Shloka 4

Yājñavalkya on the Sources of Dharma and the Saṁskāras of the Twice-Born

Devanagari script

वेदाः स्थानानि विद्यानां धर्मस्य च चतुर्दश / वक्तारो धर्मशास्त्राणां मनुर्विष्णुर्यमो ऽङ्गिराः

Transliteration

vedāḥ sthānāni vidyānāṃ dharmasya ca caturdaśa / vaktāro dharmaśāstrāṇāṃ manurviṣṇuryamo 'ṅgirāḥ

Translation

Os Vedas são o alicerce de todos os ramos do saber, e diz-se que as fontes do Dharma são catorze. Os expositores autorizados dos Dharmaśāstras são Manu, Viṣṇu, Yama e Aṅgiras.

Word by Word

• वेदाः: the Vedas
• वेदाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्थानानि: places/abodes/sources
• स्थानानि: Predicate/Complement (Pradhana-nama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विद्यानाम्: of knowledges/branches of learning
• विद्यानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धर्मस्य: of dharma
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Visheshana (Number qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषण; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन-रूपेण (indeclinable-like numeral used predicatively)

• वक्तारः: speakers/expounders
• वक्तारः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धर्मशास्त्राणाम्: of the Dharmaśāstras
• धर्मशास्त्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मशास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मनुः: Manu
• मनुः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अङ्गिराः: Aṅgiras
• अङ्गिराः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) (ऋषि-नाम; प्रथमा एकवचन रूप)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vedas are the foundational pramāṇa for vidyā; dharma has recognized sources (caturdaśa) and authoritative expounders (Manu, Viṣṇu, Yama, Aṅgiras).

Vedantic Theme: Śruti as highest authority; smṛti as derivative yet binding when aligned with śruti—epistemic hierarchy supporting right action (pravṛtti) and ultimately purification (citta-śuddhi).

Application: When resolving ethical/ritual questions, prioritize śruti-consistent sources and established dharma-śāstra authorities; avoid ad-hoc rule-making.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Dharma-kāṇḍa passages listing dharma-pramāṇas and ācāra; Garuda Purana sections invoking Yama as dharma-judge (linking dharma teaching to afterlife accountability)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Dharma
• Manu
• Vishnu
• Yama
• Angiras

FAQs

What is the importance of the sources of Dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse anchors Garuda Purana teaching in recognized Vedic authority, stating that Dharma rests on established sources and is explained through trusted Dharmaśāstra teachers.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it sets the rulebook: the soul’s post-death journey and outcomes are governed by Dharma, whose standards are rooted in the Vedas and articulated by Dharmaśāstra authorities like Yama.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use Vedic-Dharmic principles as the basis for ethical choices and ritual conduct—especially in funeral rites and duties—by relying on authentic Dharmaśāstra guidance rather than personal preference.