Shloka 22

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

मान्यावेतौ गृहस्थस्य ब्रह्मलोकमभीप्सतः / परपाकरुचिर्न स्यादनिन्द्यामन्त्रणादृते

Transliteration

mānyāvetau gṛhasthasya brahmalokamabhīpsataḥ / parapākarucirna syādanindyāmantraṇādṛte

Translation

जो गृहस्थ ब्रह्मलोकाची इच्छा धरतो, त्याने या दोघांचा मान राखावा. परक्यांच्या शिजवलेल्या अन्नात आसक्ती ठेवू नये—निर्दोष, धर्म्य निमंत्रणावाचून नाही.

Word by Word

• मान्यौ: worthy of honour
• मान्यौ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मान्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √मन्/√मान्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• एतौ: these two
• एतौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• गृहस्थस्य: of a householder
• गृहस्थस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Brahma-world
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः लोकः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभीप्सतः: of (one) desiring
• अभीप्सतः: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीप्सत् (कृदन्त; √आप्/√इप्स् धातु with abhi-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle); ‘desiring’

• परपाकरुचिः: taste for others' cooked food
• परपाकरुचिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परपाक (प्रातिपदिक) + रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परपाकस्य रुचिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अनिन्द्य: blameless
• अनिन्द्य: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिन्द्य (कृदन्त; √निन्द् धातु)
• Form: नञ्-समास/उपपद; ‘not blameworthy’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग as stem; here used as adjective to ‘आमन्त्रण’ in compound

• आमन्त्रणात्: from an invitation
• आमन्त्रणात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमन्त्रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• ऋते: except/without
• ऋते: Sambandha (Exclusion)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition; ‘except/without’; governs ablative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Honor two key recipients (implied: śrotriya and atithi) for one seeking Brahmaloka; avoid relish for others’ cooked food except when invited in a blameless manner.

Vedantic Theme: Food discipline (āhāra-śuddhi) supports mind purity (sattva-śuddhi), aiding higher lokas and spiritual clarity.

Application: Prefer self-prepared or ethically sourced food; accept meals when invited in righteous contexts; cultivate gratitude without dependency or opportunism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana gṛhastha-dharma on atithi/śrotriya honor and purity in eating

Characters & Entities

• Brahmaloka
• Grihastha (householder)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding para-pāka (food cooked by others) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links spiritual aspiration (seeking Brahmaloka) with disciplined conduct: a householder should avoid craving others’ cooked food, maintaining restraint and purity, except when accepting a faultless, dharmic invitation.

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

Rather than describing post-death routes directly, it emphasizes the ethical and disciplined life that supports higher post-mortem attainments such as Brahmaloka—showing that one’s destination is shaped by daily dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice moderation and discernment in accepting hospitality: avoid habitual dependence or indulgence in others’ provisions, and accept invitations that are respectful, clean, and aligned with ethical living.