Shloka 2

Varṇāśrama Dharma, Ethical Virtues, and Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga Culminating in ‘Ahaṃ Brahma’

Devanagari script

यजनं याजनं दानं ब्राह्मणस्य प्रतिग्रहः / अध्यापनं चाध्ययनं षट् कर्माणिद्विजोत्तमे

Transliteration

yajanaṃ yājanaṃ dānaṃ brāhmaṇasya pratigrahaḥ / adhyāpanaṃ cādhyayanaṃ ṣaṭ karmāṇidvijottame

Translation

സ്വയം യജ്ഞം ചെയ്യുക, മറ്റുള്ളവർക്കായി യജ്ഞം നടത്തിക്കുക, ദാനം നൽകുക, പ്രതിഗ്രഹം (ദാനം സ്വീകരിക്കൽ) ചെയ്യുക, അധ്യാപനം ചെയ്യുക, അധ്യയനം ചെയ്യുക—ഹേ ദ്വിജോത്തമാ! ബ്രാഹ്മണന്റെ ആറു കര്‍മ്മങ്ങൾ ഇവയാണ്.

Word by Word

• yajanam: sacrificing (performing yajña)
• yajanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaj (धातु) + ana (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛdanta (भाववाचक/अन), Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1/2), Ekavacana (एकवचन); here as item in list

• yājanam: causing others to sacrifice; officiating
• yājanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaj (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्) + ana (कृत्)
• Form: Kṛdanta (भाववाचक/अन), Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1/2), Ekavacana (एकवचन); causative sense (याजन = यज्ञ-प्रवर्तन)

• dānam: giving; charity
• dānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dā (धातु) + ana (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛdanta (भाववाचक/अन), Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1/2), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• brāhmaṇasya: of a brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6/षष्ठी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• pratigrahaḥ: acceptance (of gifts)
• pratigrahaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prati-grah (धातु) + a (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• adhyāpanam: teaching
• adhyāpanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhi-āp (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्) + ana (कृत्)
• Form: Kṛdanta (भाववाचक/अन), Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1/2), Ekavacana (एकवचन); causative (to teach)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya (conjunction)

• adhyayanam: studying
• adhyayanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhi-i (धातु) + ana (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛdanta (भाववाचक/अन), Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1/2), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ṣaṭ: six
• ṣaṭ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣ (संख्याशब्द)
• Form: Saṅkhyā (numeral), Napumsaka/avyaya-prāya; here qualifying karmāṇi

• karmāṇi: duties; acts
• karmāṇi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• dvijottame: O best of the twice-born
• dvijottame: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Sambodhana/Locative (सम्बोधन/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन); karmadhāraya/tatpuruṣa sense: dvijaḥ uttamaḥ

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The six-fold brāhmaṇa duties: yajana, yājana, dāna, pratigraha, adhyāpana, adhyayana.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as purifier when aligned with śāstra; knowledge transmission as a sacred obligation supporting dharma and ultimately brahma-jijñāsā.

Application: Balance learning and teaching; give appropriately; accept support without greed; perform/guide rituals with integrity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma sections on varna duties and right conduct (sadācāra)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Dvija

FAQs

What is the importance of the six duties (ṣaṭ-karmāṇi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines Brāhmaṇa-dharma through six core obligations—ritual performance, priestly service, charity, receiving rightful support, teaching, and study—establishing the ethical and ritual framework of conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly: by prescribing dharmic duties, it points to the karmic foundation that shapes post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana (merit through right conduct and ritual order).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live by role-based integrity: pursue learning and teaching, give charitably, support legitimate spiritual education, and perform duties with sincerity rather than exploitation.