Shloka 3

Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vows, Seasonal Tapas, and Equanimity

Devanagari script

भृत्यांस्तु तर्पयेच्छ्मश्रुजटालोमभृदात्मवान् / दान्तस्त्रिषवणस्नायी निवृत्तश्च प्रतिग्रहात्

Transliteration

bhṛtyāṃstu tarpayecchmaśrujaṭālomabhṛdātmavān / dāntastriṣavaṇasnāyī nivṛttaśca pratigrahāt

Translation

ആത്മനിയമമുള്ള, താടി-ജടയും ദേഹരോമവും ധരിച്ച തപസ്വി തന്റെ ഭൃത്യന്മാരെയും സേവകരെയും വിധിപൂർവ്വം തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തണം. ദാന്തനായി ത്രിസന്ധ്യാസ്നാനം ചെയ്ത് പ്രതിഗ്രഹം (ദാനം സ്വീകരിക്കൽ) വിട്ടുനിൽക്കണം.

Word by Word

• भृत्यान्: servants, dependents
• भृत्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय — particle (emphasis/contrast)

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer libations to
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• श्मश्रु: beard
• श्मश्रु: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — Neuter stem used as compound member

• जटा: matted hair
• जटा: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — Feminine stem used as compound member

• लोम: body hair
• लोम: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — Neuter stem used as compound member

• भृत्: bearing, possessing
• भृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृ (धातु) + कृत्-प्रत्यय (क्विप्)
• Form: कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘भृत्’ (धारक/युक्त), समासाङ्ग — Kridanta adjective meaning ‘bearing/possessing’, used as compound member

• श्मश्रुजटालोमभृत्: one who bears beard, matted hair and body hair
• श्मश्रुजटालोमभृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्मश्रु + जटा + लोम + भृत् (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बहूनि उपपदानि + भृत्), प्रातिपदिक — Tatpurusha compound adjective ‘one who bears beard, matted hair and body hair’

• आत्मवान्: self-controlled, possessed of self
• आत्मवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘मतुप्’ प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• दान्तः: restrained, tamed
• दान्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Past participle ‘tamed’, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्रि: three
• त्रि: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — numeral stem used as compound member

• सवण: daily rite-time (morning/noon/evening)
• सवण: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — Neuter stem used as compound member

• स्नायी: bather; one who bathes
• स्नायी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + णिनि/इन् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (कर्तरि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — agent-noun/adjective ‘one who bathes’, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्रिषवणस्नायी: one who bathes at the three daily times
• त्रिषवणस्नायी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + सवण + स्नायी (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (त्रिषु सवनेषु स्नायी), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Tatpurusha compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निवृत्तः: withdrawn, refraining
• निवृत्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + वृत् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — past participle ‘withdrawn/ceased’, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय — conjunction

• प्रतिग्रहात्: from accepting gifts
• प्रतिग्रहात्: Apadana (Source/Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन — Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas-yukta sadācāra: self-control, service to dependents, purity through regular bathing, and renunciation of gift-taking to avoid bondage and bias.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of mind) through niyama and aparigraha, preparing for higher knowledge/bhakti.

Application: Maintain disciplined daily routine (sandhyā-times hygiene/ritual), fulfill duties to those dependent on you, and reduce conflicts of interest by limiting gifts/quid-pro-quo benefits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.102 (vrata/ācāra section continuing rules of tapas and restraint)

FAQs

What is the importance of trisandhya (three daily junction practices) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights triṣavaṇa-snāna as a core discipline: regular purification at dawn, noon, and dusk supports self-restraint and steadiness in dharma.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on karma and destiny?

By emphasizing restraint, purity, and avoidance of gift-dependence, the verse frames ethical self-governance as the basis for favorable karmic outcomes taught throughout the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily routines of cleanliness and reflection, live with self-control, provide fairly for those who depend on you, and avoid compromising integrity through unethical or self-serving “gifts.”