Shloka 11

Devanagari script

याजनाध्ययने शुद्धे विशुद्धाच्च प्रतिग्रहः / वृत्तित्रयमिदं प्राहुर्मुनयः श्रेष्ठवर्णिनः

Transliteration

yājanādhyayane śuddhe viśuddhācca pratigrahaḥ / vṛttitrayamidaṃ prāhurmunayaḥ śreṣṭhavarṇinaḥ

Translation

เหล่ามุนีกล่าวว่า สำหรับทวิชผู้ประเสริฐมีวิถีเลี้ยงชีพอันบริสุทธิ์สามประการ คือ การเป็นปุโรหิตประกอบยัญพิธี การศึกษา/สอนอย่างบริสุทธิ์ และการรับทาน (ปฤติกฺรหะ) เฉพาะจากผู้บริสุทธิ์เท่านั้น

Word by Word

• याजनाध्ययने: in officiating (sacrifice) and in study
• याजनाध्ययने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याजन (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्विवचन/एकवचन-रूपे सप्तमी?; वस्तुतः द्वन्द्व-समासस्य सप्तमी द्विवचनम्—‘याजने (7th) अध्ययने (7th)’ इति द्वयोः अधिकरणे; पाठानुसार एकपदत्वात् ‘सप्तमी, द्विवचन’ ग्रहणीयम्

• शुद्धे: pure
• शुद्धे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, द्विवचन; विशेषण—‘याजनाध्ययने’ इत्यस्य

• विशुद्धात्: from the very pure (person/source)
• विशुद्धात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘विशुद्ध’ = very pure

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

• प्रतिग्रहः: acceptance (of gifts)
• प्रतिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वृत्तित्रयम्: the three livelihoods
• वृत्तित्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—‘वृत्तीनां त्रयम्’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘वृत्तित्रयम्’ इत्यस्य

• प्राहुः: have declared/said
• प्राहुः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• श्रेष्ठवर्णिनः: belonging to the best class
• श्रेष्ठवर्णिनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘श्रेष्ठाः वर्णिनः’ (those of the best varṇa) विशेषण—‘मुनयः’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Three pure livelihoods for the best of the twice-born: yājana (officiating), adhyayana/adhyāpana (study/teaching), and pratigraha (accepting gifts) only from the pure.

Vedantic Theme: Śauca and saṅga-śuddhi: purity of means sustains purity of mind; ethical constraints on artha to protect dharma and inner clarity.

Application: Choose income streams aligned with one’s values; accept support only when it does not compromise integrity; maintain transparency and ethical screening of funding/clients.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated cautions about dāna’s purity and the merit/demerit tied to giver/receiver fitness; Garuda Purana: brāhmaṇa conduct and livelihood discussions in dharma sections

Characters & Entities

• Munis (sages)
• Brahmanas (twice-born)

FAQs

What is the importance of pure livelihood (śuddha-vṛtti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dharmic livelihood as inseparable from purity: ritual service and sacred study are approved, and even receiving gifts is permitted only when the donor’s conduct and means are pure.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader moral teaching?

It reinforces that dharma is upheld not only by performing rites but also by ethical standards around wealth—especially the rule that charity and priestly fees should not be tainted by unrighteous sources.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose ethical sources of income, keep learning and self-discipline central, and accept support or donations only when they align with integrity and clean means.