Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

योगी च त्रिविधो ज्ञेयो भौतिकः क्षत्त्र एवच / तृतीयो ऽन्त्याश्रमी प्रोक्तो योगमूर्तिंसमास्थितः

Transliteration

yogī ca trividho jñeyo bhautikaḥ kṣattra evaca / tṛtīyo 'ntyāśramī prokto yogamūrtiṃsamāsthitaḥ

Translation

Seorang yogin hendaklah diketahui tiga jenis: yang bersifat duniawi (bhautika), yang bertabiat ksatria/raja-pejuang (kṣattra), dan yang ketiga ialah penghuni āśrama terakhir, yakni penyāsi, yang dikatakan teguh bersemayam dalam rupa Yoga itu sendiri.

Word by Word

• योगी: a yogin
• योगी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन

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

• त्रिविधः: threefold
• त्रिविधः: Pradhana-kriya-puraka (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; ‘threefold’

• ज्ञेयः: to be known
• ज्ञेयः: Pradhana-kriya-puraka (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु, अवबोधने) + यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय) → ज्ञेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: ‘to be known’)

• भौतिकः: the material (type)
• भौतिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भौतिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; प्रकार-निर्देश (a type: material/elemental)

• क्षत्त्रः: the kṣatra (type)
• क्षत्त्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; प्रकार-निर्देश (kṣatra-type)

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

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

• तृतीयः: the third
• तृतीयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• अन्त्याश्रमी: one in the final āśrama
• अन्त्याश्रमी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘अन्त्ये आश्रमे (स्थितः)’/‘अन्त्य-आश्रम-सम्बद्धः’

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: Pradhana-kriya-puraka (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु, वचने) + प्र (उपसर्ग) + क्त → प्रोक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle: ‘said/declared’)

• योगमूर्तिम्: the form of yoga
• योगमूर्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘योगस्य मूर्तिः’ (form/embodiment of yoga)

• समास्थितः: abiding in / having attained
• समास्थितः: Pradhana-kriya-puraka (Predicate participle)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्था (धातु, तिष्ठति/अवस्थान) + सम् + आ (उपसर्ग) + क्त → समास्थित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (one who has attained/abides in)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Threefold yogin: (1) bhautika (engaged in worldly sphere), (2) kṣattra (royal/warrior discipline), (3) antyāśramī (renunciate) who embodies yoga as his very form—highest stabilization.

Vedantic Theme: Integration and transcendence: yoga as discipline within pravṛtti roles, culminating in nivṛtti and identity with yogic steadiness (samādhi-niṣṭhā).

Application: Recognize one’s life-stage and duties, then adopt appropriate yogic discipline (self-control, concentration, ethical restraint); for advanced seekers, prioritize sustained meditation and detachment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.16–20 (bhikshuka-dharma; pravṛtti/nivṛtti)

Characters & Entities

• Yogin
• Kshatriya
• Antyashrami (Sannyasin)

FAQs

What is the importance of classifying yogis in the Garuda Purana?

This verse distinguishes levels of yoga orientation—worldly, royal-duty based, and renunciate—highlighting that the renunciate is portrayed as most firmly established in Yoga itself.

How does this verse relate to liberation (moksha) in the Garuda Purana?

By calling the antyāśramī “established in the very form of Yoga,” the verse points to renunciation and steady yogic absorption as a direct orientation toward moksha rather than worldly aims.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Assess your yoga goal honestly—worldly benefit, duty-based discipline, or liberation-focused renunciation—and align daily conduct (self-control, simplicity, steadiness) with that chosen path.