Shloka 28

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

कुसीदकृषिवाणिज्यं पाशुपाल्यं विशः स्मृतम् / शूद्रस्य द्विजशुश्रूषा द्विजो यज्ञान्न हापयेत्

Transliteration

kusīdakṛṣivāṇijyaṃ pāśupālyaṃ viśaḥ smṛtam / śūdrasya dvijaśuśrūṣā dvijo yajñānna hāpayet

Translation

El préstamo con interés, la agricultura, el comercio y el cuidado del ganado se declaran deberes del vaiśya. Para el śūdra se prescribe el servicio a los dvija (los “dos veces nacidos”); y un dvija no debe descuidar la realización del yajña.

Word by Word

• कुसीदकृषिवाणिज्यम्: usury, agriculture, and trade
• कुसीदकृषिवाणिज्यम्: Karma (Apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसीद+कृषि+वाणिज्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; त्रयाणां समुच्चयः (dvandva)

• पाशुपाल्यम्: cattle-rearing
• पाशुपाल्यम्: Karma (Apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु+पाल्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘पशूनां पालनम्’

• विशः: of the Vaishya
• विशः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचनम्; ‘वैश्यस्य’ अर्थे

• स्मृतम्: is declared/remembered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘इति स्मृतम्’ (is said/remembered)

• शूद्रस्य: of the Shudra
• शूद्रस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्

• द्विजशुश्रूषा: service to the twice-born
• द्विजशुश्रूषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज+शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; ‘द्विजस्य शुश्रूषा’

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• यज्ञात्: from the sacrifice
• यज्ञात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• हापयेत्: should cause to abandon/should let fall away
• हापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु; causative)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त (causative) धातु; विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa-dharma: vaiśya duties include moneylending, agriculture, trade, and cattle-tending; śūdra duty is service to the twice-born; twice-born must not abandon yajña.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of social functions as a field for karma-yoga; ritual and work, when aligned with dharma, purify intention and reduce disorder.

Application: Earn through socially sustaining work; serve with dignity and skill; maintain personal spiritual disciplines; do not let prosperity displace sacred obligations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: economic and ritual spaces

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96.27 (brāhmaṇa/kṣatriya duties); Garuda Purana 1.96.29 (universal virtues)

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśya
• Śūdra
• Dvija
• Yajña

FAQs

What is the importance of varna-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames social and ethical order through prescribed duties—right livelihood and service—presented as a dharmic foundation that supports ritual life and karmic integrity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it links one’s conduct and duty (dharma) with sustaining yajña and right action; such discipline is treated as a stabilizing force for karma that influences post-death outcomes discussed elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose honest livelihood, respect roles of service and responsibility, and avoid letting daily life erode spiritual practice—maintain regular worship/offerings and ethical discipline.