Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

कृषिं कुर्वन्द्विजः श्रान्तं बलीवर्दं न वाहयेत् / दिनार्धं स्नानयोगादिकारी विप्रांश्च भोजयेत्

Transliteration

kṛṣiṃ kurvandvijaḥ śrāntaṃ balīvardaṃ na vāhayet / dinārdhaṃ snānayogādikārī viprāṃśca bhojayet

Translation

കൃഷി ചെയ്യുന്ന ദ്വിജൻ ക്ഷീണിച്ച കാളയെ ബലമായി പണിയിലാക്കരുത്. അർദ്ധദിനം സ്നാനം, പൂജ മുതലായ കര്‍മ്മങ്ങളിൽ ഏർപ്പെട്ടു ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്കു ഭോജനം നൽകണം.

Word by Word

• कृषिम्: agriculture, farming
• कृषिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कुर्वन्: doing, performing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कुर्वन्’ = doing

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रान्तम्: tired, exhausted
• श्रान्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (बलीवर्दम्)

• बलीवर्दम्: bull/ox (draught animal)
• बलीवर्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलीवर्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• वाहयेत्: should make carry/should yoke (to carry)
• वाहयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• दिनार्धम्: half a day
• दिनार्धम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दिनस्य अर्धम्)

• स्नानयोगादिकारी: one engaged in bathing, yoga, etc.
• स्नानयोगादिकारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + योग + आदि + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (स्नान-योग-आदि-कार्येषु कारिन् = one engaged in bathing, yoga, etc.)

• विप्रान्: Brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: cause to eat)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, dharma-ācāra context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahiṃsā toward working animals and daily purification/worship with feeding of brāhmaṇas as dharmic support of ṛta.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: ordinary work becomes purifying when governed by dharma and offered through worship and service.

Application: Do not overwork dependents (animals/workers); keep a fixed daily routine of cleanliness and worship; practice regular charity/feeding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: agrarian household/field setting (implicit)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (gṛhastha/ācāra and purity rules context)

FAQs

What is the importance of humane treatment of animals in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats compassion as dharma: even while farming, one should not overwork an exhausted bull, indicating that ethical livelihood includes non-cruelty and restraint.

How does this verse relate to spiritual merit (puṇya) in the Garuda Purana?

It links daily purity and worship (snāna-yoga) with acts of giving—feeding brāhmaṇas—presenting household life as a path to merit through disciplined routine and charity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid exploiting labor (animal or human), build a daily practice of cleanliness/prayer/discipline, and regularly share food or support those devoted to learning and service.