनः: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरय (प्रातिपदिक) + गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √गम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (निरयं गच्छन्ति इति) — ‘going to hell’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External religious acts do not redeem one who destroys dharma; such a person goes to naraka.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of inner righteousness over mere ritualism; karma is determined by ethical substance, not spiritual display.

Application: Align vows, rituals, and public piety with honest conduct; avoid using spirituality to justify harm, corruption, or exploitation; practice self-audit and restitution.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: naraka outcomes for adharma; critique of hypocrisy and harm despite ritual observance (thematic internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Naraka

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma over rituals in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that even respected practices like tapas, brahmacarya, yajña, and snāna do not save a person who actively destroys dharma; such a person is still Naraka-bound.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It links post-death destination to moral causality: undermining dharma leads to a hellish trajectory (niraya-gati), regardless of external religious observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize ethical integrity and protection of righteous conduct; spiritual disciplines should refine character, not serve as a cover for harmful or unrighteous actions.