Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

यो ऽधीत्य विधिवद्वेदान् गृहस्थाश्रममाव्रजेत् / उपकुर्वाणको ज्ञेयो नैष्ठिको मरणान्तिकः

Transliteration

yo 'dhītya vidhivadvedān gṛhasthāśramamāvrajet / upakurvāṇako jñeyo naiṣṭhiko maraṇāntikaḥ

Translation

यो विधिवद्वेदानधीत्य गृहस्थाश्रममाव्रजेत् स उपकुर्वाणको ज्ञेयः; नैष्ठिकस्तु मरणान्तिकं ब्रह्मचर्ये दृढनिश्चयः।

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-यः (relative pronoun: who)

• अधीत्य: having studied
• अधीत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधि + इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having studied’

• विधिवत्: properly; according to injunction
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): according to rule

• वेदान्: the Vedas
• वेदान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• गृहस्थाश्रमम्: the householder stage
• गृहस्थाश्रमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गृहस्थस्य आश्रमः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आव्रजेत्: should enter
• आव्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• उपकुर्वाणकः: an upakurvāṇa (temporary student)
• उपकुर्वाणकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त) → उपकुर्वाण + क (प्रातिपदिक-निर्माण)
• Form: शतृ-आधारित कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ज्ञेयः: is to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयः: Vidhi (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त भाव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (gerundive: ‘to be known’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• नैष्ठिकः: a naiṣṭhika
• नैष्ठिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैष्ठिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मरणान्तिकः: lasting until death
• मरणान्तिकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मरणम् अन्तः/अन्तिकं यस्य—‘till death’ sense); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upakurvāṇa: completes Vedic study and enters gṛhastha; naiṣṭhika: remains steadfast in brahmacarya until death.

Vedantic Theme: Niṣṭhā (steadfast commitment) as a qualifier for higher pursuit; dharma as preparatory ground for jñāna.

Application: Complete foundational learning with discipline; if choosing family life, do so after training; if choosing lifelong continence, maintain unwavering vows and simplicity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.6 (definition of upakurvāṇa/naiṣṭhika); Garuda Purana 1.49.8–1.49.10 (gṛhastha types and mokṣa-leaning detachment)

FAQs

What is the importance of upakurvāṇa and naiṣṭhika in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse distinguishes two legitimate outcomes of Vedic studentship: one may complete study and enter gṛhastha (upakurvāṇa), or remain a lifelong, vow-steady student/continent (naiṣṭhika) until death.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames dharmic life-choices—householder duty after study or lifelong restraint—as paths grounded in Vedic discipline, shaping one’s merit (puṇya) and spiritual steadiness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Commit to disciplined learning and ethical restraint: after education, either responsibly take up family/social duties with dharma, or choose a life of sustained vows and simplicity—both require rule-based conduct and integrity.