Shloka 5

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

अपूर्वः सुव्रती विप्रो ह्यपूर्वा यतयस्तदा / क्षत्त्रियः परसैन्यानि जित्वा पृथ्वीं प्रपालयेत्

Transliteration

apūrvaḥ suvratī vipro hyapūrvā yatayastadā / kṣattriyaḥ parasainyāni jitvā pṛthvīṃ prapālayet

Translation

ಅಂದು ಅಪೂರ್ವವಾದ ಸುವ್ರತೀ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನು ಇರುತ್ತಾನೆ; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಅಪೂರ್ವ ಯತಿಗಳು (ಸನ್ಯಾಸಿಗಳು) ಇರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯನು ಶತ್ರುಸೈನ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಜಯಿಸಿ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಿ ಆಳುವನು.

Word by Word

• अपूर्वः: unprecedented/extraordinary
• अपूर्वः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुव्रती: of good vows
• सुव्रती: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सु-व्रती = of good vows)

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• अपूर्वाः: unprecedented/extraordinary
• अपूर्वाः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (यतयः इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• यतयः: ascetics
• यतयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (then)

• क्षत्रियः: a kṣatriya
• क्षत्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परसैन्यानि: enemy armies
• परसैन्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (पर-सैन्य = enemy armies)

• जित्वा: having conquered
• जित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जि (धातु) → जित्वा (क्त्वान्त अव्यय/कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• पृथ्वीम्: the earth/kingdom
• पृथ्वीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रपालयेत्: should govern/protect
• प्रपालयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पाल् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa-ideal: disciplined brāhmaṇa and ascetics; kṣatriya conquers hostile forces and protects the realm—dharma upheld through complementary roles.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha: social harmony through role-aligned duty; protection of dharma as a condition for spiritual pursuit.

Application: Cultivate excellence in one’s responsibilities; leaders should prioritize protection, justice, and stability so spiritual and social life can flourish.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: world/kingdom

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (varṇāśrama and rāja-dharma passages)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Yatis
• Kṣatriya

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma (righteous conduct) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights dharma as a societal balance: disciplined brāhmaṇas and sincere ascetics uphold spiritual order, while righteous kṣatriyas protect the realm—together sustaining the world.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it implies that inner discipline (vows, renunciation) and outer righteousness (just protection and rule) are foundations for spiritual progress, which the Garuda Purana connects to favorable outcomes after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate personal vows and integrity (suvrata), respect authentic spiritual discipline, and support ethical leadership that protects society from harm—each is a modern form of ‘protecting the earth’ through dharma.