Shloka 1
An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya
इत श्रीगारुडे महापुराणे पूर्वखण्डे प्रथमांशाक्ये आचारकाण्डे याज्ञवल्क्योक्तवर्णधर्मनिरूपणं नाम चतुर्नवतितमो ऽध्यायः याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच / शृण्वन्तु मुनयो धर्मान् गृहस्थस्य यतव्रताः / गुरवे च धनं दत्त्वा स्नात्वा च तदनुज्ञया
ita śrīgāruḍe mahāpurāṇe pūrvakhaṇḍe prathamāṃśākye ācārakāṇḍe yājñavalkyoktavarṇadharmanirūpaṇaṃ nāma caturnavatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ yājñavalkya uvāca / śṛṇvantu munayo dharmān gṛhasthasya yatavratāḥ / gurave ca dhanaṃ dattvā snātvā ca tadanujñayā
இவ்வாறு ஸ்ரீகருட மஹாபுராணத்தின் பூர்வகண்டம், முதற்பகுதி, ஆசாரகாண்டத்தில் ‘யாஜ்ஞவல்க்யர் உரைத்த வர்ணதர்ம நிரூபணம்’ எனும் தொண்ணூற்றுநான்காம் அத்தியாயம் (ஆரம்பம்). யாஜ்ஞவல்க்யர் கூறினார்— விரதநியமங்களில் கட்டுப்பட்ட முனிவர்கள் இல்லறத்தாரின் தர்மங்களை கேளுங்கள்; குருவிற்கு தகுந்த தானம் அளித்து, அவரின் அனுமதியுடன் ஸ்நானம் செய்து.
Yājñavalkya
Concept: Transition protocol: offer wealth to the guru (guru-dakṣiṇā), obtain permission, perform snāna (samāvartana), then receive gṛhastha duties.
Vedantic Theme: Paramparā (lineage) and śruti-smṛti authority; dharma as lived discipline grounded in humility and gratitude to the teacher.
Application: Honor teachers/mentors with appropriate gratitude; seek proper closure and consent before major life transitions; approach duties through listening and restraint.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: textual/assembly setting (muni-sabhā)
Related Themes: Ācāra-kāṇḍa: samāvartana, guru-dakṣiṇā, gṛhastha duties (general parallel)
FAQs
This verse frames the householder’s dharma as a formal teaching to be heard from sages/teachers, emphasizing disciplined vows and proper ritual-ethical preparation before learning and practicing duties.
No. It belongs to the Ācāra-kāṇḍa (conduct section) and introduces householder duties and the protocol of learning (honoring the guru, purification), rather than afterlife geography or Yama’s realm.
Approach spiritual study with humility: honor your teacher/lineage (service or appropriate offering), seek guidance/permission, and cultivate inner and outer cleanliness before taking up dharma in daily life.