Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

अप्रियं न वदेज्जातु ब्रह्मसूत्री विनीतवान् / देवप्रदक्षिणाङ्कुर्याद्यष्टिमान्सकमण्डलुः

Transliteration

apriyaṃ na vadejjātu brahmasūtrī vinītavān / devapradakṣiṇāṅkuryādyaṣṭimānsakamaṇḍaluḥ

Translation

Le porteur discipliné du cordon sacré (brahmasūtra) ne doit jamais prononcer de paroles déplaisantes. Humble dans sa conduite, tenant le bâton et le kamaṇḍalu (vase d’eau), qu’il accomplisse la pradakṣiṇā, la circumambulation révérencieuse en l’honneur des Devas.

Word by Word

• अप्रियम्: what is unpleasant
• अप्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समास (unpleasant thing)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• वदेत्: should speak
• वदेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• जातु: ever
• जातु: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जातु (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ever/at any time)

• ब्रह्म-सूत्री: one wearing the sacred thread
• ब्रह्म-सूत्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—ब्रह्मसूत्रं यस्य/धारयति (wearer of sacred thread)

• विनीतवान्: disciplined
• विनीतवान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-नी (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त-वतुप् (possessive of past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘विनीत’ + वान् (well-disciplined)

• देव-प्रदक्षिणाम्: circumambulation of the deity
• देव-प्रदक्षिणाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—देवस्य प्रदक्षिणा (circumambulation of the deity)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यष्टिमान्: having a staff
• यष्टिमान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्यय (possessive: having a staff)

• स-कमण्डलुः: with a water-pot
• स-कमण्डलुः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—कमण्डलुना सह (with a water-pot)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A dvija should be gentle in speech and express reverence through disciplined conduct and circumambulation of the Devas.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti and niyama purify speech (vak) and mind; humility (vinaya) supports inner realization.

Application: Practice non-harsh speech; incorporate simple devotional acts (pradakshina, namaskara) to cultivate humility and steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (speech ethics and daily devata reverence)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling speech in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames gentle, non-hurtful speech as a core mark of discipline (vinaya) for the sacred-thread wearer, making ethical speech a primary dharmic practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing daily dharma—self-restraint, humility, and reverence—it points to the conduct that supports merit (puṇya) and a steadier spiritual trajectory, rather than ritual alone.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid harsh or needlessly unpleasant speech, cultivate humility, and maintain simple daily acts of reverence (like pradakṣiṇā/prayer) as consistent discipline.