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Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

जीवेद्वापि शिलोञ्छेन श्रेयानेषां परः परः / न स्वाध्यायविरोध्यर्थमीहेत न यतस्ततः

Transliteration

jīvedvāpi śiloñchena śreyāneṣāṃ paraḥ paraḥ / na svādhyāyavirodhyarthamīheta na yatastataḥ

Translation

Même si l’on doit vivre en glanant des grains épars (śiloñcha), cela est préférable—car chaque mode de subsistance simple, l’un après l’autre, surpasse le précédent. Qu’on ne recherche ni richesse ni desseins qui contrarient le svādhyāya, l’étude-récitation védique, et qu’on ne coure pas après les gains de toute source.

Word by Word
जीवेत्should live
जीवेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootजीव् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)
अपिeven
अपि:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)
शिलोञ्छेनby gleaning (śiloñcha mode of subsistence)
शिलोञ्छेन:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootशिलोञ्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)
श्रेयान्better
श्रेयान्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तुलनात्मक-रूप (comparative)
एषाम्of these
एषाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम
परःhigher
परः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootपर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
परःand higher still
परः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)
नnot
न:
Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय (negation)
स्वाध्याय-विरोधि-अर्थम्a purpose that conflicts with self-study
स्वाध्याय-विरोधि-अर्थम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootस्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + विरोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः: स्वाध्यायस्य विरोधी यः अर्थः (purpose opposed to study)
ईहेतshould strive/undertake
ईहेत:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootईह् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्
नnot
न:
Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय (negation)
यतःbecause
यतः:
Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयतस् (अव्यय)
Formहेतौ/कारणे अव्यय (indeclinable: because/from which reason)
ततःtherefore
ततः:
Phala (Result/फल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततस् (अव्यय)
Formतस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय (indeclinable: therefore/from that)
Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Artha must not obstruct svadhyaya; austere livelihood (shiloncha) is preferable to compromising means.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-shuddhi through niyama; subordination of artha-kama to dharma as preparation for jnana.

Application: Choose income sources that do not erode daily study, integrity, or time; simplify consumption to protect learning and inner clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (sadachara and brahmana conduct context)

FAQs

This verse upholds śiloñcha—living on minimal, harmless means—as a superior form of livelihood because it supports purity, restraint, and uninterrupted svādhyāya.

By prioritizing svādhyāya and dharmic earning, it points to inner purification and merit-building—foundational causes that shape the soul’s post-death trajectory in Garuḍa Purāṇa ethics.

Choose honest, low-harm income and simplify wants; avoid careers or pursuits that routinely block spiritual discipline, study, and daily practice.

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