Shloka 32

Jīva-yonis (84 Lakhs), Rarity of Human Birth, Sense-Restraint, Craving, and Śraddhā-based Dharma

Devanagari script

धर्म एवापवर्गाय तस्माद्धर्मं समाचरेत् / श्रद्धया साध्यते धर्मो बहुभिर्नार्थराशिभिः

Transliteration

dharma evāpavargāya tasmāddharmaṃ samācaret / śraddhayā sādhyate dharmo bahubhirnārtharāśibhiḥ

Translation

മോക്ഷത്തിനായി ധർമ്മം തന്നെയാണ് മാർഗം; അതിനാൽ ധർമ്മം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം. ധർമ്മം ശ്രദ്ധയാൽ സിദ്ധിക്കുന്നു; വലിയ ധനകൂമ്പാരങ്ങൾ കൂട്ടിയാൽ അല്ല.

Word by Word

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic: only/indeed)

• अपवर्गाय: for liberation
• अपवर्गाय: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपवर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Reason/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should practice
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √चर्

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• साध्यते: is accomplished
• साध्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), आत्मनेपद; √साध्

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बहुभिः: by many
• बहुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अर्थ-राशिभिः: by heaps of wealth
• अर्थ-राशिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अर्थानां राशयः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is the means toward apavarga; its fulfillment depends on shraddha and sincere conduct, not on vast wealth.

Vedantic Theme: Sadhana-chatushtaya-adjacent: shraddha and disciplined practice purify and orient toward liberation; devaluation of external accumulation.

Application: Prioritize daily ethical disciplines, service, and faith-based sincerity; simplify life; measure success by integrity and inner freedom rather than assets.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: teaching discourse

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated linkage of dharma with apavarga and critique of hoarding

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma for liberation (apavarga) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that dharma itself is the direct means to apavarga (liberation), so one should prioritize righteous conduct as the true path beyond worldly bondage.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, worldly assets do not accompany the soul; the merit of dharma is what supports and uplifts one’s post-death journey, making faith-driven righteousness more valuable than wealth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily integrity, compassion, charity, and duty with sincere faith—focusing less on accumulation and more on righteous living that benefits both society and one’s spiritual progress.