Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवान्देवान्न पृथग्भावयेत्सुधीः / लोके ऽस्मिन्मङ्गलान्यष्टौ ब्राह्मणो गौर्हुताशनः

Transliteration

brahmaviṣṇuśivāndevānna pṛthagbhāvayetsudhīḥ / loke 'sminmaṅgalānyaṣṭau brāhmaṇo gaurhutāśanaḥ

Translation

ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवान् देवान् न पृथग्भावयेत् सुधीः; लोकेऽस्मिन् मङ्गलान्यष्टौ—ब्राह्मणो गौर्हुताशनः।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म: Brahma
• ब्रह्म: Sambandha (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (नाम), प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• विष्णु: Vishnu
• विष्णु: Sambandha (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• शिवान्: Shivas (i.e., Shiva)
• शिवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासे पूर्वपद-समुच्चय

• देवान्: gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; शिवान् इत्यादीनां विशेष्य

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध निपात

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘separately’

• भावयेत्: should consider
• भावयेत्: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त ‘to conceive/consider’

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; लोक इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मङ्गलानि: auspicious things
• मङ्गलानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Karta (Quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; मङ्गलानि इत्यस्य विशेषण

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Apposition/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सूची-प्रथमः

• गौः: a cow
• गौः: Karta (List item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हुताशनः: fire (the oblation-eater)
• हुताशनः: Karta (List item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुत (हु धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + अशन्/अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास (हुतं अश्नाति/हुतं आशनः = अग्निः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Do not fragment the divine into mutually opposed compartments; uphold auspicious supports that preserve dharma in the world.

Vedantic Theme: Ekatva-darśana (seeing unity) alongside vyavahāra-dharma (practical sacred order).

Application: Cultivate respect across devotional forms (Brahmā/Viṣṇu/Śiva) while actively supporting dharmic institutions: learning/teachers (brāhmaṇa), non-violence and sustenance (cow), and sacred discipline/ritual fire (agni).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: social-sacred landscape (village/household/temple sphere)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent stress on dharma-supporting conduct and reverence to brāhmaṇas and agni in ritual contexts (general)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Devas
• Brahmana
• Cow (Gau)
• Agni (Hutashana)

FAQs

What is the importance of viewing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva as non-separate in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches theological unity: the wise should not create division among the principal deities and devas, supporting a dharmic outlook that honors all forms of the divine without sectarian conflict.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual practice and auspiciousness?

By listing auspicious supports in the world—such as the Brāhmaṇa, the cow, and sacred fire—it links right understanding (non-separateness of devas) with right conduct (honoring key ritual pillars like Agni and dharmic protectors like the Brāhmaṇa and Gau).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid divisive sectarianism, respect learned ethical guidance (brāhmaṇa as dharma-principle), protect cows/animal welfare, and maintain sanctity in worship and life through disciplined, ‘Agni-like’ purity and responsibility.