Shloka 79

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

भुञ्जति बन्धुभिः सार्धं वाग्यतो ऽन्नमकुत्सयन् / अकृत्वा तु द्विजः पञ्च महायज्ञान् द्विजोत्तमः

Transliteration

bhuñjati bandhubhiḥ sārdhaṃ vāgyato 'nnamakutsayan / akṛtvā tu dvijaḥ pañca mahāyajñān dvijottamaḥ

Translation

แม้ทวิชะจะรับประทานร่วมกับญาติ ควบคุมวาจา และไม่ดูหมิ่นอาหาร แต่หากมิได้ประกอบมหายัญทั้งห้า ก็ยังเป็นผู้มีโทษอยู่

Word by Word

• भुञ्जति: eats
• भुञ्जति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• बन्धुभिः: with relatives
• बन्धुभिः: Sahakaraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह/करण), बहुवचन

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sambandha (Association marker/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-क्रियाविशेषण (with/together)

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वाचा यतः = restrained in speech)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अकुत्सयन्: not disparaging (it)
• अकुत्सयन्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुत्स् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त/Present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक (अ-), ‘not censuring’

• अकृत्वा: without having performed
• अकृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; त्वा-प्रत्यय (क्त्वान्त/absolutive), नञ्-पूर्वक (अ-), ‘not having done’

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast)

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या, अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; ‘five’ (महायज्ञान् इति विशेषणम्)

• महायज्ञान्: the great sacrifices
• महायज्ञान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् यज्ञः)

• द्विजोत्तमः: the best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तमः: Apposition (Renaming/सम्बोधन-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्विजानाम् उत्तमः)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mere decorum at meals is insufficient; without the five great sacrifices, even a high-status dvija is blameworthy.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as purifier when aligned with yajna; outer status without inner duty is avidya-driven.

Application: Integrate pancha-mahayajna (or their feasible equivalents) into daily routine; keep speech restrained; do not disparage food.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.80 (consequence and prescription: Veda-study and mahayajna competence)

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Pañca-mahāyajña

FAQs

What is the importance of the pañca-mahāyajñas in Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that social propriety (eating respectfully with restraint) is not sufficient; a dvija must also uphold the core daily dharma of the five great sacrifices, otherwise the religious duty remains incomplete.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting obligatory duties (mahāyajñas), the verse implies that karmic outcomes depend on consistent dharmic practice, not merely on outward refinement—shaping one’s merit and post-death trajectory through daily ritual responsibility.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain gratitude and discipline while eating (no contempt for food, mindful speech) and also sustain regular acts of duty—study/recitation, offerings, charity, hospitality, and care for beings—so conduct and obligation align.