Shloka 35

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

जीवेद्वापि शिलोञ्छेन श्रेयानेषां परः परः / न स्वाध्यायविरोध्यर्थमीहेत न यतस्ततः

Transliteration

jīvedvāpi śiloñchena śreyāneṣāṃ paraḥ paraḥ / na svādhyāyavirodhyarthamīheta na yatastataḥ

Translation

శిలోఞ్ఛముగా చిందరించిన ధాన్యాన్ని ఏరుకొని జీవించవలసివచ్చినా అది శ్రేయస్కరం; ఈ సరళ జీవనవృత్తుల్లో తరువాతది తరువాతది మరింత ఉత్తమం. స్వాధ్యాయానికి విఘాతం కలిగించే ధనం లేదా ప్రయోజనాన్ని కోరరాదు; అన్ని దిక్కుల నుండీ లాభాల వెనుక పరుగెత్తరాదు।

Word by Word

• जीवेत्: should live
• जीवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• शिलोञ्छेन: by gleaning (śiloñcha mode of subsistence)
• शिलोञ्छेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिलोञ्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रेयान्: better
• श्रेयान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तुलनात्मक-रूप (comparative)

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम

• परः: higher
• परः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परः: and higher still
• परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• स्वाध्याय-विरोधि-अर्थम्: a purpose that conflicts with self-study
• स्वाध्याय-विरोधि-अर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + विरोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः: स्वाध्यायस्य विरोधी यः अर्थः (purpose opposed to study)

• ईहेत: should strive/undertake
• ईहेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/कारणे अव्यय (indeclinable: because/from which reason)

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततस् (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय (indeclinable: therefore/from that)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Artha must not obstruct svadhyaya; austere livelihood (shiloncha) is preferable to compromising means.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-shuddhi through niyama; subordination of artha-kama to dharma as preparation for jnana.

Application: Choose income sources that do not erode daily study, integrity, or time; simplify consumption to protect learning and inner clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (sadachara and brahmana conduct context)

FAQs

What is the importance of śiloñcha (gleaning) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse upholds śiloñcha—living on minimal, harmless means—as a superior form of livelihood because it supports purity, restraint, and uninterrupted svādhyāya.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

By prioritizing svādhyāya and dharmic earning, it points to inner purification and merit-building—foundational causes that shape the soul’s post-death trajectory in Garuḍa Purāṇa ethics.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose honest, low-harm income and simplify wants; avoid careers or pursuits that routinely block spiritual discipline, study, and daily practice.