Shloka 1

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

नाम पडुत्तरशततमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / पराशरो ऽब्रवीद्व्यासं धर्मं वर्णाश्रमादिकम् / कल्पेकल्पे क्षयोत्पत्त्या क्षीयन्ते नु प्रजादयः

Transliteration

nāma paḍuttaraśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / parāśaro 'bravīdvyāsaṃ dharmaṃ varṇāśramādikam / kalpekalpe kṣayotpattyā kṣīyante nu prajādayaḥ

Translation

‘నామ’ అనే నూట ఏడవ అధ్యాయం. సూతుడు పలికెను—పరాశరుడు వ్యాసునికి వర్ణాశ్రమాది ధర్మాన్ని ఉపదేశించాడు. కల్పం కల్పంగా ప్రళయ-సృష్టి చక్రాల వల్ల ప్రజలు మొదలైనవారు నిజంగా క్షీణిస్తారా?

Word by Word

• नाम: (entitled)
• नाम: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: संज्ञासूचक-अव्यय (indeclinable introducing title)

• पडुत्तरशततमः: one hundred and sixth
• पडुत्तरशततमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पडु (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक) + तम (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पडु-उत्तर-शत = 106) + तम-प्रत्यय (ordinal ‘106th’)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पराशरः: Parāśara
• पराशरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराशर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said/told
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• व्यासम्: Vyāsa
• व्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• वर्ण: social class (varna)
• वर्ण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• आश्रम: life-stage (āśrama)
• आश्रम: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• आदिकम्: etcetera (and related)
• आदिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वर्णाश्रमादि = ‘beginning with varṇa and āśrama’)

• कल्पे: in a kalpa (aeon)
• कल्पे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• कल्पे: in each kalpa
• कल्पे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition)

• क्षय: destruction/decay
• क्षय: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• उत्पत्त्या: by destruction-and-creation
• उत्पत्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (क्षय+उत्पत्ति) इतरेतरद्वन्द्वः; ‘by destruction and creation’

• क्षीयन्ते: perish/decline
• क्षीयन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षि (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• नु: indeed?/pray
• नु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/अनुनयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed?/pray)

• प्रजा: creatures/subjects
• प्रजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• आदयः: and others
• आदयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रजादयः = ‘prajā and others’)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇāśrama-dharma is taught within vast kalpa cycles; beings diminish through repeated dissolution and recreation—prompting inquiry into sustaining dharma amid decline.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra’s cyclicality (kalpa-pralaya) and the need for dharma as stabilizing discipline; impermanence of prajā within cosmic time.

Application: Treat ethical duties as enduring supports even amid societal change; cultivate long-view responsibility and humility about historical decline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest hermitage / discourse setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (chapter opening into varṇāśrama-dharma exposition)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Parāśara
• Vyāsa

FAQs

What is the importance of varṇāśrama-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the chapter as a teaching on dharma beginning with varṇa and āśrama duties, presenting ethical order as a foundational lens for understanding human life and spiritual progress.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by introducing dharma as the governing principle, it implies that one’s conduct within ordained duties shapes outcomes across time and cycles, preparing the ground for later teachings on post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with discipline and responsibility appropriate to your stage of life and role, using dharma as a guide—especially when social or personal conditions feel unstable or in decline.