Shloka 25

Varṇāśrama Dharma, Ethical Virtues, and Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga Culminating in ‘Ahaṃ Brahma’

Devanagari script

स्थानमैन्द्रं क्षत्त्रियाणां संग्रामेष्वपलायिनाम् / वैश्यानां मारुतं स्थानं स्वधरममनुवर्तताम्

Transliteration

sthānamaindraṃ kṣattriyāṇāṃ saṃgrāmeṣvapalāyinām / vaiśyānāṃ mārutaṃ sthānaṃ svadharamamanuvartatām

Translation

สำหรับกษัตริย์ผู้ไม่หนีจากสมรภูมิ ที่หมายอันกำหนดคือโลกแห่งพระอินทร์. สำหรับไวศยะผู้ดำเนินตามสวธรรมของตนด้วยความซื่อสัตย์ ที่หมายอันกำหนดคือโลกมารุตะ อันเป็นแดนแห่งพระวายุ.

Word by Word

• स्थानम्: station/place
• स्थानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ऐन्द्रम्: belonging to Indra
• ऐन्द्रम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying sthānam)

• क्षत्त्रियाणाम्: of Kṣatriyas
• क्षत्त्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (spelling variant क्षत्त्रिय)

• संग्रामेषु: in battles
• संग्रामेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• अपलायिनाम्: of those who do not flee
• अपलायिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-पलायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of kṣattriyāṇām: non-fleeing)

• वैश्यानाम्: of Vaiśyas
• वैश्यानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• मारुतम्: belonging to Marut/Vāyu
• मारुतम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying sthānam)

• स्थानम्: station/place
• स्थानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वधर्मम्: one's own duty
• स्वधर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य धर्मः = one's own duty); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुवर्तताम्: (you all) follow/adhere to
• अनुवर्तताम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; आज्ञार्थे (imperative sense in present)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Svadharma performed without cowardice (kṣatriya in battle) or deviation (vaiśya in prescribed duty) yields corresponding loka-fruits.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and adhikāra: action aligned with one’s station produces specific results; hints at the limitation of loka-fruits compared to mokṣa.

Application: Identify your ‘battlefield’ (duty requiring courage—ethical stands, protection of others) and your ‘svadharma’ (core responsibilities); act without avoidance, while maintaining integrity and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realms (lokas)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.24 (Prajāpatya for brāhmaṇas)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Vayu (Marut)
• Kshatriyas
• Vaishyas

FAQs

What is the importance of svadharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links adherence to one’s prescribed duty (svadharma) with specific post-death attainments, presenting dharma as a direct cause of one’s destination after death.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It states that certain righteous life-patterns—fearless Kshatriya conduct in war and dutiful Vaishya conduct—lead the soul to deity-associated realms (Indra-loka and Vāyu/Marut-loka), implying karmic routing to corresponding heavens.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform your responsibilities with integrity and courage—especially in moments of fear or pressure—because disciplined duty is presented as spiritually consequential, shaping one’s inner character and ultimate trajectory.