Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

स्मृतं तेषां तु यत्स्थानं तदेव वन (गुरु) वासिनाम् / सप्तर्षीणां तु यत्स्थानं स्थानं तद्वै वनौकसाम्

Transliteration

smṛtaṃ teṣāṃ tu yatsthānaṃ tadeva vana (guru) vāsinām / saptarṣīṇāṃ tu yatsthānaṃ sthānaṃ tadvai vanaukasām

Translation

彼らのために伝え憶えられる住処は、まさに林に住む者（師のもとで苦行と規律に生きる者）の住処と同一である。さらに、七仙（サプタリシ）の住処こそ、まことに林住者の住処である。

Word by Word

• स्मृतम्: is remembered/declared
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; impersonal passive sense ‘is said/remembered’

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; pronoun genitive

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषणार्थक particle (but/indeed)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; relative pronoun qualifying स्थानम्

• स्थानम्: place/abode
• स्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; demonstrative correlating with यत्

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वनवासिनाम्: of forest-dwellers
• वनवासिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन-वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक; वन + वासिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; genitive dependent

• सप्तर्षीणाम्: of the seven sages
• सप्तर्षीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त-ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक; सप्त + ऋषि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• स्थानम्: place/abode
• स्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• स्थानम्: (that) place
• स्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; appositional repetition

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• वै: verily
• वै: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (indeed/verily)

• वनौकसाम्: of forest-dwellers
• वनौकसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन-ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक; वन + ओकस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āśrama-dharma: forest-dwelling austerity aligns one’s destiny with rishi-realms; remembrance (smṛta) of scriptural mapping validates the path.

Vedantic Theme: Purification through tapas and vairāgya as preparatory ascent; graded worlds as pedagogical supports toward ultimate release.

Application: Adopt vānaprastha-like simplicity—reduced possessions, study, japa, and disciplined living—to elevate mind and destiny.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest/ashrama and celestial asterism-loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana loka-krama and ashrama fruits around 1.49; Garuda Purana teachings on vānaprastha and tapas as higher gati

Characters & Entities

• Saptarishis
• Vanavasins (forest-dwellers/ascetics)
• Guru (as discipline/teacher, in the variant reading)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Saptarishis' abode in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links the Saptarishis’ realm with the spiritual attainment of disciplined forest-dwellers, presenting it as a recognized destination for those who live austerely and dharmically.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It indicates that one’s post-death destination corresponds to one’s life of practice: those established in tapas, restraint, and (as per the variant) guru-guided discipline are said to reach the same exalted region associated with the Seven Sages.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate disciplined living—simplicity, self-control, study, service to teachers/elders, and sincere spiritual practice—since the Purana frames inner austerity and dharma as determinants of one’s higher trajectory.