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Garuda Purana — Moksha Sadhana Prakarana, Shloka 20

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

सुजीर्णकन्थाजिनमेखलं च यज्ञोपवीतं च कलिप्रियं च / प्रियं गृहं चोर्णविता नकं च समित्कुशैः पूरितं कुत्सितं च

Transliteration

sujīrṇakanthājinamekhalaṃ ca yajñopavītaṃ ca kalipriyaṃ ca / priyaṃ gṛhaṃ corṇavitā nakaṃ ca samitkuśaiḥ pūritaṃ kutsitaṃ ca

Translation

В век Кали люди привязываются к внешним знакам: носят изношенные лохмотья, оленью шкуру и пояс, даже священный шнур (яджньопавита), — но всё же цепляются за любимое: домашнюю жизнь и шерстяное покрывало. Их руки полны ритуальных предметов — дров для огня и травы куша, — однако поведение остаётся низким и достойным порицания.

Word by Word
su-jīrṇa-kanthā-ajina-mekhalama very worn rag/skin belt
su-jīrṇa-kanthā-ajina-mekhalam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsu (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + jīrṇa (√jṛ, क्त) + kanthā (प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (प्रातिपदिक) + mekhalā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष “a belt (mekhalā) of a very worn (su-jīrṇa) rag/skin”
caand
ca:
Sam uccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; conjunction
yajña-upavītamsacred thread
yajña-upavītam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyajña (प्रातिपदिक) + upavīta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष “sacred thread (for yajña)”
caand
ca:
Sam uccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; conjunction
kali-priyamdear to Kali
kali-priyam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkali (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष “dear to Kali / liked by Kali”
caand
ca:
Sam uccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; conjunction
priyamdear
priyam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpriya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
gṛhamhouse
gṛham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootgṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
caand
ca:
Sam uccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; conjunction
ūrṇa-vitānamwoollen covering/canopy
ūrṇa-vitānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vitāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष “woollen canopy/covering” (reading corṇavitā→ca ūrṇa-vitānam)
nakaṃnaka (unclear item)
nakaṃ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootnaka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; rare/unclear lexeme (possibly ‘heaven’ in other contexts; here an object item)
caand
ca:
Sam uccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; conjunction
samit-kuśaiḥwith fuel-sticks and kuśa grass
samit-kuśaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootsamit (प्रातिपदिक) + kuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; द्वन्द्व “with fuel-sticks and kuśa-grass”
pūritamfilled
pūritam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Root√pṝ (धातु)
FormKta (क्त) PPP; Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; “filled”
kutsitamdespicable
kutsitam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkutsita (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective “despicable”
caand
ca:
Sam uccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; conjunction
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In Kali, people cling to external ascetic/ritual markers while remaining attached and morally degraded; true dharma requires inner transformation, not costume.

Vedantic Theme: Bāhya-ācāra without antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi is fruitless; authenticity (sattva) over mere saṃskāra-display.

Application: Align symbols (thread, ritual tools, vows) with behavior; reduce identity-signaling; practice integrity audits: ‘Does my conduct match my claimed values?’

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana critiques of Kali-yuga conduct and hypocrisy (contextual)

Characters & Entities
K
Kali (Kali-yuga)

FAQs

This verse warns that in Kali-yuga, people may adopt sacred markers and ritual paraphernalia while lacking ethical purity; the Purana prioritizes inner dharma over mere appearance.

It depicts a mismatch between external signs (sacred thread, deerskin, kuśa, samit) and inner character (kutsita—base conduct), implying that hypocrisy corrupts religious life and leads away from true merit.

Use rituals and religious symbols as supports for integrity—truthfulness, restraint, and compassion—rather than as substitutes for them.

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