Shloka 4

Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vows, Seasonal Tapas, and Equanimity

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायवान्ध्यानशीलः सर्वभूतहित रतः (तिः) / अह्नो मासस्य मध्ये वा कुर्याद्वार्थपरिग्रहम्

Transliteration

svādhyāyavāndhyānaśīlaḥ sarvabhūtahita rataḥ (tiḥ) / ahno māsasya madhye vā kuryādvārthaparigraham

Translation

Pourvu de svādhyāya (étude sacrée) et voué à la méditation, se réjouissant du bien de tous les êtres, qu’il entreprenne, selon le dharma, la réception ou la collecte des moyens nécessaires (richesses ou provisions), soit au milieu du jour, soit au milieu du mois.

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायवान्: possessed of self-study
• स्वाध्यायवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; possessive (मतुप्)

• ध्यानशीलः: habitually meditative
• ध्यानशीलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ध्यानं शीलं यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Tatpurusha compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — adjective stem used as compound member

• भूत: beings
• भूत: Sambandha (Genitive-relation within compound/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — neuter stem used as compound member

• हित: welfare, benefit
• हित: Visheshya (Head within compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — neuter stem used as compound member

• सर्वभूतहित: welfare of all beings
• सर्वभूतहित: Karma (Object within compound sense/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत + हित (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वेषां भूतानां हितम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — Tatpurusha compound noun ‘welfare of all beings’

• रतः: engaged, devoted
• रतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — past participle ‘engaged/delighting’, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अह्नः: of the day
• अह्नः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular

• मासस्य: of the month
• मासस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Disjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय — disjunctive particle

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अर्थ: wealth, purpose
• अर्थ: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — masculine stem used as compound member

• परिग्रह: acquisition, acceptance
• परिग्रह: Visheshya (Head within compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + ग्रह (धातु) + घञ् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: घञन्त-भाववाचक/क्रियावाचक-प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — action-noun ‘acquisition/acceptance’, used as compound member

• अर्थपरिग्रहम्: acquisition of wealth
• अर्थपरिग्रहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ + परिग्रह (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अर्थस्य परिग्रहः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Tatpurusha compound; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Integrate svādhyāya and dhyāna with lokasaṅgraha (welfare of beings) while regulating artha-collection to fixed times, preventing greed and distraction.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: regulated action without obsession; sattva-preserving routine supporting contemplation.

Application: Time-box earning/errands; keep daily study/meditation primary; align livelihood with non-harm and public good.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.102.3-7 (sequence of ācāra and vrata disciplines)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Sarvabhūtas (all beings)

FAQs

What is the importance of svādhyāya and dhyāna in Garuda Purana?

This verse links disciplined self-study (svādhyāya) and meditation (dhyāna) with a life oriented to universal welfare, presenting them as core traits of a dharmic person.

Does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals or the afterlife?

Indirectly: it teaches ācāra (right conduct) and restrained artha (means of living), which Garuda Purana treats as foundations for merit (puṇya) that later shapes post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily study/reflection and meditation, keep a welfare-oriented mindset, and earn/receive resources in a disciplined, non-greedy way—taking only what is necessary and at appropriate times.