Shloka 4

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

नियमे चेत् कृते देव चित्तभङ्गो हि जायते / केन तस्य भवेत् सिद्धिः कृतेनाप्यकृतेन वा

Transliteration

niyame cet kṛte deva cittabhaṅgo hi jāyate / kena tasya bhavet siddhiḥ kṛtenāpyakṛtena vā

Translation

ഹേ ദേവാ! നിയമം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുമ്പോൾ ചിത്തഭംഗം സംഭവിച്ചാൽ അതിന് സിദ്ധി എങ്ങനെ ലഭിക്കും? ചെയ്താലും ചെയ്യാതിരുന്നാലും അത് സിദ്ധമായതായി എങ്ങനെ പറയാം?

Word by Word

• नियमे: in a vow/observance
• नियमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional particle)

• कृते: when (it is) done
• कृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'कृते' = 'when done'

• देव: O god (sir)
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• चित्तभङ्गः: disturbance of mind
• चित्तभङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त-भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चित्तस्य भङ्गः)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• जायते: arises
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• केन: by what/with what
• केन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• तस्य: for him/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सिद्धिः: success/attainment
• सिद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृतेन: by doing
• कृतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; 'by (it being) done'

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• अकृतेन: by not doing
• अकृतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-कृत (प्रातिपदिक; कृ धातु + क्त, नञ्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेध (not done)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: If the mind breaks during niyama, what constitutes success—how is an observance ‘accomplished’ whether done or left undone?

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of intention and inner steadiness (citta-śuddhi/ekāgratā) over external ritual completion; karma’s fruit depends on bhāva.

Application: When discipline falters, return to intention, simplify the vow, and rebuild steadiness; measure progress by reduced agitation and increased clarity, not only by external checklists.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: vrata/niyama discussions where bhāva and purity are emphasized (general)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of mental focus (citta) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse stresses that mere external observance (niyama) is insufficient if the mind is fractured; steadiness of intention is essential for the rite to bear fruit.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals like Śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna?

In the Preta Kanda context, rites for the departed are meant to be done with clear sankalpa and attention; distraction undermines the intended spiritual support and merit of the act.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing any dharmic duty—prayer, japa, śrāddha, or charity—prioritize calm attention, simplify the procedure if needed, and complete it with sincere intent rather than hurried, distracted formality.