Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

निर्वपेत्पञ्च यज्ञानि क्रूरे निन्दां च कारयेत् / तिलाज्यं न विक्रीणित सूनायज्ञमघान्वितः

Transliteration

nirvapetpañca yajñāni krūre nindāṃ ca kārayet / tilājyaṃ na vikrīṇita sūnāyajñamaghānvitaḥ

Translation

ನಿತ್ಯ ಪಂಚಯಜ್ಞಗಳನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸಬೇಕು; ಕ್ರೂರ ನಿಂದೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಸಿದರೂ ಸಹ ಎಳ್ಳು ಮತ್ತು ತುಪ್ಪವನ್ನು ಮಾರಬಾರದು—ಅದು ಪಾಪಭರಿತ ‘ಸೂನಾಯಜ್ಞ’ವೆಂದು ಎಣೆಯಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತದೆ.

Word by Word

• निर्वपेत्: should perform/offer (as sacrifice)
• निर्वपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√वप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Quantifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (numeral, indeclinable)

• यज्ञानि: sacrifices
• यज्ञानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• क्रूरे: towards/in the case of a cruel (person)
• क्रूरे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अर्थे: क्रूरे [जने/कर्मणि])

• निन्दाम्: censure, blame
• निन्दाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कारयेत्: should cause to be done/should make (someone) do
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative)

• तिलाज्यम्: sesame and ghee
• तिलाज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल + आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (तिलं च आज्यं च)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• विक्रीणीत: should sell
• विक्रीणीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√क्री (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; (पाठभेदः: विक्रीणीत/विक्रीणीत्)

• सूनायज्ञम्: the slaughter-sacrifice (butchery-related act)
• सूनायज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूना + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सूनायाः यज्ञः)

• अघान्वितः: tainted with sin
• अघान्वितः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अघ + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (अघैः अन्वितः = endowed with sins)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Perform pañca-mahāyajñas, but avoid livelihoods/actions classified as sūnā-yajña (sinful violence/impurity), here linked to selling tila and ghṛta.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and its subtle taints: outward ritual cannot fully counteract adharmic livelihood; purity of means matters.

Application: Maintain daily duties (devayajña, pitṛyajña, bhūtayajña, manuṣyayajña, brahmayajña) and avoid exploitative/impure trade; choose ethical sourcing and commerce.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: household/market interface (implicit)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (ācāra; prohibitions and expiations around livelihood and purity)

FAQs

What is the importance of the five daily yajnas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse points to pañca-yajña as a baseline of household dharma—regular offerings and duties that sustain merit—while warning that certain actions and livelihoods can still generate heavy demerit.

How does this verse relate to karma and consequences taught in the Garuda Purana?

By labeling certain conduct as “aghānvita” (sin-laden) and connecting it to sūnā-yajña, the verse frames everyday choices—speech, actions, and commerce—as direct causes of karmic burden that later ripens as suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily disciplines (prayer, charity, study, offerings) and avoid harm-amplifying livelihoods or unethical trade; also refrain from instigating harsh speech or public shaming that damages others.