Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

कृतं त्यजेदाश्वयुजे युञ्जेत्कालं व्रतादिना / पक्षे मासे थवाश्नीयाद्दन्तोलूखलिको भवेत्

Transliteration

kṛtaṃ tyajedāśvayuje yuñjetkālaṃ vratādinā / pakṣe māse thavāśnīyāddantolūkhaliko bhavet

Translation

ആശ്വയുജ മാസത്തിൽ ‘കൃത’ (പാകം ചെയ്ത/സംസ്കൃത) ആഹാരം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് വ്രതാദി നിയമങ്ങളിൽ കാലം നിയോഗിക്കണം. പക്ഷം അല്ലെങ്കിൽ മാസം അൽപാഹാരം സ്വീകരിക്കണം; അങ്ങനെ ദന്തോലൂഖലികൻ (പല്ലുകളേ ഉഖലമെന്നപോലെ, അത്യൽപാഹാരി) ആകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• कृतम्: what is done / prepared (kṛta)
• कृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आश्वयुजे: in the month Āśvayuja
• आश्वयुजे: Adhikarana (Time-location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्वयुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• युञ्जेत्: should employ/undertake
• युञ्जेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Atmanepada

• कालम्: time, period
• कालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• व्रत: vow, observance
• व्रत: Sambandha (Instrumental-relation within compound/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — neuter stem used as compound member

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Sambandha (Etc./सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: समासान्त-प्रयोगे अव्ययीभावार्थक ‘आदि’ — indeclinable-like ‘etc.’ used in compound

• व्रतादिना: by vows and the like
• व्रतादिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + आदि (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (व्रत-आदि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — Instrumental (3rd) Singular

• पक्षे: in a fortnight
• पक्षे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• मासे: in a month
• मासे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• थवा: or (variant reading)
• थवा: Sambandha (Disjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: थवा (अव्यय)
• Form: पाठदोष/दुर्लभ-अव्यय; सम्भाव्यं ‘अथवा’ (विकल्पार्थक) — likely variant of ‘athavā’ (or)

• अश्नीयात्: should eat
• अश्नीयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Atmanepada

• दन्त: tooth
• दन्त: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — masculine stem used as compound member

• उलूखलिक: (one who uses) a mortar; ‘ulūkhala’ related
• उलूखलिक: Visheshya (Head within compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उलूखलिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — masculine stem used as compound member

• दन्तोलूखलिकः: a ‘dantolūkhālika’ (ascetic practice term)
• दन्तोलूखलिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त + उलूखलिक (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• भवेत्: should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Seasonal vrata and āhāra-niyama: relinquishing prepared/processed foods and adopting controlled intake to strengthen tapas and reduce sense-indulgence.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha (sense restraint) and vairāgya as supports for sattva and inner clarity.

Application: Adopt periodic dietary simplification (e.g., fortnightly/monthly), reduce ultra-processed foods, and pair restraint with ethical vows (truthfulness, non-harm, moderation).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual calendar period

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.102.6 (Cāndrāyaṇa and seasonal tapas); Garuda Purana 1.102.3-4 (discipline and regulated living)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Āśvayuja (Āśvina month)

FAQs

What is the importance of dietary restraint in Āśvayuja according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes giving up richer/processed foods and adopting vrata-based discipline in Āśvayuja, emphasizing purification and self-control through simplified eating.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on dharma?

It frames dharma as practical self-regulation—time-bound vows, controlled diet, and austerity—used to cultivate inner steadiness and religious merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During a chosen sacred period (e.g., Āśvina), reduce indulgent foods, keep a simple diet, and pair it with a consistent vow (japa, charity, or restraint) to strengthen discipline.