Shloka 121

Devanagari script

सन्न्यासी चै सन्नयासश्चतुराश्रम एव च / ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थश्च वानप्रस्थश्च भिक्षुकः

Transliteration

sannyāsī cai sannayāsaścaturāśrama eva ca / brahmacārī gṛhasthaśca vānaprasthaśca bhikṣukaḥ

Translation

సన్న్యాసి మరియు సన్న్యాసము, అలాగే చతురాశ్రమ వ్యవస్థ: బ్రహ్మచారి, గృహస్థ, వానప్రస్థ, భిక్షుకుడు (పరివ్రాజకుడు).

Word by Word

• सन्न्यासी: renunciant; sannyāsin
• सन्न्यासी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्न्यासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ए: also/indeed (particle)
• ए: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ए (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; Vedic/archaic form used with च = 'caiva' sense)

• सन्न्यासः: renunciation; sannyāsa
• सन्न्यासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चतुराश्रमः: the four āśramas (stages of life)
• चतुराश्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (चत्वारः आश्रमाः)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ब्रह्मचारी: brahmacārin; celibate student
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणि चारिन्)

• गृहस्थः: householder
• गृहस्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वानप्रस्थः: forest-dweller; vānaprastha
• वानप्रस्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भिक्षुकः: mendicant; beggar-monk
• भिक्षुकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The four āśramas (brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, saṃnyāsa/bhikṣu) are legitimate, integrated modes of life; renunciation is both a state and a discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-śuddhi through svadharma; gradual dispassion culminating in saṃnyāsa as a support for jñāna.

Application: Choose life-stage duties consciously; practice restraint and simplicity appropriate to one’s āśrama; prepare for later-life detachment through disciplined living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: social-spiritual institution (āśrama system)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: ācāra and varṇāśrama discussions (general)

FAQs

What is the importance of the four āśramas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights the āśrama framework (student, householder, forest-dweller, renunciant) as a complete map for living dharma and progressing spiritually.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By naming the recognized life-stages, the text points to disciplined living and renunciation as supports for purification—foundational for a favorable post-death journey and liberation-oriented life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live according to your life-stage: practice self-control and learning, fulfill responsibilities ethically, simplify with age, and cultivate detachment—so actions align with dharma.