Shloka 4

Devanagari script

सावशेषाणि कार्याणि कुवत्रर्थे युज्यते / तस्मात्सर्वाणि कार्याणि सावशेषाणि कारयेत्

Transliteration

sāvaśeṣāṇi kāryāṇi kuvatrarthe yujyate / tasmātsarvāṇi kāryāṇi sāvaśeṣāṇi kārayet

Translation

途中で残された仕事は、目的に対して無益となる。ゆえに、あらゆる務めと行いは、必ず成就するまでやり遂げよ。

Word by Word

• सावशेषाणि: with remainder; unfinished
• सावशेषाणि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अवशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (अवशेषयुक्तानि)

• कार्याणि: tasks, duties
• कार्याणि: कर्ता/कर्म (Contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भाव्य/कर्तव्य अर्थ (gerundive)

• कुत्र: where
• कुत्र: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Interrogative adverb)

• अर्थे: in the matter/purpose
• अर्थे: अधिकरण (Domain/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युज्यते: is fit/appropriate; is applied
• युज्यते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: हेतु/सम्बन्ध (Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति अव्ययीभाववत् निपात (Ablative used adverbially: 'therefore/from that')

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कार्याणि: tasks
• कार्याणि: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सावशेषाणि: leaving a remainder
• सावशेषाणि: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अवशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कारयेत्: should cause to be done; should get done
• कारयेत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (Causative) + विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Incomplete actions fail to yield intended results; completion is integral to karma-phala.

Vedantic Theme: Karma requires proper performance (vidhi) and completion (sampurna-kriya) for purification (chitta-shuddhi).

Application: Finish vows, rituals, responsibilities, and projects; define ‘done’ criteria; avoid abandoning dharmic commitments midway.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: general niti on diligence and proper performance of duties (thematic parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of completing one’s duties in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that incomplete actions become ineffective for their intended goal; dharmic work must be finished to yield its proper result.

How does this verse relate to karma and results (phala) in the Garuda Purana?

It implies that the karmic ‘fruit’ depends not only on starting an act but on completing it; leaving a duty unfinished undermines its intended spiritual or practical outcome.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Complete what you begin—especially vows, service, and ritual obligations—so your effort is not wasted and your responsibilities remain ethically intact.