Shloka 4

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायवान्ध्यानशीलः सर्वभूतहित रतः (तिः) / अह्नो मासस्य मध्ये वा कुर्याद्वार्थपरिग्रहम्

Transliteration

svādhyāyavāndhyānaśīlaḥ sarvabhūtahita rataḥ (tiḥ) / ahno māsasya madhye vā kuryādvārthaparigraham

Translation

ผู้ประกอบสวาธยายะ มีความเพียรในสมาธิ และยินดีในประโยชน์สุขของสรรพสัตว์ พึงกระทำอรรถปริครหะที่จำเป็น (รวบรวมปัจจัยเท่าที่ควร) ในกึ่งกลางวัน หรือในกึ่งกลางเดือน

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायवान्: possessed of self-study
• स्वाध्यायवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; possessive (मतुप्)

• ध्यानशीलः: habitually meditative
• ध्यानशीलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ध्यानं शीलं यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Tatpurusha compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — adjective stem used as compound member

• भूत: beings
• भूत: Sambandha (Genitive-relation within compound/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — neuter stem used as compound member

• हित: welfare, benefit
• हित: Visheshya (Head within compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — neuter stem used as compound member

• सर्वभूतहित: welfare of all beings
• सर्वभूतहित: Karma (Object within compound sense/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत + हित (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वेषां भूतानां हितम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — Tatpurusha compound noun ‘welfare of all beings’

• रतः: engaged, devoted
• रतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — past participle ‘engaged/delighting’, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अह्नः: of the day
• अह्नः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular

• मासस्य: of the month
• मासस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

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

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अर्थ: wealth, purpose
• अर्थ: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — masculine stem used as compound member

• परिग्रह: acquisition, acceptance
• परिग्रह: Visheshya (Head within compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + ग्रह (धातु) + घञ् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: घञन्त-भाववाचक/क्रियावाचक-प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — action-noun ‘acquisition/acceptance’, used as compound member

• अर्थपरिग्रहम्: acquisition of wealth
• अर्थपरिग्रहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ + परिग्रह (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अर्थस्य परिग्रहः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Tatpurusha compound; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Integrate svādhyāya and dhyāna with lokasaṅgraha (welfare of beings) while regulating artha-collection to fixed times, preventing greed and distraction.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: regulated action without obsession; sattva-preserving routine supporting contemplation.

Application: Time-box earning/errands; keep daily study/meditation primary; align livelihood with non-harm and public good.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.102.3-7 (sequence of ācāra and vrata disciplines)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Sarvabhūtas (all beings)

FAQs

What is the importance of svādhyāya and dhyāna in Garuda Purana?

This verse links disciplined self-study (svādhyāya) and meditation (dhyāna) with a life oriented to universal welfare, presenting them as core traits of a dharmic person.

Does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals or the afterlife?

Indirectly: it teaches ācāra (right conduct) and restrained artha (means of living), which Garuda Purana treats as foundations for merit (puṇya) that later shapes post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily study/reflection and meditation, keep a welfare-oriented mindset, and earn/receive resources in a disciplined, non-greedy way—taking only what is necessary and at appropriate times.