Shloka 18

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

प्रतिषिद्धान्निवृत्तिश्च त्रिः स्नानं व्रतधारिता / देवतातिथिपूजा च धर्मो ऽयं वनवासिनः

Transliteration

pratiṣiddhānnivṛttiśca triḥ snānaṃ vratadhāritā / devatātithipūjā ca dharmo 'yaṃ vanavāsinaḥ

Translation

Menjauhi makanan yang dilarang, mandi tiga kali sehari, memegang teguh vrata (nazar), serta memuja para dewa dan memuliakan tetamu yang dihormati—itulah dharma bagi mereka yang menjalani hidup di rimba.

Word by Word

• प्रतिषिद्ध: forbidden
• प्रतिषिद्ध: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिषिद्ध (कृदन्त; √सिध्/√षिध् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: विशेषण; पुं/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• अन्न: food
• अन्न: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• निवृत्तिः: abstention (refraining)
• निवृत्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक; नि + √वृत् (धातु) + क्तिन्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रतिषिद्ध-अन्न-निवृत्तिः = abstention from forbidden food)

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

• त्रिः: thrice
• त्रिः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thrice)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक; √स्ना (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त

• व्रतधारिता: observance of vows
• व्रतधारिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + धारिता (कृदन्त; √धृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (धारित = held/observed) भाववाचक

• देवता: deity
• देवता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• अतिथि: guest
• अतिथि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• पूजा: worship (of deity and guest)
• पूजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (देवता+अतिथि) ततः पूजा

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

• धर्मः: duty; dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshya (Apposition/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वनवासिनः: of forest-dwellers
• वनवासिनः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (of forest-dwellers)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Niyamas of the forest-dweller: dietary restraint, thrice-daily bathing, vow-keeping, worship of deities and guests.

Vedantic Theme: Shauca and niyama as mind-purifiers enabling steadiness (chitta-shuddhi) for higher inquiry.

Application: Keep clear personal rules: avoid harmful consumption, maintain cleanliness, honor commitments, and practice hospitality/service.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama/forest

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.17 (outer marks); Garuda Purana 1.213.19-21 (deeper renunciation and inner discipline)

Characters & Entities

• Devatā
• Atithi

FAQs

What is the importance of vanavāsa-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines the core disciplines of a forest-dweller—dietary restraint, regular purification, steadfast vows, and reverence to devas and guests—presenting vanavāsa as a structured dharmic life, not mere seclusion.

How does this verse relate to spiritual progress in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing purity (snāna), restraint (avoiding prohibited foods), and disciplined observance (vrata), the verse frames spiritual progress as the result of regulated conduct and reverence, which support steadiness of mind and dharmic merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt restraint in consumption, keep consistent personal and mental hygiene, commit to a manageable vow (like truthful speech or moderation), and practice hospitality and daily gratitude toward the divine.