Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

तत्राप्यशक्तः करणे सदाचारं चरेद्वुधः / श्रुतिस्मृती ह विप्राणां लोचने कर्मदर्शने

Transliteration

tatrāpyaśaktaḥ karaṇe sadācāraṃ caredvudhaḥ / śrutismṛtī ha viprāṇāṃ locane karmadarśane

Translation

แม้ในกรณีนั้น หากไม่สามารถประกอบได้ ผู้มีปัญญาพึงประพฤติสทาจาร (ความประพฤติดีงาม) สำหรับพราหมณ์ทั้งหลาย ศรุติและสมฤติเป็นดุจดวงตาคู่ที่ใช้พิจารณากรรม.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there/in that case
• तत्र: Adverbial (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there/in that matter)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• अशक्तः: unable
• अशक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वुधः)

• करणे: in performance (of rites)
• करणे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in doing/performing’

• सदाचारं: good conduct
• सदाचारं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद् (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः ‘सतां आचारः/सदाचारः’

• चरेत्: should practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वुधः: a wise man
• वुधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• श्रुतिस्मृती: Śruti and Smṛti
• श्रुतिस्मृती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः

• ह: indeed
• ह: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (emphatic/indeed)

• विप्राणाम्: of the Brahmins
• विप्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• लोचने: (two) eyes
• लोचने: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• कर्मदर्शने: for seeing (right) action
• कर्मदर्शने: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थः ‘कर्मणि दर्शने’ इति भावः; लोचनयोः विशेषणम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When ritual performance is impossible, uphold sadācāra; Śruti and Smṛti function as the two ‘eyes’ for judging action.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as śāstra-guided living; primacy of inner alignment with scriptural wisdom over mere external capacity.

Application: If resources/health/time prevent a rite, do not abandon dharma—maintain truthfulness, restraint, cleanliness, and service; consult authoritative texts/teachers to choose an appropriate substitute.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama/household setting (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.4-5 (sources and marks of dharma/sadācāra)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Brāhmaṇas (Vipras)
• Śruti
• Smṛti

FAQs

What is the importance of Śruti and Smṛti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that Śruti and Smṛti function like the “two eyes” for judging and understanding karma—i.e., they are the primary authorities for determining right action.

How does this verse guide someone who cannot perform prescribed rites?

It teaches that even if one is incapable of performing a specific act, one should not abandon dharma; one should uphold sadācāra (righteous conduct) as the practical core of religious life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When full ritual performance is not possible, prioritize ethical living—truthfulness, restraint, and duty—using reliable scriptural guidance and established dharmic norms to decide right action.