Shloka 122

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः (७४०)शूद्रो वर्णस्तथैव च / शीलदः शीलसम्पन्नो दुः शीलपरिवर्जितः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyaḥ (740)śūdro varṇastathaiva ca / śīladaḥ śīlasampanno duḥ śīlaparivarjitaḥ

Translation

ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ, ക്ഷത്രിയൻ, വൈശ്യൻ (७४०) അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ശൂദ്രൻ—സദാചാരം നൽകുന്നവൻ, ശീലസമ്പന്നൻ, ദുശ്ശീലം വർജ്ജിക്കുന്നവൻ തന്നെയാണ് പ്രശംസനീയൻ.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणः: a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• वैश्यः: a vaiśya
• वैश्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शूद्रः: a śūdra
• शूद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वर्णः: class; varṇa
• वर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शीलदः: giver of good conduct; virtuous-bestowing
• शीलदः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीलद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शीलसम्पन्नः: endowed with good character
• शीलसम्पन्नः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शील + सम्पन्न (पद्/पद् धातु-सम्बद्ध क्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शीलेन सम्पन्नः = endowed with conduct)

• दुःशीलपरिवर्जितः: one who has shunned bad conduct
• दुःशीलपरिवर्जितः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःशील + परिवर्जित (वर्ज् धातु, क्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दुःशीलं परिवर्जितः = having avoided bad conduct)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Virtuous conduct (śīla) is the decisive marker of commendability across varṇas; avoidance of bad conduct is essential.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa/karma over jāti as a practical ethical lens; purification of mind (citta-śuddhi) through sadācāra supports higher realization.

Application: Prioritize integrity, non-harm, truthfulness, and self-discipline; evaluate leaders/teachers by character and actions, not labels.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: societal-ethical sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: ācāra, varṇa duties, and praise of sadācāra (general)

FAQs

What is the importance of śīla (good conduct) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that virtuous character and the abandonment of bad conduct are praised regardless of one’s varna, making śīla a key measure of dharma.

How does this verse relate to karma and the soul’s fate after death?

By centering moral conduct over social identity, it implies that post-death outcomes are shaped primarily by one’s actions and character (karma), not merely by birth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate integrity, self-restraint, and compassion, and consciously give up harmful habits—letting conduct, not status, define one’s dharmic life.