Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

एते आश्रमिका धर्माश्चतुर्वर्ण्यं बवीम्यतः / प्राजापत्यं ब्राह्मणानां स्मृतं स्थानं क्रियावताम्

Transliteration

ete āśramikā dharmāścaturvarṇyaṃ bavīmyataḥ / prājāpatyaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ smṛtaṃ sthānaṃ kriyāvatām

Translation

இவை ஆசிரம தர்மங்கள்; இனி நான்கு வர்ணங்களின் தர்மத்தைச் சொல்கிறேன். விதிப்படி கிரியைகளில் ஒழுக்கத்துடன் நிலைபெற்ற பிராமணர்களுக்கு பிராஜாபத்ய லோகம்/பதவி நியத இடமாக ஸ்மிருதி கூறுகிறது।

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• आश्रमिकाः: pertaining to āśramas (stages of life)
• आश्रमिकाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्रमिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying dharmāḥ)

• धर्माः: duties/dharma-practices
• धर्माः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• चतुर्वर्ण्यम्: the four varṇas (fourfold order)
• चतुर्वर्ण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (चत्वारः वर्णाः यस्य/चतुर्वर्ण्यम् = fourfold varṇa-system); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• बवीमि: I speak/declare
• बवीमि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; रूपभेद/पाठभेद: बवीमि ≈ ब्रवीमि

• अतः: therefore/now
• अतः: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थ (therefore/now)

• प्राजापत्यम्: (the) Prajāpatya (station/order)
• प्राजापत्यम्: Visheshya/Predicate nominal (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (or द्वितीया depending on construction); here as predicate-noun with sthānam

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• स्मृतम्: is said/remembered (as)
• स्मृतम्: Kriya-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicate adjective)

• स्थानम्: station/place
• स्थानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रियावताम्: of the ritual-performing (ones)
• क्रियावताम्: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रियावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of brāhmaṇānām: those who are active in rites)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa-āśrama duties are presented as a dharmic framework; brāhmaṇas devoted to proper rites and conduct attain Prajāpatya station.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as a ladder: disciplined action yields higher lokas; implicitly contrasts loka-attainment with ultimate mokṣa as higher aim.

Application: Clarify one’s svadharma (role-based responsibilities) and perform core duties with integrity; treat ritual/discipline as training in attention, purity, and responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm (loka)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.25 (Indra/Vāyu realms for other varṇas)

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Brahmanas
• Chaturvarnya
• Ashramas

FAQs

What is the importance of varṇa-āśrama dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dharma as structured through life-stages (āśramas) and social duties (varṇas), indicating that right conduct and prescribed actions shape one’s spiritual destiny.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Rather than describing punishments or Yama’s realm, it states a positive karmic outcome: Brāhmaṇas who faithfully perform rites (kriyā) are said to attain a Prajāpatya “station,” implying an elevated posthumous destination aligned with their dharmic discipline.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live according to your stage-of-life responsibilities, and perform duties with integrity and regularity—treating ethical conduct and disciplined practice as the foundation for long-term spiritual well-being.