Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अग्नयो ऽतिथिशुश्रूषा यज्ञो दानं सुरार्चनम् / गृहस्थस्य समासेन धर्मो ऽयं द्विजसत्तम !

Transliteration

agnayo 'tithiśuśrūṣā yajño dānaṃ surārcanam / gṛhasthasya samāsena dharmo 'yaṃ dvijasattama !

Translation

การรักษาไฟศักดิ์สิทธิ์ การปรนนิบัติรับรองแขก การประกอบยัญ การให้ทาน และการบูชาเทพ—โอผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่ทวิชะ โดยสรุปนี่คือธรรมของคฤหัสถ์

Word by Word

• अग्नयः: (the) fires
• अग्नयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• अतिथिशुश्रूषा: service to guests
• अतिथिशुश्रूषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अतिथेः शुश्रूषा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• यज्ञः: sacrifice
• यज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• दानम्: charity
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सुरार्चनम्: worship of the gods
• सुरार्चनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुराणाम् अर्चनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• गृहस्थस्य: of the householder
• गृहस्थस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• समासेन: briefly; in summary
• समासेन: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (instrumental used adverbially: ‘in brief’)

• धर्मः: duty; dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक (demonstrative: this)

• द्विजसत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजसत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (द्विजः सत्तमः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Householder dharma in brief: maintain sacred fires, serve guests, perform yajña, give charity, worship devas.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: sanctifying action through yajña, dāna, and īśvara-arcana; loka-saṅgraha (support of social order).

Application: Keep a disciplined routine of hospitality and giving; support community and sacred institutions; integrate worship into daily life; treat resources as trusteeship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: household-sacred space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.9 (types of gṛhastha); Garuda Purana 1.49.10 (renunciation after debts discharged)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Atithi
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of gṛhastha-dharma in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse defines the householder’s core duties—fire-rites, hospitality, sacrifice, charity, and deva-worship—showing that everyday domestic life can be a complete path of dharma when these are upheld.

How does this verse relate to karma and post-death outcomes described in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

By emphasizing yajña, dāna, and proper conduct, the verse points to merit-producing actions (puṇya) that the Garuḍa Purāṇa elsewhere connects with improved destiny after death and protection from suffering due to unrighteous living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a disciplined spiritual routine (prayer/offerings), practice sincere hospitality, give regularly, and maintain reverence for the divine—treating home life as a place of worship and ethical responsibility.