Shloka 15

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

अग्निहोत्रोपचरणं जीवनं च स्वकर्मभिः / धर्मदारेषु कल्पेत पर्ववर्जं रतिक्रियाः

Transliteration

agnihotropacaraṇaṃ jīvanaṃ ca svakarmabhiḥ / dharmadāreṣu kalpeta parvavarjaṃ ratikriyāḥ

Translation

അഗ്നിഹോത്രം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച് സ്വന്തം ധർമ്മാനുസൃത കർമങ്ങളാൽ ജീവിക്കണം. രതിക്രിയ ധർമ്മപത്നിയോടു മാത്രമേ ചെയ്യാവൂ; പർവ്വദിനങ്ങളിൽ അത് വർജ്യം.

Word by Word

• अग्निहोत्रोपचरणम्: attendance/service to the Agnihotra rite
• अग्निहोत्रोपचरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निहोत्र + उपचरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अग्निहोत्रस्य उपचरणम्)

• जीवनम्: livelihood
• जीवनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्वकर्मभिः: by one’s own duties/works
• स्वकर्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (स्वानि कर्माणि)

• धर्मदारेषु: with lawful wives
• धर्मदारेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य दाराः)

• कल्पेत: should be undertaken/should be done
• कल्पेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पर्ववर्जम्: excluding festival/holy days
• पर्ववर्जम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्व + वर्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पर्वाणि वर्जयित्वा) अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः

• रतिक्रियाः: sexual acts
• रतिक्रियाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रतेः क्रियाः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Maintain agnihotra; live by one’s rightful work; sexual conduct confined to lawful spouse and avoided on parva (holy observance) days.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha and yajña-spirit purify the mind; kama regulated by dharma.

Application: Sustain daily spiritual practice; earn ethically; practice fidelity and mindful intimacy with respect for sacred times/commitments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: household/altar-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (gṛhastha duties)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of Agnihotra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places Agnihotra among core gṛhastha duties, presenting it as a sustaining religious discipline alongside earning one’s livelihood through rightful work.

What does this verse teach about marital conduct?

It restricts sexual union to dharma-sanctioned marriage and adds time-based restraint by advising avoidance on parva (sacred observance) days.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live by honest work, keep a daily sacred practice (as feasible), and treat intimacy as a dharmic responsibility—guided by fidelity, restraint, and respect for sacred times.