Shloka 24

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते बुध्येत धर्मार्थौ चानुचिन्तयेत् / कायक्लेशांश्च तन्मूलान्वेदतत्त्वार्थमेव च

Transliteration

brāhme muhūrte budhyeta dharmārthau cānucintayet / kāyakleśāṃśca tanmūlānvedatattvārthameva ca

Translation

Qu’on s’éveille au brāhma-muhūrta, l’heure sacrée d’avant l’aube, et qu’on médite sur le dharma et l’artha. Qu’on contemple aussi les afflictions du corps et leurs causes profondes, ainsi que le sens véritable de la réalité védique.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मे: in the Brahma (early)
• ब्राह्मे: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (मुहूर्ते)

• मुहूर्ते: at the muhurta (time period)
• मुहूर्ते: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बुध्येत: should awaken
• बुध्येत: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• धर्मार्थौ: dharma and artha
• धर्मार्थौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (धर्मश्च अर्थश्च)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• अनुचिन्तयेत्: should reflect upon
• अनुचिन्तयेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कायक्लेशान्: bodily afflictions
• कायक्लेशान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय + क्लेश (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (कायस्य क्लेशाः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• तन्मूलान्: their causes/roots
• तन्मूलान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + मूल (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (तेषां मूलानि/मूलभूताः) विशेषण (कायक्लेशान्)

• वेदतत्त्वार्थम्: the meaning of Vedic truth/principle
• वेदतत्त्वार्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + तत्त्व + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य तत्त्वस्य अर्थः)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rise at brāhma-muhūrta; contemplate dharma and artha, examine bodily suffering and its causes, and reflect on the true meaning of Vedic reality.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) and duḥkha-hetu-vicāra leading toward vairāgya; śāstra-vicāra as a doorway to tattva-jñāna.

Application: Wake early; do a short review of duties and livelihood; journal or meditate on sources of stress/illness and their roots; study a small portion of śāstra with meaning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temporal (sacred time)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.25-26 (śauca, snāna, sandhyā)

Characters & Entities

• Veda

FAQs

What is the importance of Brahma Muhurta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats brāhma-muhūrta as the ideal time to awaken and align the mind with dharma, purposeful living (artha), and Vedic truth—setting a disciplined spiritual foundation for the day.

How does this verse relate to suffering and its causes?

It advises reflecting on bodily afflictions (kāya-kleśa) together with their root causes (tan-mūla), implying that wise living includes diagnosing the origins of suffering rather than only reacting to symptoms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Wake earlier, spend a few minutes reviewing ethical priorities (dharma), responsible goals (artha), observe health and habits that create distress, and study or recall a Vedic teaching that clarifies right understanding.