Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

तपसा कर्शितो ऽत्यर्थं यस्तु ध्यानपरो भवेत् / सन्यासी स हि विज्ञेयो वानप्रस्थाश्रमे स्थितः

Transliteration

tapasā karśito 'tyarthaṃ yastu dhyānaparo bhavet / sanyāsī sa hi vijñeyo vānaprasthāśrame sthitaḥ

Translation

Aquele que, consumido em excesso pelo tapas, se torna dedicado à meditação—deve ser conhecido como saṃnyāsī, embora permaneça no āśrama do vānaprastha.

Word by Word

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कर्शितः: emaciated
• कर्शितः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्शित (प्रातिपदिक; √कृश् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• अत्यर्थम्: excessively
• अत्यर्थम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), अत्यधिकार्थक

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• ध्यानपरः: devoted to meditation
• ध्यानपरः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• सन्यासी: renunciant
• सन्यासी: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्यासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक

• विज्ञेयः: to be known (as)
• विज्ञेयः: Kriya-visheshana (Predicate adjective/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विज्ञेय (प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा (धातु) + ण्यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: 'to be known')

• वानप्रस्थाश्रमे: in the vānaprastha-āśrama
• वानप्रस्थाश्रमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्थितः: situated/abiding
• स्थितः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When austerity matures into sustained meditation and disidentification from the body, one is to be regarded as a renunciant in spirit, even if outwardly in vānaprastha.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya and dhyāna as proximate causes for jñāna; shifting identity from āśrama-externals to inner realization.

Application: Prioritize meditation over mere hardship; reduce ego in ascetic practice; cultivate steady contemplation and non-attachment rather than performative austerity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: forest hermitage

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.14-15 (yoga, jñāna, ātmarati as higher culmination)

FAQs

What is the importance of tapas and dhyana in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats austerity and meditation as the defining spiritual markers that qualify one as truly renounced, emphasizing inner transformation over mere external status.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying renunciation with deep tapas and sustained meditation, it points to purification of mind and detachment—core preparations for liberation (moksha), rather than focusing on post-death mechanics in this specific line.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate disciplined simplicity and a steady meditation practice; let renunciation mean reduced ego and cravings, not just a change of clothing or social label.