Shloka 7

Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vows, Seasonal Tapas, and Equanimity

Devanagari script

आर्द्रवासास्तु हेमन्ते योगाभ्यासाद्दिनं नयेत् / यः कण्टकैर्वितुदति चन्दनैर्यश्च लिम्पति / अक्रुद्धः परितुष्टश्च समस्तस्य च तस्य च

Transliteration

ārdravāsāstu hemante yogābhyāsāddinaṃ nayet / yaḥ kaṇṭakairvitudati candanairyaśca limpati / akruddhaḥ parituṣṭaśca samastasya ca tasya ca

Translation

ในฤดูเหมันตะ พึงสวมผ้านุ่มชื้นและใช้วันให้ผ่านไปด้วยการฝึกโยคะ ต่อผู้ที่ทิ่มแทงด้วยหนามและผู้ที่ทาด้วยจันทน์—ต่อทั้งสองและต่อทุกคน—เขาย่อมไม่โกรธและดำรงอยู่ด้วยความสันโดษ

Word by Word

• आर्द्र: wet, damp
• आर्द्र: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — adjective stem used as compound member

• वासाः: one wearing (clothes)
• वासाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular (ending -āḥ)

• आर्द्रवासाः: one whose clothing is wet (wearing wet garments)
• आर्द्रवासाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्द्र + वासस् (समास)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (आर्द्रं वासो यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Bahuvrihi compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय — particle (emphasis/contrast)

• हेमन्ते: in winter
• हेमन्ते: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• योग: yoga
• योग: Sambandha (Genitive-relation within compound/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — masculine stem used as compound member

• अभ्यासात्: from practice, by practice
• अभ्यासात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (हेतु/अपादान), एकवचन — Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular; causal sense ‘because of/from’

• योगाभ्यासात्: from the practice of yoga
• योगाभ्यासात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + अभ्यास (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (योगस्य अभ्यासः; तस्मात्), पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन — Ablative Singular

• दिनम्: the day
• दिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• नयेत्: should spend/lead
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular (relative pronoun)

• कण्टकैः: with thorns
• कण्टकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• वितुदति: pierces, pricks
• वितुदति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + तुद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Present Indicative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• चन्दनैः: with sandalwood (paste)
• चन्दनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय — conjunction

• लिम्पति: smears, anoints
• लिम्पति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Present Indicative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अक्रुद्धः: not angry
• अक्रुद्धः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + क्रुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; कृध्/क्रुध् + क्त)
• Form: नञ्-समासपूर्वक क्तान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — negative ‘not angry’, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परितुष्टः: fully satisfied, content
• परितुष्टः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + तुष् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘fully content’, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय — conjunction

• समस्तस्य: of the whole, of all
• समस्तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक; अत्र षष्ठी, एकवचन — Genitive (6th), Singular; ‘of the whole/entire’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय — conjunction

• तस्य: of that (person/thing)
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Genitive (6th), Singular (pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय — conjunction

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yoga-abhyāsa with titikṣā (forbearance) and akrodha: remain content and non-reactive whether treated harshly (thorns) or gently (sandal).

Vedantic Theme: Samatva (even-mindedness) and kṣānti as marks of sattva and near-liberative maturity; transcending dvandvas (pairs of opposites).

Application: Practice emotional regulation: respond to criticism and praise with steadiness; cultivate contentment; use daily yoga/meditation to reduce reactivity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: seasonal setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.102.3-6 (progression from external discipline to deeper tapas)

FAQs

What is the importance of equanimity (samatva) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse praises steadiness of mind: remaining unangered and content whether one is harmed (like being pricked by thorns) or honored (like being anointed with sandal), treating all with the same inner balance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul through ethical discipline?

By emphasizing yoga-practice, angerlessness, and contentment, it points to inner purification—qualities that reduce karmic agitation and support spiritual progress rather than reactive, binding actions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily self-discipline (yoga/meditation), and train the mind to respond calmly to both insult and praise—choosing non-anger and contentment as a consistent ethical stance.