Shloka 7

Yoga’s Limbs and Dharma as the Ground of Liberation

Devanagari script

द्रव्याणामप्यनादानमापत्स्वपि तथेच्छया / अपरिग्रहमित्याहुस्तं प्रयत्नेन वर्जयेत्

Transliteration

dravyāṇāmapyanādānamāpatsvapi tathecchayā / aparigrahamityāhustaṃ prayatnena varjayet

Translation

No aceptar ni siquiera bienes materiales—haciéndolo de buen grado, aun en tiempos de apuro—es lo que los sabios llaman aparigraha (no posesividad). Con empeño debe evitarse lo contrario: el impulso de adquirir y atesorar.

Word by Word

• द्रव्याणाम्: of possessions/things
• द्रव्याणाम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th case), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Nipāta)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपवादार्थ

• अनादानम्: non-acceptance (not taking)
• अनादानम्: Karma/Viśeṣya (Object/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्-आ-दा (धातु) + अनादान (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; action-noun (taking/accepting) with negation; here as predicate-noun/object per context

• आपत्सु: in calamities/emergencies
• आपत्सु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/Condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th case), बहुवचन; Locative plural

• अपि: even
• अपि: Emphasis (Nipāta)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपवाद/समुच्चयार्थ

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Prakāra (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• इच्छया: by (one’s) will/choice
• इच्छया: Karaṇa/Hetu (Means/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd case), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• अपरिग्रहम्: non-possessiveness
• अपरिग्रहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd case), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• इति: thus
• इति: Quotation marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आहुः: they say/call
• आहुः: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्ष/Perfect; classical usage as present-like), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Perfect, 3rd person plural

• तम्: that (one/it)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd case), एकवचन; Accusative singular (pronoun)

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd case), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• वर्जयेत्: one should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriyā (Injunctive/vidhi)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, 3rd person singular; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aparigraha: willingly not accepting/accumulating possessions even under hardship; avoid the hoarding impulse.

Vedantic Theme: Tyāga and non-identification with possessions; reducing rāga-dveṣa to purify the mind.

Application: Set limits on acquisition; practice mindful receiving; declutter; cultivate dana and trust; distinguish needs from cravings especially during crises.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Ācāra/Dharma passages): aparigraha as a restraint supporting purity and good rebirth (general internal thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of aparigraha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines aparigraha as willingly not taking or accumulating possessions even in difficult situations, presenting it as a core discipline that protects dharma by reducing greed-driven actions.

How does this verse relate to karma and the afterlife themes of the Garuda Purana?

By discouraging grasping and hoarding, it targets the mental roots of sinful acts (lobha/greed) that create binding karma—an underlying cause for suffering described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana’s afterlife narratives.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice mindful restraint: avoid unnecessary acquisitions, refuse unethical gains, and cultivate giving—especially in stressful times when the urge to hoard is strongest.