Shloka 23

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

यथोक्तकारिणः सर्वे प्रयान्ति परमां गतिम् / आ बोधात्स्वपनं यावत् गृहिधर्मं च वच्मि ते

Transliteration

yathoktakāriṇaḥ sarve prayānti paramāṃ gatim / ā bodhātsvapanaṃ yāvat gṛhidharmaṃ ca vacmi te

Translation

శాస్త్రోక్తంగా ఆచరించేవారందరూ పరమగతిని పొందుతారు। మేల్కొనిన క్షణం నుండి నిద్రించే వరకు గృహస్థధర్మాన్ని నీకు చెప్పుచున్నాను।

Word by Word

• यथोक्तकारिणः: those who act as instructed
• यथोक्तकारिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथा + उक्त + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (यथोक्तं करोति इति)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (यथोक्तकारिणः)

• प्रयान्ति: go/attain
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (गतिम्)

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आ: up to
• आ: Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधि/मर्यादा-बोधक (prepositional particle: 'up to')

• बोधात्: from waking
• बोधात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• स्वपनम्: sleeping
• स्वपनम्: Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यावत्: until
• यावत्: Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधि-बोधक (adverb/conjunction: 'until/as long as')

• गृहिधर्मम्: householder’s duty
• गृहिधर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहिन् + धर्म (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (गृहिणः धर्मः)

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

• वच्मि: I speak/tell
• वच्मि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (6th/Gen or 4th/Dat), एकवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (तुभ्यम्) अधिकयुक्ता

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Faithful performance of enjoined duties leads to the highest state; introduction to the householder’s daily code from waking to sleep.

Vedantic Theme: Niṣkāma-karma and śāstra-niyama as preparation for inner realization; ‘highest state’ can be read as svarga or mokṣa depending on context and purity of intent.

Application: Structure the day around prescribed duties; keep a consistent routine; treat ordinary actions as dharma-sādhana.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.24-26 (brahma-muhūrta, sandhyā, śauca)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Grihastha Dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames householder-dharma as an all-day discipline (from waking to sleep) and presents it as a direct means to the “highest state” when performed as enjoined.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It links destiny (“highest goal”) with yathokta-kriyā—acting according to prescribed dharma—implying that consistent righteous conduct governs one’s spiritual outcome.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Structure daily life around ethical duties and regular practices (self-control, honesty, service, and daily worship), aiming for steady, rule-aligned conduct rather than occasional intensity.