Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

भैक्ष्यं श्रुतं च मौनित्वं तपो ध्यानं विशेषतः / सम्यक् च ज्ञानवैराग्यं धर्मो ऽयं भिक्षुके मतः

Transliteration

bhaikṣyaṃ śrutaṃ ca maunitvaṃ tapo dhyānaṃ viśeṣataḥ / samyak ca jñānavairāgyaṃ dharmo 'yaṃ bhikṣuke mataḥ

Translation

Vivre d’aumônes, écouter et étudier l’enseignement sacré, observer le vœu de silence, pratiquer l’austérité et, surtout, la méditation—avec la juste connaissance et le détachement (vairāgya) : tel est le dharma prescrit au mendiant renonçant.

Word by Word

• भैक्ष्यम्: alms-begging (as livelihood)
• भैक्ष्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम (alms-begging as a practice)

• श्रुतम्: scriptural learning / what is heard
• श्रुतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रु धातु (श्रवणे) से निष्पन्न कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘श्रुत’ = learned/heard (scriptural learning)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मौनित्वम्: silence (vow/state)
• मौनित्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौनित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम (state of silence)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘तपस्’ (austerity)

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; meditation

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• सम्यक्: properly / rightly
• सम्यक्: Visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: properly/rightly)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ज्ञानवैराग्यम्: knowledge and dispassion
• ज्ञानवैराग्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative): ‘ज्ञानं च वैराग्यं च’

• धर्मः: duty / dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भिक्षुके: in/for a mendicant
• भिक्षुके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: in/for a mendicant)

• मतः: is considered / is held (to be)
• मतः: Pradhana-kriya-puraka (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक; √मन् धातु (मनने) से क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (considered/held)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhikshuka-dharma: alms-living, śravaṇa/adhyayana, mauna, tapas, dhyāna, and the pair jñāna–vairāgya as the direct supports of liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya emphasis (viveka-vairāgya) with nididhyāsana (dhyāna) leading to śānti and mokṣa.

Application: Adopt measured consumption (alms/limited needs), daily scriptural study, intentional silence periods, disciplined austerity, and a fixed meditation schedule; cultivate dispassion alongside clear discernment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49 (āśrama/saṃnyāsa-yoga discussion context)

Characters & Entities

• Bhikshu (mendicant/renunciant)

FAQs

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

This verse defines the core disciplines of a mendicant—alms-living, study, silence, austerity, meditation, and the inner foundation of right knowledge and dispassion—showing that renunciation is both external conduct and inner realization.

How does this verse explain the path of liberation?

It points to liberation through samyak-jñāna (right understanding) supported by vairāgya (detachment), cultivated via disciplined living, contemplation, and meditation—practices that weaken attachment and clarify the self’s true nature.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt simplified living, regular study of elevating texts, mindful speech (periodic silence), disciplined habits, and daily meditation—while steadily cultivating detachment from compulsive desires.