Shloka 17

Varṇāśrama Dharma, Ethical Virtues, and Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga Culminating in ‘Ahaṃ Brahma’

Devanagari script

ज्ञानसन्यासिनः केचिद्वेदसन्यासिनो ऽपरे / कर्मसन्यासिनः केचित्त्रिविधः पारमेष्ठिकः

Transliteration

jñānasanyāsinaḥ kecidvedasanyāsino 'pare / karmasanyāsinaḥ kecittrividhaḥ pārameṣṭhikaḥ

Translation

Unos son renunciantes del saber mundano; otros, renunciantes de los Vedas; y otros, renunciantes de la acción ritual (karma). Así, la renunciación suprema (pārameṣṭhika) es triple.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानसन्यासिनः: renunciants of knowledge
• ज्ञानसन्यासिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्यासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषार्थे (determinative): ‘ज्ञानस्य सन्यासिनः’/‘ज्ञान-आश्रित-सन्यासिनः’

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम (some)

• वेदसन्यासिनः: renunciants of the Veda
• वेदसन्यासिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्यासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘वेदस्य सन्यासिनः’ (renunciants connected with Veda)

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन; ‘others’

• कर्मसन्यासिनः: renunciants of action
• कर्मसन्यासिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्यासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘कर्मणः सन्यासिनः’ (renunciants of action/ritual)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम

• त्रिविधः: threefold
• त्रिविधः: Pradhana-kriya-puraka (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘त्रयः विधाः यस्य’ (threefold)

• पारमेष्ठिकः: the pārameṣṭhika (highest-class)
• पारमेष्ठिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारमेष्ठिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; विशेष-सम्बन्धी (belonging to the highest/Paramesthin)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Threefold ‘pārameṣṭhika’ renunciation: renouncing (i) worldly knowledge/learning as identity, (ii) Vedic textual/ritual dependence, or (iii) ritual action itself—indicating graded or distinct modes of tyāga.

Vedantic Theme: Shift from karma-kāṇḍa reliance toward jñāna-niṣṭhā; discernment between means (Veda/karma) and end (mokṣa).

Application: Examine what one is ‘clinging to’—status from learning, mere textualism, or ritualism—and practice letting go while retaining what supports realization (ethical restraint, contemplation, truthfulness).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49 (taxonomy of yogin/saṃnyāsa and bhāvanā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of threefold renunciation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies renunciation into three orientations—knowledge, Vedic engagement, and ritual action—showing that “sannyāsa” is not one uniform practice but a graded discipline aligned to one’s spiritual aim.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

By emphasizing renunciation of action and attachment, the verse points to reducing karmic accumulation—an essential idea behind Garuda Purana’s wider teaching that one’s post-death condition is shaped by karma and inner detachment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Even without formal sannyāsa, one can practice “karma-sannyāsa” by doing duties ethically without obsession over results, and “jñāna-sannyāsa” by prioritizing self-inquiry and discernment over mere information.