Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

सर्वैद्रियसमाहारो धारणाध्याननित्यता / भावसंशुद्धिरेत्येष परिव्राड्धर्म उच्यते

Transliteration

sarvaidriyasamāhāro dhāraṇādhyānanityatā / bhāvasaṃśuddhiretyeṣa parivrāḍdharma ucyate

Translation

การรวบรวมและสำรวมอินทรีย์ทั้งปวง, ความสม่ำเสมอในธารณาและฌาน, และความบริสุทธิ์แห่งภาวะภายใน—นี้แลเรียกว่า ธรรมของปริวราจก (บรรพชิตจาริก)۔

Word by Word

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (समासाङ्ग)

• इन्द्रिय: sense-faculty
• इन्द्रिय: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• समाहारः: withdrawal/collection
• समाहारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाहार (प्रातिपदिक; सम् + आ + √हृ (धातु) + घञ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्व-इन्द्रिय-समाहारः = withdrawal/collection of all senses)

• धारणा: concentration (dhāraṇā)
• धारणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारणा (प्रातिपदिक; √धृ (धातु) + युच्/णा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• ध्यान: meditation
• ध्यान: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक; √ध्यै (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• नित्यता: constancy in concentration and meditation
• नित्यता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्य + ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तान्त-भाववाचक; द्वन्द्व-समास (धारणा+ध्यान) ततः नित्यता (constancy in)

• भाव: inner disposition; state of mind
• भाव: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• संशुद्धिः: purification
• संशुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक; सम् + √शुध् (धातु) + क्तिन्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भाव-संशुद्धिः = purification of mind)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परिव्राट्: wandering renunciant (parivrājaka)
• परिव्राट्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिव्राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धर्मः: duty; dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परिव्राट्-धर्मः = dharma of the renunciant)

• उच्यते: is said; is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Parivrājaka-dharma: restraint of all senses, constancy in concentration and meditation, and purification of inner disposition.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-shuddhi leading to jnana; pratyahara-dharana-dhyana as direct supports for Self-realization and freedom from samsara.

Application: Practice sense-discipline (digital/food/speech), maintain a fixed meditation schedule, and cultivate inner honesty to purify motives and reactions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: pilgrimage/road/forest-edge

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.17-20 (graded ashrama/renunciation disciplines leading to inner purification)

Characters & Entities

• Parivrājaka (wandering renunciate)

FAQs

What is the importance of parivrājaka-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines parivrājaka-dharma as inner discipline—sense-restraint, steady concentration/meditation, and purification of one’s inner disposition—placing spiritual practice above external identity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing bhāva-saṁśuddhi (purification of inner state) and sustained dhyāna, it points to liberation-oriented living where karmic impulses are weakened through restraint and contemplation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily sense-restraint (moderation), set a fixed meditation routine, and actively purify intention—reducing reactivity and cultivating clarity in action.