Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

ज्ञानं पूर्वं निवृत्तं स्यात्प्रवृत्तं चाग्निदेवकृत् / क्षमा दमो दया दानमलोभा (भो) भ्यास एव च

Transliteration

jñānaṃ pūrvaṃ nivṛttaṃ syātpravṛttaṃ cāgnidevakṛt / kṣamā damo dayā dānamalobhā (bho) bhyāsa eva ca

Translation

ജ്ഞാനം ആദ്യം നിവൃത്തിമാർഗത്തിലേക്ക് നയിക്കുന്നു; തുടർന്ന് ധർമ്മത്തിന്റെ ദിവ്യസാക്ഷിയായ അഗ്നിദേവനാൽ പ്രവൃത്തിധർമ്മം സ്ഥാപിതമാകുന്നു. ക്ഷമ, ദമം, ദയ, ദാനം, അലോഭം എന്നിവയും അവയുടെ നിരന്തര അഭ്യാസവും അനിവാര്യമാണ്।

Word by Word

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: formerly/first
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• निवृत्तम्: withdrawn/renounced
• निवृत्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√वृत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying jñānam)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रवृत्तम्: engaged/active
• प्रवृत्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√वृत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying jñānam)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अग्निदेवकृत्: done by Agnideva
• अग्निदेवकृत्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्निदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + √कृ (धातु) → कृत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अग्निदेवेन कृतम् = made by Agnideva); कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle sense), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying pravṛttam/jñānam)

• क्षमा: forbearance
• क्षमा: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दमः: self-control
• दमः: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दानम्: giving/charity
• दानम्: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अलोभाः: non-greed
• अलोभाः: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (or collective plural); सूचीपद

• अभ्यासः: practice
• अभ्यासः: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Integration of nivṛtti (renunciation) and pravṛtti (righteous engagement) through cultivated virtues (kṣamā, dama, dayā, dāna, alobha) sustained by abhyāsa.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya-like purification: ethical restraints and repeated practice prepare the mind for knowledge and liberation while sustaining dharmic life.

Application: Adopt a daily vow of one virtue (e.g., alobha in spending, dayā in speech), review at day’s end, and reinforce by consistent abhyāsa rather than sporadic intensity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (agni-kunda/gṛhāgni)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.22-25 (continuation of sadācāra/varna-āśrama framing)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of nivṛtti and pravṛtti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a balanced framework: knowledge matures into renunciation (nivṛtti), while righteous worldly duty (pravṛtti) is upheld under sacred order, with core virtues acting as the practical supports.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing knowledge, renunciation, and ethical virtues, it indicates that the soul’s progress is shaped not only by ritual but by inner purification—qualities that refine karma and support higher spiritual outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate forgiveness, self-control, compassion, charity, and non-greed as daily disciplines; treat them as “abhyāsa” (consistent practice) rather than occasional acts.