Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

नियमाः पञ्च सत्याद्या बाह्ममाभ्यन्तरं द्विधा / शौचं तुष्टिश्च सन्तोषस्तपश्चोन्द्रियनिग्रहः

Transliteration

niyamāḥ pañca satyādyā bāhmamābhyantaraṃ dvidhā / śaucaṃ tuṣṭiśca santoṣastapaścondriyanigrahaḥ

Translation

नियमाः पञ्च सत्याद्या बाह्यमाभ्यन्तरं द्विधा। शौचं तुष्टिश्च सन्तोषस्तपश्चेन्द्रियनिग्रहः॥

Word by Word

• नियमाः: observances; disciplines
• नियमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; प्रथमा (1), बहुवचनार्थे (नियमाः इति विशेषण)

• सत्याद्याः: beginning with truth
• सत्याद्याः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सत्यं आदिः येषाम्)

• बाह्यम्: external
• बाह्यम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• आभ्यन्तरम्: internal
• आभ्यन्तरम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• द्विधा: in two ways
• द्विधा: Avyaya (Modifier/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + धा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (in two ways)

• शौचम्: purity
• शौचम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तुष्टिः: contentment
• तुष्टिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Connector/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• सन्तोषः: satisfaction
• सन्तोषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Connector/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• इन्द्रियनिग्रहः: restraint of the senses
• इन्द्रियनिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रियाणां निग्रहः)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Niyamas as structured observances—external and internal—centering on purity, contentment, austerity, and mastery of senses.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya supports: śama-dama (sense control), titikṣā (austerity), and śuddhi leading to steadiness of mind.

Application: Create a twofold routine: external śauca (cleanliness, orderly living) and internal śauca (mental hygiene); practice gratitude (santoṣa), periodic austerity (fasting/discipline), and digital/sensory moderation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.31 (restraints); Garuda Purana 1.49.33 (svādhyāya, japa, worship)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of niyamas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats niyamas as a foundational fivefold discipline—purity, contentment, satisfaction, austerity, and sense-restraint—framing them as both outer conduct and inner cultivation for dharmic life.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing inner and outer self-regulation, the verse points to the moral and mental conditioning that supports a sattvic state—central in Garuda Purana teachings on karma and the consequences that follow the jīva beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and ethical truthfulness, practice contentment, adopt steady self-discipline, and restrain impulsive senses—daily habits that strengthen character and reduce karma-producing excesses.