Shloka 12

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

तस्मादनशनं नॄणां वैकुण्ठपददायकम् / तस्मात् स्वस्थे चोत्तरे वा साधयेन्मोक्षलक्षणम्

Transliteration

tasmādanaśanaṃ nṝṇāṃ vaikuṇṭhapadadāyakam / tasmāt svasthe cottare vā sādhayenmokṣalakṣaṇam

Translation

Ainsi, pour les êtres humains, le jeûne (anaśana) est ce qui donne l’état de Vaikuṇṭha. C’est pourquoi, tant qu’on est en bonne santé—ou du moins dans la dernière période de la vie—il faut entreprendre les disciplines marquées du sceau de la délivrance (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभूत तद्धित/निपातवत् प्रयोग (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

• अनशनम्: fasting
• अनशनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृस्थानी (predicate subject)

• नॄणाम्: of men
• नॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• वैकुण्ठ-पद-दायकम्: granting the state of Vaikuṇṭha
• वैकुण्ठ-पद-दायकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + दायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (वैकुण्ठस्य पदं ददाति इति) विशेषणम् अनशनस्य

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत्/निपातवत् (therefore)

• स्वस्थे: when healthy
• स्वस्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.) सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in health/when healthy)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• उत्तरे: later/afterwards
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण; 'उत्तरे (काले/समये)' = later/afterwards

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• साधयेत्: should accomplish/practice
• साधयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मोक्ष-लक्षणम्: the mark/means of liberation
• मोक्ष-लक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मोक्षस्य लक्षणम्) कर्म

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anaśana (fasting) is praised as Vaikuṇṭha-giving; one should undertake mokṣa-marked disciplines while healthy or at least in later life.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla (timeliness) and adhikāra: begin sādhanā before decline; tapas as purifier supporting bhakti/jñāna.

Application: Adopt medically safe fasting or regulated austerity with mantra/meditation; prioritize spiritual disciplines early rather than postponing to old age.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: celestial abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated commendation of vrata, upavāsa, and Viṣṇu-oriented disciplines for higher gati

Characters & Entities

• Vaikuṇṭha

FAQs

What is the importance of anashana (fasting) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents anaśana as a potent austerity that supports liberation, described as bestowing the state of Vaikuṇṭha when aligned with spiritual intent.

How does this verse explain the right time to pursue moksha?

It advises beginning mokṣa-oriented practice while healthy, or at least in the later stage of life, emphasizing timely preparation rather than waiting for the final moment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt disciplined, health-appropriate fasting and regular spiritual practice (japa, charity, devotion, self-restraint) early in life so end-of-life readiness is natural and steady.